Archdiocese of Patna

The first Catholic missionary to the state of Bihar was the Jesuit priest Simon Figueredo SJ, who arrived in Patna in 1620 at the invitation of the Mughal Governor, Yohan Maquarrum Khan. The Congregation for the Propagation of Faith erected the Prefecture of Tibet - Hindustan in 1703 and entrusted it to the Capuchin Fathers of the Italian Province of Picenum in the Marches of Ancona. The first group of fathers reached Lhasa (Tibet) in 1707 and began Church work there. Bishop Sebastian Kallupura took on the post of Archbishop of Patna in December 2020. The Diocese of Patna comprises in the State of Bihar, the Districts of Patna, Nalanda, Nawadah, Gaya, Aurangabad, Rohtas, Jehanabad, Bhojpur, Bhabhua, Buxar and part of Munger. ==Special churches==

• Pro-Cathedral: • St Joseph's Pro-Cathedral, Patna ==Leadership==

• Archbishops of Patna • Coadjutor Archbishop Sebastian Kallupura (9 December 2020 - present) • Archbishop William D’Souza, S.J. (1 October 2007 – 9 December 2020) • Archbishop Benedict John Osta, S.J. (76) (16 March 1999 – 1 October 2007) • Bishops of Patna (Latn Rite) • Bishop Benedict John Osta, S.J. (76) (later Archbishop) (6 March 1980 – 16 March 1999) • Bishop Augustine Francis Wildermuth, S.J. (12 June 1947 – 6 March 1980) • Bishop Bernard James Sullivan, S.J. (15 January 1929 – 6 June 1946) • Bishop Louis van Hoeck, S.J. (20 July 1920 – 15 February 1928) • Vicars Apostolic of Patna • Bishop Francis Pesci, O.F.M. Cap. (24 May 1881 – 1 September 1886) ==Suffragan dioceses==

• Diocese of Bettiah • Diocese of Bhagalpur • Diocese of Buxar • Diocese of Muzaffarpur • Diocese of Purnea ==Saints and causes for canonisation==

• Ven. Anastasius Hartmann, Apostolic Vicar of Patna ==References==