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HISTORY
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HISTORY
The dioceseof Ajmer-Jaipur
comprised of twentyfour
districts namely Ajmer, Alwar, Baran, Barmer, Bikaner, Bundi, Churu,
Dausa, Hanumangarh, Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jalore, Jhalawar, Jhunjhunu,
Jodhpur, Karauli, Kota, Nagaur, Pali, Sawai Madhopur, Sikar, Sirohi, Sri
Ganganagar and Tonk in the State of Rajasthan. In July1890 the Holy See
detached a very large portion of the Archdiocese of Agra to make a new
unit, the Rajasthan Mission entrusting it to the Capuchin Fathers of the
Paris Province who were to work under the supervision of the Archbishop.
In December, 1891, the new mission became the Prefecture Apostolic of
Rajputana, and in 1913, the then Prefect Rt. Rev. Fortunatus Henry Caumont
ofm. cap. was appointed the first Bishop of Ajmer. On 11th March, 1935,
parts of the Diocese which were in the state of Madhya Pradesh, were
detached to become part of the then newly erected Prefecture Apostolic of
Indore.
The Diocese was handed over
to the diocesan clergy on 9th May, 1949. By the decree of the Holy See
dated 21st June, 1951, Bandikui with its sub-station Alwar was transferred
for geographical and administrative reasons from Agra Archdiocese to Ajmer
Diocese. However the Agra Archdiocese retained the jurisdiction over the
districts of Bharatpur and Dholpur. By another decree of the Holy See
dated 13th May, 1955, the name of the Diocese was changed to Ajmer-Jaipur.
By decree of the Sacred Congregation for Evangelization
of Peoples (prot. no. 1332/ 81, dated 11th March, 1981) the civil district
of Mandsaur was transferred from the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Ajmer-Jaipur
to that of the Diocese of Indore.
On 29th December, 1984,
The Holy Father Pope John Paul the Second, with a decree, divided the
Diocese of Ajmer-Jaipur, forming a new diocese, Catholic Diocese of
Udaipur, consisting of the districts of Banswara, Bhilwara, Chittaurgarh,
Dungarpur, Udaipur, and Thandla tehsil (M.P.). The Holy Father through the
same decree appointed Rt. Rev. Joseph Pathalil as the first Bishop.
Through the mutual agreement between the Diocesan Bishop and the Superior
General of the Congregation of the Little
Flower, Cochin, dated 25th April, 1986, the districts of Bikaner,
Churu, Jaisalmer, Jhunjhunu, Hanumangarh, Sikar and Sri Ganganagar were
entrusted to the Little Flower Congregation to carry out the work of
evangelisation, pastoral ministry and development on a permanent basis.
On August 20,2005, the
Holy Father Benidict XVI, with a decree bifurcated the Diocese of Ajmer-Jaipur
forming a new Diocese - The Catholic Diocese of Jaipur consisting of the
Districts of Jaipur,Alwar, Bikaner, Churu, Dausa, Hanumangarh, Jhunjhunu,
Karauli, Nagaur, Sawai Madhopur, Sikar and Sri Ganganagar and appointed
Most Rev. Oswald Lewis as the Bishop of the New Diocese, while the name of
the mother Diocese was changed to the Diocese of Ajmer. Former Prelates:
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