Roman Catholic Diocese of Ajmer

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Ajmer (Latin: Aimeren(sis)) is a diocese located in the city of Ajmer in the Ecclesiastical province of Agra in India.

History

• 1890: Established as Mission “sui iuris” of Rajputana from the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Agra
• 1891: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Rajputana. At this date the district had only one mission station, Jaipur. Besides this, a Catholic priest resided at Ajmer in charge of a small community of Eurasians and Goans, and there were also stations for troops at Nasirabad, Neemuch, and Mhow, served by three military chaplains. After the carrival of French Capuchins, other stations were established at Ratlam, Thandla, Mariapur, Jhabua, Jhalrapatan, Parbatpura, and Bhawanikhera. The prefects were Father Bertram, 1892–1902, and Father Fortunatus, from 1903.^[1]
• May 22, 1913: Promoted as Diocese of Ajmer
• May 13, 1955: Renamed as Diocese of Ajmer–Jaipur
• July 20, 2005: Renamed as Diocese of Ajmer

Diocese of Ajmer-Jaipur comprised twenty four 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 July, 1890 the Holy See detached a very large portion of the Archdiocese of Agra to form 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 O.F.M. Cap. was appointed the first bishop of Ajmer. On 11 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.

Leadership

• Bishops of Ajmer (Latin Rite)
  • Bishop Pius Thomas D'Souza (November 3, 2012 – Present)
  • Bishop Ignatius Menezes (November 15, 1978 – November 3, 2012)
• Bishops of Ajmer – Jaipur (Latin Rite)
  • Bishop Leo D’Mello (May 13, 1955 – November 15, 1978)
• Bishops of Ajmer (Latin Rite)
  • Bishop Leo D’Mello (April 21, 1949 – May 13, 1955)
  • Bishop Guy-Léandre Le Floch, O.F.M. Cap. (June 13, 1939 – August 9, 1946)
  • Bishop Mathurin-Pie Le Ruyet, O.F.M. Cap. (June 8, 1931 – July 4, 1938)
  • Bishop Fortunat-Henri Caumont, O.F.M. Cap. (May 22, 1913 – April 4, 1930)

Notes

References

• GCatholic.org
• Catholic Hierarchy

Attribution

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Hull, first=Ernest (1911). "Rajpootana". In Herbermann, Charles. Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton.  The entry cites:
  • Madras Catholic Directory, 1910;
• FORTUNAT, Au Pays des Rajas (Paris, 1906).