St. Mary’s Cathedral Ranchi: 1909-Till Date

St. Mary's Cathedral is the first Church of the Centuries-Old history of this tribal town Ranchi, in the Chota-Nagpur Plateau area. Catholics and Christian faithful working as Tea tribes in Tea Estates this area, Railway along with the farmers were the early community of the Church.

History

Christian Missionaries serving among the people made thatched sheds on the hillock near the market and Kallada River. One of the thatched sheds used as Church during 1866 was the first Church of Ranchi established by the Roman Catholic missionaries. The Church was named after 'Mother of Good Counsel'(St. Mary) and liturgies of the Church were in Latin. St. Mary's Church was built in 1909 and remodelled with concrete structure during 25 May 1927. Belgian Carmelite missionaries were the First Fathers of Punalur and of places around Punalur. During the Second World War the First Fathers had to go back, entrusting the church work to the diocesan clergy of Quilon (Kollam). Ranchi Diocese was separated from the Diocese of Quilon (Kollam) and created into a separate unit by the Bull “Verba Christ” of Pope John Paul II, issued on 21 December 1985. St Mary's Cathedral complex is located on north of Ranchi railway on Dr Camil Bulke Path (Purulia Road).

St. Mary’s Cathedral Ranchi has been blessed by God with a number of faithful in its territory; which is dedicated to “Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. Since 1869, when the first Belgian Jesuit, Fr. Augustus Stockman reached to Chaibasa, a new light has been shining for all the Adivasi people in this area and a small seed has been sown. The zeal and the abnegation of intrepid missionaries like Fr. Constant Lievens S.J., the charity and the dedication of courageous religious like Irish Loreto Sisters, the Daughter of St. Anne, The Ursuline Sisters of Tildonk, have kept this light alive and making it more and more bright. The seed too has grown up and have become a big tree with so many branches, where now birds have a peaceful refuge. Nowadays, people of Jharkhand can recognize “Christ through the Gospel values of Justice, Peace, and Love” proclaimed by these missionaries. Thanks and praise to God for the Sun and the Rain showered in His field in Chotanagpur area!

St. Mary’s Cathedral of Ranchi has already testified the great evangelization work of these servants of Gospel, which was founded by Archbishop Brais Muelman on 20th May 1906; and solemn blessing was implored by Rev. Hart, Bishop of Dhaka- Bangladesh on 3rd October 1909. Since then remarkably it has completed its centenary Jubilee on 4th October 2009. The fact that St. Mary’s Cathedral Ranchi has become today a matter of pride and praise. But more laudable is the fact that it has been blessed with thousands and thousands baptized, with so many religious vocations and with a conspicuous local clergy, which enabled it to be a vast Archdiocese. We have 22,108 Catholic faithful from 16 Units/ villages within our parish. Thanks and Praise to God for the graces generously showered upon his people. In order to have the better spiritual renewal and enhancement of the missionary and evangelization work, the parish presbytery has become very old residence for the priests residing here. We are 6 priests at present in Ranchi Parish. We conduct various pastoral activities such as- administering the regular Sacrament to the faithful, giving Holy Communion to the sick, catechism for the small children, organizing social work, seminars for the Youth, Catholic Sabha and Mahila Sangh etc. in a parish level. In course of time, we lack the basic facilities for our priests for residing here. The presbytery needs to be renovated because its materials are falling down every day. I hope that this matter could be considered as urgent solution.

Imploring the God’s blessings upon you through the intercession of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception by joining with Parish Priest, Priests and the faithful looking forward for your merciful help and support to us.