History

The beginning of the Catholic faith in Tripura dates back many centuries. Fr Ignatius Gomes, a Jesuit priest made the first reference to the Christians of Mariamnagar in Agartala when he visited them in 1683. Fr P. Barbe, the pastor of Chittagong, visited Tripura in 1843. Holy Cross pioneering missionaries Fr Louis Augustine Verite and Fr Beboit Adolphe Mercier visited Agartala in 1856 and administered sacraments to the Christians in Mariamnagar village. From 1937 onwards priests began to take permanent residence at Mariamnagar. The first parish in Tripura was erected at Mariamnagar in 1939. The first permanent Church (at present the temporary Cathedral), was blessed in 1952. Because of its geographical proximity, the Archdiocese of Dhaka continued to cater to the spiritual needs of the Catholics in Tripura till the erection of the new ecclesiastical unit in 1952, namely, the Prefecture of Haflong. In 1969, the Prefecture was upgraded to the position of a Diocese with Most Rev. Denzil D' Souza, dd, as the first Bishop of Silchar, which comprised the states of Mizoram and Tripura and the District of Cachar in Assam.

By the Papal Bull "Venerabiles Frates Nostri" dated January 11, 1996, Pope John Paul II decreed the erection of the Diocese of Agartala. The new Diocese of Agartala which comprises the entire state of Tripura was bifurcated from the erstwhile Diocese of Silchar. Most Rev. Lumen Monteiro csc, dd, was appointed the first Bishop of the new diocese. He was ordained and installed on May 26, 1996. The Diocese of Agartala is dedicated to Christ the Light of the World with St. Francis Xavier as the Patron and its motto being "Lead us Onward".

Bp LUMEN MONTEIRO 
Born: Feb. 01, 1952 
Priestly Ordn.: Oct. 28, 1980
Episcopal Ordn.: May 26, 1996

Address:
Jeevajyothi Diocesan Centre
Airport Road, Durjoynagar PO
Agartala – 799 009
TRIPURA.

Tel: (0381) 23 42 401 (O), 23 42 403 (P)
Fax: (0381) 23 42 969         
E-mail: bplumen@yahoo.com, lumenm@gmail.com

Area 10,486sq.kms
Population 3.1 million (approximately)
Catholics 25,000
Languages Bengali, KokBorok, and other dialects

Statistics
Diocesan Clergy: 02
Religious Priests: 42
Religious Brothers: 06
Religious Women: 83
Number of Parishes: 13
Mission Stations: 125
Hostels: 19
Dispensaries: 10
Training Centres: 02
Home for the Invalids: 02
Orphanages: 03
Leprosarium: 01
Rehabilitation Centre: 01
Houses of Men Religious: 09
Houses of Women Religious: 19

Formation Houses
Jeevadhara Minor Seminary: 01
Holy Cross Study House: 01
Don Bosco Pre-Novitate: 01