History

The creation of the new Diocese of Buxar was announced on Monday, 12th December 2005, to be bifurcated from the western part of Patna Archdiocese in the state of Bihar. The Diocese was officially inaugurated on March 25, 2006, with the ordination and installation of Rev. William D'Souza, a Jesuit of the Patna Province, as its first Bishop.

The parish church of Buxar is the Cathedral of the new Diocese and 'Mary Mother of Perpetual Help', the Diocesan Patron

Consequent to the transfer of Bishop William D’Souza to Patna as its Archbishop in 2007, Rev. Father Sebastian Kallupura of Patna Archdiocese was nominated as the second Bishop of Buxar Diocese on April 7, 2009. He was ordained and installed as bishop of Buxar on June 21, 2009.

Bishop Sebastian Kallupura
Born : Jul. 14, 1953
Priestly Ordn.: May 14, 1984
Appointed bishop of Buxar: Apr. 03, 2009

Most Rev. Sebastian Kallupura, was born on 14th July, 1953, at Kottiyoor in Mananthavady Diocese, Kerala. After completing his high school studies at St. Thomas High School, Kelakam, Fr. Sebastian joined the Mission Home, Palai in 1971. After his intermediate studies in Palai, he entered St. Joseph’s Seminary, Mangalore, for Philosophy in 1973. In 1976 he went to St. Xavier’s College, Ranchi and after completing his degree course in 1979, he joined Papal Seminary, Pune, for his Theological studies. In 1983 he did B.Ed from St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai. On 14th May, 1984, he was ordained priest at his home parish Kottiyoor.

As a priest he served in many capacities: as Assistant Parish Priest at Jehanabad (1984); at Mokama (1985); at Sikandra (1986) where he served the people for five years. In 1991 Fr. Sebastian was transferred to Mokama as the Parish Priest where he served for nearly 8 years. In 1999 he moved to A.V.P., Bangalore for a year of pastoral renewal course. Subsequently, he was appointed Assistant Treasurer of the Archdiocese. In 2003, he was made Director of Sewa Kendra, Patna, which post he relinquished in 2009 when he was appointed Director of the newly formed Bihar Social Forum, till the time of his appointment as Bishop of Buxar. His Episcopal Ordination was on 21st June, 2009 at Buxar.

Address:
Bishop of Buxar
Bishop's House
Nayee Bazar
Buxar P.O. & Dt. - 802 101
Bihar.
                                      
Tel (O): (06183) 226717
WLL: (06183) 290070
E-mail: bpbuxar@gmail.com (Official)

Geography: The Diocesan area consists of four Districts in the south western part of Bihar State: Buxar, Bhojpur, Kaimur and Rohtas The territory consists of the flat and fertile alluvial bed between the rivers Ganges and Sone, spread along the south western part of Bihar State.

Total land Area: 11,311 square kilometers
Major Towns: Ara, Sasaram, Buxar, Dumraon and Jagdishpur
Total population of the Territory: 79, 85,362 (Census 2001)
Density: 880 persons per Square kilometer
Sex Ratio: 921 per 1000 males
Literacy in Bihar: 47.5%
Literacy in Diocesan Area: 58.78%

Main cultural/ethnic groups: The majority of the local people can be identified as caste groups (High Castes, Backward Castes, Other Backward Castes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes). Other cultural/ethnic groups include, Anglo-Indians, Bengalis, Pathans, South Indians, Shia Muslims of non-Indian origin and the Muslim religious group.

Languages: Predominant languages/dialects used in the diocesan territory are Hindi (language) Urdu (language) and Bhojpuri (dialect).

Statistics
Catholic Statistics

Catholics: 25,000
Diocesan Priests: 11
Religious Priests: 20
Religious Brothers: 10
Religious Sisters: 73
Major Seminarians: 4
Minor Seminarians: 17
Health Centres: 5
Dispensaries: 4
Hostels for Boys: 11
Hostels for Girls: 10
High Schools: 07
Middle Schools: 14
Primary Schools: 14
Kinder Garten: 18

Parish Stations

S. No.	Name of Parish / Station	Address
1	AMOLIA	Amolia Mata Church Amolia, P.O Kargaher, Rohtas District Bihar -821 107, India
2	ARA	Our Lady of Sorrows Church, P.O. Ara, Bhojpur District Bihar -802301, India
3	BHABHUA	St. Thomas Church Ward No. 5, Behind DDC Residence, Bhabhua P.O., Kaimur Dist. Bihar - 821 101, India
4	BUXAR	Catholic Church Nai Bazar, P.O & District Buxar, Bihar – 802101, India
5	CHENARI	Holy Family Church P.O- Chenari, Rohtas Dist. Bihar – 821 104, India
6	DUMRAON	Catholic Church Dumraon, P.O., Purana Bhojpur, Bhojpur Dist. Bihar – 802 133, India
7	DURGAWATI	Catholic Church P.O. Durgawati, Rohtas District Bihar – 821 105, India
8	ITARHI	Our Lady of Fatima Church P.O. Itarhi, Buxar District Bihar – 802 123, India
9	JAGDISHPUR	Catholic Church P.O. Jagdishpur, Bhojpur Dist. Bihar – 802 158, India
10	KHUDRA	Catholic Church P.O. Khudra, G.T. Road Kaimur District Bihar- 821 108, India
11	KOATH	Catholic Church Mariam Ban, P.O. Koath Rohtas Dist Bihar – 802 216, India
12	PIRO	Catholic Church P.O. Piro, Bhojpur district Bihar – 802 207, India
13	SASARAM	Catholic Church New area, P.O. Sasaram Sasaram Dist. Bihar – 821 115, India
14	SHAHPUR	Catholic Church Masiha Bhawan P.O. Shahpur Patti, Bhojpur dist, Bihar – 802 165
15 16	Sub-Stations: Dhansoi - ( C/o Itarhi) Kritpura- (C/o Buxar)