History
On March 3, 1931 the Territory of Indore was formed by taking
territories from the dioceses of Ajmer, Allahabad and Nagpur,
and was entrusted to the Society of the Divine Word. The first
Divine Word Fathers Fr Peter Janser, svd, who was appointed
Superior of the place, and Fr Leo Krezeminski arrived in Indore
on November 4, 1932.
On March 11, 1935 Indore was elevated to Prefecture Apostolic
and Msgr. Peter Janser, svd, was appointed the first Prefect
Apostolic. The territory covered 1,10,000 sq. kms., comprising
the districts of Indore, Khargone, Khandwa, Dhar, Jhabua (except
Tahsil of Thandla), Ratlam, Dewas, Ujjain, Shajapur, Rajgah,
Bhilsa (Vidisha) Hoshangabad and the whole of Bhopal State.
In 1948 Msgr. Herman Westermann, svd, succeeded Msgr. Francis
Simons, svd, was appointed Bishop. In 1971 Bishop Simons resigned
and on December 18, 1972, the present Bishop George M. Anathil,
svd, was appointed successor of Bishop Simons.
In 1964 the districts of Bhopal, Sehore, Vishisha, and Hoshangabad
were ceded to the Archdiocese of Bhopal. In 1968 the districts
of Ujjain, Shajapur and Rajgah were separated from the diocese
and the Exarchate of Ujjain was established. In 1977 the districts
of Khandwa and Khargone were separated and the diocese of Khandwa
was erected. In 1981 the district of Mandsaur was transferred
from the diocese of Ajmer to the diocese of Indore.
By the decree of His Holiness Pope John Paul II “Ad perpetuam
rei memoriam” dated 1st March 2002, the diocese of Jhabua
was erected separating the districts of Jhabua, Ratlam, Mandsaur,
Neemuch and the Tahshil of Sardarpur from Dhar district from
the diocese of Indore. The canonical possession of the new diocese
took place on 7th June 2002. After this division, the diocese
of Indore has three civil districts of Indore, Dewas and Dhar
except the Tahshil of Sardarpur.

Bp CHACKO THOTTUMARICKAL
Born : Jan. 07, 1949
Priestly Ordn.: May 11, 1979
Episcopal Ordn.: Jun. 07, 2002
Transferred to Indore: 24.10.2008
Address:
Bishop's House
P. B. 168
Indore - 452 001
Madhya Pradesh.
Tel: (0731) 24 92 203, 24 91 155 (P)
Fax: (0731) 24 94 630
E-mail: bishopchacko@gmail.com; chackoji@sancharnet.in
tjchacko@hotmail.com, cdindore@sanchar.net.in
Area: 19,073 sq. kms.
Total population: 44,96,287
Catholics: 19,319
Languages spoken: Hindi, Malwi, Bhili and Bhilali.
Revenue districts: Indore, Dewas, Dhar
Statistics
Diocesan Clergy: 32
Religious Priests: 59
Religious Brothers: 19
Religious Women: 413
No. of Parishes: 25
Houses of Women Religious: 61
Houses of Men Religious: 19
Formation Houses
Minor Seminaries: 03
No. of Educational institutions: 30
Technical Institutions: 02
Sr. Secondary Schools (10+2): 13
High Schools (10th std.): 06
Primary Schools: 9
Hospitals: 02
Dispensaries: 9
Boarding for Boys and Girls: 15