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