History

The Diocese of Jalandhar comprises the civil districts of Amritsar, Faridkot, Ferozepore, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Ludhiana, Moga, Muktsar and Nawanshahar, in Punjab and Chamba, Hamirpur, Kangra and Una in Himachal Pradesh.

Until the Partition of India in 1947, this area was part of the Diocese of Lahore, looked after by the Capuchin Fathers of the Belgian province. On January 17, 1952, the Apostolic Prefecture of Jalandhar was created by the Apostolic Constitution "Inter Ceteras Curas" of Pope Pius XII. It was entrusted to the British Province of the Capuchins, and Msgr Francis Alban Swarbrick, ofm cap., was made the Prefect.

Pope Paul VI raised the Prefecture of Jalandhar to the status of a diocese on December 6, 1971, by the Apostolic Bull, "Ad Perpetuam Rei Memoriam", and Bp Symphorian Keeprath ofm cap., was appointed its First Bishop. Who served the diocese of Jalandhar for 34 years with great zeal.

Bp ANIL JOSEPH THOMAS COUTO
Born : Sep. 22, 1954
Priestly Ordn.: Feb. 08, 1981
Episcopal Ordn.: Mar. 11, 2001
Appointed Bishop of Jalandhar: Feb. 24, 2007
Installed Bishop: Apr. 15, 2007

Address:
Bishop's House
Civil Lines P.O.
Jalandhar City - 144 001
Punjab.

Tel: (0181) 22 23 987 (O), 22 22 634 (P)
Fax: (0181) 22 43 987
E-mail: anilcouto@hotmail.com