Calcutta archdiocese launches website

KOLKATA: The Archdiocese of Calcutta on Tuesday launched a website to mark the completion of 125 years of its foundation in the city. On September 1, 1886, the catholic hierarchy was set up in British India by Pope Leo XIII and the Vicariate Apostolic of Bengal was elevated to the rank of a metropolitan archdiocese and christened 'Archdiocese of Calcutta'.
"We have a mission of service in education, healthcare and social development. To mark the occasion, we are going to organize a series of events this year," said Archbishop of Calcutta Lucas Sirkar. Commenting on the event, coadjutor Archbishop of Calcutta Thomas D'Souza said, "We have already opened a 70-bed hospital at Midnapore especially for the poor. It will help to treat patients suffering from leprosy, TB and HIV/AIDS patients. We wish to reach out to the poor and the marginalized section of the society and strive for empowerment to the maximum extent possible."
The Metropolitan archdiocese has seven dioceses (Asansol, Baruipur, Bagdogra, Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Krishnagar and Raiganj) linked to it in the state. It has 57 Parishes and 17 Quasi Parishes served by 224 priests belonging to the Diocesan clergy and 10 religious orders, along with 125 brothers and some 950 religious sisters.