History
Diocese of Jhansi is situated in the Bundelkhand region of central India. In current scenario the region is now divided between the states of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. The Major towns under region are 7 Districts of Uttar Pradesh i.e. – Jhansi, Lalitpur, Jalaun, Hamirpur, Mahoba, Banda, Chitrakoot Comprises the Jhansi Diocese and 6 Districts of Madhya Pradesh i.e. – Datia, Tikamgarh, Chhattarpur, Sagar, Damoh, and Panna.
Diocese of Jhansi comprises of two civil divisions headed by two commissionaires. Jhansi division which includes the districts of Jalaun, Jhansi, and Lalitpur. Second Commissionaire is Chitrakoot which includes Banda, Karvi, Hamirpur, Mahoba, and Karvi, Thus there are 7 districts in two commissionaires. In fact there was a clamor from the people of this area to make this area separate state called Bundhelkhand (as the people speak a language called Bundhelkhandi/Bundeli, a dialect of Hindi). There is a great history behind this Jhansi District in particular where it features in the history of the nation. Rani Laxmibai, a queen of this place put a bold front to the Britishers way back in 1857 as she almost shines as Joan of Arc in this land where women rarely come to the limelight. Jhansi Rani Laxmibai fought to death with the Britishers in order to retain the kingdom from annexation to the East Indian Company under Lord Dalhousie and against the principle of British paramountcy; the infamous act of rule of succession.
The Diocese of Jhansi comprises of the civil districts of Jhansi, Banda, Chitrakoot, Hamirpur, Jalaun, Lalitpur, and Mahoba in Uttar Pradesh. In 1929, the four districts of UP (Lalitpur was a part of Jhansi, Mahoba was a part of Hamirpur and Chitrakoot was a part of Banda) were entrusted as a Mission to the Capuchins of the Maltese Province, who had been working in the diocese of Allahabad alongside the confreres of the Bolognese Fathers since 1929.
By a decree of Pope Pius XII, Ad Evangelicam Veritatem, dated January 12,1940, this mission was detached from the Allahabad Diocese and erected into a prefecture. On account of World War II, it remained orphaned of its prefect till January 21,1946.
On July 5, 1954, the prefecture was raised to the status of a diocese by the decree In Prefectura Apostolica, and Msgr. F. X. Fenech ofm cap, then Prefect Apostolic, became the first Bishop of Jhansi. In 1963, Msgr. Baptist Mudartha was nominated as Bishop Auxiliary to Bishop Fenech and in August 1967 Bishop Mudartha was installed as the first Indian Bishop of Jhansi.
From April 27, 1977 to January 6, 2013, Bishop Frederick D’Souza looked after the diocese as its principal pastor and developed the diocese. During his tenure, the Diocese of Jhansi was further bifurcated into two. The civil districts of Bhind, Datia, Gwalior, Morena, Shivpuri and Sheopur in Madhya Pradesh were cut off for the creation of Gwalior Diocese on February 10, 1999.Rt. Rev. Joseph Kaithathara, a priest of the diocese of Jhansi was appointed as the first Bishop of Gwalior.
It was on January 6, 2013, that Bishop Peter Parapullil was consecrated as the bishop and became the new principal pastor of the Jhansi diocese. Under whose shepherding the diocese witnessed the expansion with an extra velocity. numerous new mission stations were opened. Many new Religious congregations came in for mission life and service.
In the year 2024, Msgr. Wilfred Moras from Lucknow Diocese was elected as the co-adjutor Bishop of Jhansi. His Episcopal Consecration is scheduled on the 6th of August 2024.