India News

By Rev. Dr. Stephen Alathara

Bangalore, 16 July 2021 (CCBI) : His Holiness Pope Francis has appointed Fr. Deepak Valerian Tauro (54), of the Clergy of Muzaffarpur, as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Delhi, assigning him the Titular See of Buleliana. The appointment was made public on 16 July 2021 at 3.30pm.

Fr. Deepak Valerian Tauro was born on 2nd August, 1967, at Chikmagalur, Karnataka. He did his Minor Seminary at Muzaffarpur, Bihar, and studied Philosophy at Morning Star College, Kolkata. After 2 years’ regency, he completed his Theology at St. Albert's College in Ranchi and was ordained Priest on 10th May, 1996, for the Diocese of Muzaffarpur, Bihar.

He obtained a Masters in Spirituality and Counselling from Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram, Bangalore (2005). He served in the following ministries: Asst. Parish Priest at Samastipur (1996-1997); Asst. Parish Priest at Bettiah (1997-1999); Rector of the Minor Seminary, Muzaffarpur (1999-2002 and 2005-2007); Secretary to the Bishop (2007-2010); Vice Director and Director of Diocesan Youth Forum (2007-2011); Regional Secretary of CDPI (2009-2011); Rector of the Minor Seminary, Muzaffarpur (2010-2011); Professor and Spiritual Director at St. Albert's College, Ranchi (2011-2015). Since 2012, he has been Secretary of Bihar, Jharkhand and Andaman's Bishops Council (BIJHAN) and since 2015, Rector of St. Albert's College, Ranchi (re-elected for a second term).

The territory of Delhi was the part of the Archdiocese of Simla which was established on 13 September 1910, from the Archdioceses of Agra and Lahore. On 13 April 1937 it was renamed as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Delhi and Simla. The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Delhi was established on 4 June 1959, having lost territory to establish as suffragan Diocese of Simla. Jammu-Srinagar, Jalandhar , Simla and Chandigarh are its suffragan dioceses.

Catholic Population in Delhi Archdiocese is about 100,300, there are 61 parishes, 132 diocesan priests, 157 religious priests and 413 women religious.