our history

The diocese of Jhansi was bifurcated and the Diocese of Gwalior was formed on 9th February 1999. Most Rev. Joseph Kaithathara was consecrated and installed as the first Bishop of Gwalior on 1st May 1999.  The New Diocese had following stations at the time of bifurcation. St. John’s Cathedral Lashkar, St. Theresa’s Asram Chapel S. kampoo, St. Paul’s Church and School Morar, Holy Cross Church and School Datia, Jeevan Jyoti Ashram Shivpuri, Good Shepherd Church Girgaon, St. Francis Farm House at Malanpur, St. Thomas Church at Tekanpur, St. Mary’s Church and school Morena St. Michael’s Bhind and St. Peter’s Church and School Dabra. The growth of the diocese can be seen with establishment of stations like St Pius X Church and School Sheopur (1999), St. Vianney Pastoral Centre and Vianney school at Purani Chawni (1999), Gwalior Catholic Seva Samaj (2000), St. Kolbe Church and School at Indergarh (2000), St. Joseph’s Minor Seminary (2001), St. Antony’s Mission and School at Mohna (2002), Little Flower Mission and School at Badarwas (2004), St. Joseph Hospital at Kheriya Modi (2004), St. Joseph’s School, Kargawa (2014)St. Sebastian Mission at Khaniadhana(2016).   After having given a long 17 years of selfless service to the Diocese of Gwalior as the Bishop, Most Rev. Joseph Kaithathara retired from his office in the year 2016. The year 2017 witnessed appointment of Most Rev. Thomas Thennat as the second Bishop of Gwalior and he was consecrated and installed on the 8th January 2017. A residential priest was appointed at Lourdes Mission at Karera (2017) by the late Bishop Thomas Thennat. His episcopate lasted only for one year and 11 months. Sudden demise of Bishop Thomas Thennat in a road accident on 14thDecember 2018 was a shock for the diocese. Holy Father Pope Francis on 31st May 2019 appointedMost Rev. Joseph Thykkattil, a priest of the Archdiocese of Agra as the third Bishop of Gwalior and he was consecrated and installed on 4th August 2019. A piece of Land was bought in Karera and a Priest House, Church, and Multipurpose Hall were built in the year 2022. A new Bishop House named Karuna is built in Kheriya Modi in the year 2022. House of Life, a care house for the Senior Priests and for the Diocesan Finance Department was set up in the St. Joseph Hospital Campus in 2022. Infant Jesus Adyatmik Kendra and Infant Jesus Multipurpose Center were built in Dabra in the year 2025, and the Pilgrim Quarters, Martha Mariam in 2022, and Bethania, with 40 beds and a 100-seater dining hall facility in 2026 are erected for the availability of Pilgrims. House Hildegaurd, a home for the aged, poor and sickly was built in 2026. Kripa mission in Karhal was began and a House is being built in 2026 for the Priest to stay. A piece of Land was purchased for the St. Francis Xavier Mission, Kolaras in the Year 2026. A resident Priest is appointed in St. Carlo Acuitis Mission, Pichore in 2026.