On March 3, 1931 the Territory of Indore was formed by taking territories from the dioceses of Ajmer, Allahabad and Nagpur, and was entrusted to the Society of the Divine Word. The first Divine Word Fathers Fr Peter Janser, svd, who was appointed Superior of the place, and Fr Leo Krezeminski arrived in Indore on November 4, 1932.
On March 11, 1935 Indore was elevated to Prefecture Apostolic and Msgr. Peter Janser, svd, was appointed the first Prefect Apostolic. The territory covered 1,10,000 sq. kms., comprising the districts of Indore, Khargone, Khandwa, Dhar, Jhabua (except Tahsil of Thandla), Ratlam, Dewas, Ujjain, Shajapur, Rajgah, Bhilsa (Vidisha) Hoshangabad and the whole of Bhopal State.
In 1948 Msgr. Herman Westermann, svd, succeeded Msgr. Francis Simons, svd, was appointed Bishop. In 1971 Bishop Simons resigned and on December 18, 1972, the present Bishop George M. Anathil, svd, was appointed successor of Bishop Simons.In 1964 the districts of Bhopal, Sehore, Vishisha, and Hoshangabad were ceded to the Archdiocese of Bhopal. In 1968 the districts of Ujjain, Shajapur and Rajgah were separated from the diocese and the Exarchate of Ujjain was established. In 1977 the districts of Khandwa and Khargone were separated and the diocese of Khandwa was erected. In 1981 the district of Mandsaur was transferred from the diocese of Ajmer to the diocese of Indore.
At present the diocese consists of seven districts of M. P. viz. Indore, Dewas, Dhar, Jhabua, Mandsaur, Neemuch and Ratlam. The process of establishing a new diocese, separating the districts of Jhabua, Mandsaur, Neemucha and Ratlam is in progress. |
