In 1980 the Diocese of Patna in North Bihar was divided into two. The part lying north of the Ganges river became the present Diocese of Muzaffarpur. In March 1980 Pope John Paul II appointed Fr John B. Thakur, sj the First Bishop of the new diocese. 6
Muzaffarpur diocese comprises the following 17 civil districts of the state of Bihar: West Champaran, East Champaran, Muzaffarpur, Gopalganj, Siwan, Saran, Vaishali, Samastipur, Sitamarhi, Darbhanga, Madhubani, Saharsa, Begusarai, Madhupura, Khagaria, Madhepura, Supaul.