A SHORT HISTORY OF THE VICARIATE OF QUETTA

In 1870 Quetta started as a chaplaincy, which served the soldiers of the British Army. It developed after 1878, as part of the Afghanistan Mission of the Mill Hill Fathers (M.H.M.). Fr. Temme, a Mill Hill priest, was the first missionary assigned to Quetta in 1878. However, there were some doubts concerning where it fitted in the Church’s pattern of jurisdiction. When Afghanistan was established as a new Vicariate around 1882. Quetta was assigned to the jurisdiction of the Bombay Apostolic Vicariate The following year (1883), the first Jesuit priest, Fr. Ferdinand Hillenkamp S.J. was assigned to Quetta. Thus, the Jesuits took over Quetta from the Mill Hill Fathers and looked after this region right up to 1935. The Franciscans (OFM) took over from the Jesuits and administered the Quetta region till 1982. In 1982 the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) took over and are looking after this region till today. The Salesian Fathers (S.D.B) arrived in 1999 and are working together with the Oblates in Quetta City.

The Apostolic Prefecture of Quetta, consisting of the whole of the Province of Balochistan, Pakistan, was erected as a separate ecclesiastical unit, by the Bulla “Spectantibus cunctis”, (Congregatio Pro Gentium Evangelizatione, Prot. Num. 5947/01.) on the ninth day of the month of November, in the year of the Lord two thousand and one (9.11.2001) by His Holiness, Pope John Paul II. This new ecclesiastical territory was carved out of the Archdiocese of Karachi and the Diocese of Hyderabad. The official announcement was made in Vatican City and in Pakistan, on the 7th of December 2001. The official Promulgation was made in Quetta by His Excellency Msgr. Alessandro D’Errico D.D. titular Archbishop of Carinensis and Apostolic Nuncio of Pakistan, on the 7th of April 2002. The Archbishops and Bishops of Pakistan, together with many priests, religious and laity, were present on this occasion. On the same day, Very Rev. Fr. Victor Gnanapragasam OMI was installed as the First Apostolic Prefect of Quetta and he took charge of the newly established ecclesiastical unit.

On the 29th of April 2010, the Feast of St. Catherine of Siena, the announcement of the Apostolic Prefecture of Quetta to an Apostolic Vicariate by the Bulla “Singulari made in the Vatican that His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, raised the status of Quidem” and Very Rev. Fr. Victor Gnanapragasam OMI, the incumbent Apostolic Prefect, was appointed as the Apostolic Vicar of Quetta, with Episcopal dignity. His Excellency, Msgr. Adolfo Tito C. Yllana D.D., Titular Archbishop of Montecorvino and Apostolic Nuncio of Pakistan was entrusted with the duty of implementing the decision of the Holy See. Due to the law and order situation in Quetta, the Episcopal ordination of Bishop-elect Very Rev. Fr. Victor Gnanapragasam OMI was held at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Karachi, on Friday, the 16th of July 2010. The ordaining Prelate was His Excellency, Msgr. Adolfo Tito C. Yllana D.D., Titular Archbishop of Montecorvino, the Apostolic Nuncio of Pakistan. The co-consecrators were: His Grace Msgr. Evarist Pinto D.D., Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Karachi and His Lordship Msgr. Max J. Rodrigues D.D., Bishop of the Diocese of Hyderabad.

On Sunday, the 25th of July 2010, the Proclamation Ceremony of Quetta Prefecture as a Vicariate was held at St. Joseph’s Convent School premises, Zarghoon Road, Quetta, presided by His Excellency, Msgr. Adolfo Tito C. Yllana D.D., Titular Archbishop of Montecorvino and Apostolic Nuncio of Pakistan. During this ceremony, His Lordship Msgr. Victor Gnanapragasam OMI, Titular Bishop of Thimida, assumed the responsibility of the Vicariate as the First Apostolic Vicar of Quetta, in the presence of a large number of priests, religious and laity.

Boundary:

The whole of Balochistan Province the biggest Province in Pakistan and it covers 44% of the total area of the country- 134,050 sq. miles (347,190 sq. km). Population 12.34 Million (2017 census: 12,344,408)

Divisions:

Quetta, Kalat, Sibbi, Zhob, Nasirabad, Makran.

Districts:

Quetta, Killa Saifullah, Chagai, Pishin, Killa Abdullah, Kalat, Awaran, Mastung, Kharan, Las Bela, Khuzdar, Sibi, Ziarat, Kohlu, Dera Bugti, Zhob, Musa Khel Bazar, Barkhan, Loralai, Nasirabad, Jhal Magsi, Bolan , Kachhi, Jafarabad, Gwadar, Panjgur, Turbat.

STATISTICS OF THE VICARIATE OF QUETTA

(For any change kindly Whatsapp: 0345 6605081 or email: info@catholicsinpakistan.org)