Golden Jubilee with Grand Celebration

Archdiocese of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar Celebrates Golden Jubilee with Grand Commemoration in Kandhamal

Kandhamal, Odisha | February 6, 2025 — The Archdiocese of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar marked a historic milestone as it concluded its Golden Jubilee celebrations with a solemn Eucharistic celebration on February 6, 2025, held at the Our Lady of the Rosary Parish grounds in Daringbadi, Kandhamal.
The Holy Mass was presided over by Archbishop John Barwa, S.V.D., and concelebrated by Archbishop Peter Machado, Vice President of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI), Archbishop Raphy Manjaly of Agra, and 25 other bishops. The liturgy, celebrated in Odia, brought together over 500 priests and religious and was witnessed by more than 20,000 faithful from across the Archdiocese and five other dioceses of Odisha.
A significant moment in the celebration came with the announcement of the beautification and canonization process of Kanteswar Digal and 33 other Kandhamal martyrs—victims of the 2008 anti-Christian violence. Archbishop Barwa officially read the Vatican-approved decree initiating this cause, which pays homage to those who lost their lives, were injured, or displaced during the four-month-long violence that began on August 24, 2008, claiming more than 100 lives and displacing over 56,000 people.
A message from Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão, President of the CCBI, was read by Archbishop Machado. In his statement, Cardinal Ferrão honored the sacrifices made by the Christian community during the 2008 persecution, calling the Archdiocese “a shining testimony to the enduring strength of faith” and Kandhamal a “Pooniya Bhoomi” — a land of martyrs. He assured the faithful of the Church in India’s unwavering support, solidarity, and spiritual closeness.
In recognition of his leadership and service, Archbishop John Barwa was felicitated with an India shawl by Archbishop Machado and CCBI officials — Fr. Stephen Alathara, Fr. Christopher Vimalraj, Fr. Vignan Das, and Sr. Lidwin Fernandes — on behalf of the national bishops’ conference.
Reflecting on the occasion, Archbishop Barwa stated:
“This Golden Jubilee is a testament to God’s abundant grace and the steadfast faith of our people. As we celebrate our past, we also embrace the future with renewed dedication to serving Odisha with love, compassion, and unity.”
A Legacy of Faith and Service
The Archdiocese traces its origins to 1845, when it was under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Visakhapatnam. The Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales (MSFS) laid the early foundation by establishing parishes across the region. During World War I, the departure of French missionaries led to the arrival of Spanish Vincentians from the Congregation of the Mission (CM) in 1922.
In 1928, Pope Pius XI elevated the Mission of Cuttack to a “Missio Sui Juris”, appointing Servant of God Valerian Guemes, CM, as its administrator and later ecclesiastical superior. The mission was raised to a diocese in 1937, becoming a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Ranchi. Msgr. Florencio Sanz Esperanza, CM, was appointed as the first Bishop of Cuttack in 1938.
The diocese was elevated to an archdiocese in 1974, adopting the title Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, with Msgr. Henry D’Souza as its first Archbishop, succeeded by Archbishop Raphael Cheenath, SVD. Archbishop John Barwa, previously Bishop of Rourkela, was appointed Archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar on February 11, 2011, and installed on April 2, 2011.
A Jubilee of Grace, Faith, and Resilience
As the Archdiocese celebrates 50 years of elevation, the Golden Jubilee stands not only as a commemoration of institutional growth but as a powerful affirmation of the resilience, sacrifice, and unwavering faith of the Catholic community in Odisha.
The Jubilee celebrations served as both a remembrance and a recommitment—honoring a history of service while looking forward to a future grounded in hope, compassion, and spiritual unity.