CALCUTTA, ARCHDIOCESE of. — The archdiocese of C. consists of the western part of the former apostolic vicariate of Bengal (1834), divided into two (eastern and western) in 1850; it was raised to an archdiocese in 1887 with the establishment of the hierarchy in India.
It extends partially over the provinces of Bengal (Pakistan), Bihar, and Orissa (India), covering an area of 143,736 sq. km., and has a population of approximately 29 million, for the most part Hindu. It is entrusted to the Belgian Jesuits, who went there in 1899, succeeding their English confrères, although not immediately. Working with them are a number of Yugoslav Jesuits (among the Bengalis south of C.) and Maltese Jesuits (among the Santals north of C.), as well as several Salesian fathers (with an industrial school) and a few Maltese Dominicans, who have charge of the missionary district of Orissa. There are many women’s congregations, including the Italian Sisters of Charity of the b. Capitanio.
The apostolate, divided between the city and the district, began to develop under the episcopate of Msgr. Goetkals (1878–1902), who through his educational works, especially the university college of s. Francesco Saverio, and through the advancement of the work of conversion, particularly owing to the enterprise of Fr. CLEVE (v.), won the mission the favor of public opinion. FRANCHI (v.), detached from it in 1927, originated from this development. At Kurseong the mission has a theological seminary for young Jesuits. It conducts an effective activity of enlightenment among the educated classes through its three periodicals: Light of the East (since 1922), New Review (1935), monthly publications, and The Herald, a weekly.
The personnel in 1948 consisted of 154 foreign and 18 indigenous fathers, 56 brothers, and 264 sisters. There are 39 parishes, 7 primary stations, and 282 secondary stations. There are 230 elementary schools with 8,627 pupils, 19 middle schools with 1,237 pupils, 34 secondary schools with 3,781 pupils, 7 vocational schools with 387 pupils, and 3 normal schools with 31 pupils. The Catholics number 77,060.