CALCUTTA, ARCHDIOCESE OF. – The Archdiocese of Calcutta comprises the western part of the former Apostolic Vicariate of Bengal (1834), which was divided into two vicariates (eastern and western) in 1850. It was erected as an archdiocese in 1887 with the establishment of the hierarchy in India.
It extends, in part, 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, mostly Hindu. It is entrusted to the Belgian Jesuits, who arrived in 1899, succeeding their English confreres, though not immediately. Alongside them work several Yugoslav Jesuits (among the southern Bengalis of Calcutta), Maltese (among the Santals of northern Calcutta), as well as some Salesian Fathers (with an industrial school) and a few Maltese Dominicans, who oversee the missionary district of Orissa. There are many female congregations, including the Italian Sisters of Charity of Blessed Capitanio.
The apostolate, divided between the city and the districts, began to develop under the episcopate of Archbishop Goethals (1878–1902), who, through his educational works—especially the collegio universitario of St. Francis Xavier—and his promotion of conversion efforts, particularly through the initiative of Fr. Lievens (q.v.), won public favor for the mission. From these developments arose the Diocese of Ranchi (q.v.), which was separated from Calcutta in 1927. At Kurseong, the mission has a theological studentate for young Jesuits. It carries out effective enlightening activity among the educated classes through its three journals: *Light of the East* (since 1922), *New Review* (1935), monthly, and *The Herald*, weekly.
In 1948, the personnel consisted of 154 foreign priests and 18 indigenous priests, 56 brothers, and 264 sisters. There are 39 parishes, 7 primary stations, and 282 secondary stations. The educational institutions include 230 elementary schools with 8,627 pupils, 19 middle schools with 1,237 pupils, 34 high schools with 3,781 pupils, 7 vocational schools with 387 pupils, and 3 normal schools with 31 pupils. The Catholic population numbers 77,060.