Historical Timeline

Certain Historians like Frs. Heras, Vath are of the opinion that St. Thomas might have embarked at Bharuch to go to the South to evangelize Malabar.

• 1321 to 1329 “First missionary of Gujarat” worked in Bharuch.
  French Dominican Friar Jordanus Catalani de Severac (Vicar Apostolic, later Bishop of Quilon in 1329)
• 1579 First Christmas was celebrated in Surat.
• 1639 to 1838 French Capuchins work in Surat (A quasi Parish and a Friary).
  Friar Ambroise de Prouilly Surat's prominent Capuchin (1651 - 1675).
• 1696 to 1887 Carmelites open a Monastery in Surat.
  Peter Paul Palma 4th Vicar Apostolic of Bijapur and Great Mogul (1696-1700-01) made Surat as his Headquarters
  Pedro d' Atcantara of St. Theresa (the first) 5th Vicar Apostolic of Bijapur and Great Mogul (1704-1706-07) buried in the Capuchin Church
  Maurice of St Theresa 6th Vicar Apostolic of Bijapur and Great Mogul (1708-1720) resided at Sunkeri, Karwar, Karnataka (1712-1717) became the First Vicar Apostolic of Bombay (1720-1726) Died in Surat, February 13,1726
  Innocent of the Presentation 3rd Vicar Apostolic Bombay 1746-1753).
  Soon after his appointment he visited Surat and lived there seven months with the Capuchin Fathers; but the very day he set foot in Bombay (Nov 1, 1748) he was expelled by the British Governor. He died in Sunkery, Karwar.
• 1808 Fr. Maurelius Stabellini o.c., becomes the First Chaplain of Bharuch.
• 1814 Our Lady of Health Chapel built at Bharuch.
• 1822 Fr. Michael Antonio o.c. becomes the Chaplain of Baroda.
• 1854-55 Bombay Seminary at Surat, Rector Fr. Cornelius OCD
• 1857 Venerable Bishop Athanacius Hartmann visits Baroda.
• 1877 Baroda Rosary Church separated from Surat by Bishop Meurin s.j.
• 1912-1924 Bombay Diocesan priests and Maltese Capuchins visit Valsad.
• 1926 Fr. Theophilus Lobo takes over as resident priest of Valsad.
• 1921-1927 Franciscan Brothers work in Zaroli and Bharuch.
• 20/5/1922 First mass celebrated in Zaroli area.
• 1923 Fr. Pascoal Cordo becomes the chaplain of Bharuch.
• 1924 St. Anthon Shala, Bharuch (primary school), is started.
• 1928 First Catholics arrive at Rajpipla.
• 1932 St. Joseph Dahod becomes a parish.
• 1933 Fr. Carlos Suriya S.J. invited to Anjesar village (in the present Gothada Parish, Savli Taluka)
• 1935 Mount Carmel Parish Nanpura, Surat established.
• 1935 Fr. Michael Rodrigues becomes missionary at Savli-Gothada Mission.
• In 1953 he was appointed as first Bishop of Belgaum in Karnataka State.
• 1940 St. Joseph, Baroda becomes a parish.
• 1949 Padra-Bhoj Parish established.
• 5/12/1953 Msgr. George Chaggan, first local tribal priest from Zaroli ordained by Valerian Cardinal Gracias.
• 12/4/1956 - Jesuits of Gujarat Province take care of South Gujarat Missions but it remains part of Bombay Archdiocese.
• 26/1/1960 - Fr. Samada s.j. visits Bhatpur (Almawadi) village.
• 1960 (June) - Fr. Zubeldia s.j. begins Unai Mission.
• 1960 (Diwali) - Fr. Samada s.j. visits Vakatapura village.
• 1960 Fr. Zubeldia s.j. sends Catechist Damasbhai with a letter of introduction to the Pastor at Vyara.
• 1960 From Bharuch the following go to :
  Fr. Vincent Caricas s.j. to Talodra.
  Fr. I. Galdos s.j. to Zankhvav.
  Fr. J.L. Arana s.j. to Dediapada.
  Fr. L. Moreta s.j. remains at Bharuch.
  Boarding for tribal children starts at Bharuch.
• 1960 Our Lady of Fatima Church, Gothada is established
• 1961 (Feb) - Fr. Vally D'Souza s.j. takes over Vyara.
  (May) - First Catechist course at Surat directed by Frs. Caricas s.j. and Zubeldia s.j. Unai Mission begins
• 1962 (May) - Fr. Albert Inurrategui s.j. takes over Unai Mission.
  (Nov) - Auxiliary Bishop Longinus Pereira and Msgr. Ignatius D'Souza from Bombay visit Unai mission.
• 1963 (June) Boarding at Unai established
  Holy Trinity Parish, Bilimora established
• 1965 Holy Cross Parish, Navsari established
• 1965 Param Kripa Mandir Parish, Dediapada established
• 29/9/1966 - BARODA BECOMES AN INDEPENDENT DIOCESE.
  ` MSGR. IGNATIUS SALVADOR D'SOUZA BECOMES THE FIRST BISHOP.
• 1971 St. Joseph the Adivasi Parish, Jhagadia established
  Shrishti Gaan Parish, Unai established
• 1972 - Don Bosco Parish, Makarpura established
• 1975 - Muktidaya Mata , Chotta Udepur established
  Christ the King Parish, Jhalod established
• 1976 - St. Peter and Paul Parish Dharampur established
  Mary Queen and Mother Parish, Godhra established
  Jesus the Saviour Parish, Umarpada established
• 1977 Mother of Perpetual Help Parish, Ankleshwar established
  Our Lady of Velankani Parish, Vapi established
• 1978 Immaculate Conception Parish, Sagbara established
• 1979 Good Shepherd Dicoesan Seminary started.
• 1980 St .Xavier's Parish, Pimpri established
• 1984 Nativity of our Lady, Muvalia established
• 1986 Perpetual Help, Kawant established
• 1986 Sacred Heart, Narukot established
• 19/01/86 Bishop Ignatius Salvador D' Souza, First Bishop of Baroda returns to heavenly abode
• 1986 Rev Fr J. L. Arana SJ takes over Diocesan Administrator of Baroda Diocese.
• 29/6/87 - FR. FRANCIS LEO BRAGANZA S.J. CONSECRATED AS SECOND BISHOP OF BARODA.
• 1989 Sacred Heart, Halol established
• 1990 Mother Mary, Kadana established
  St. Joseph, Mandal established
• 1997 Rev Fr J. L. Arana SJ takes over as the Diocesan Administrator of Baroda Diocese for the second time.
• 1997 Mother Mary, Bhestan established
  Dev Krupa Ashram, Waghodia established
• 28/12/97 FR.GODFREY de ROZARIO S.J. CONSECRATED AS THIRD BISHOP OF BARODA.
• 2000 St. Joseph, Nani Singlotti established
• 2001 St. John Marie Vianney, Relwa established
  Christ - Rock of Salvation, Bardipada established
• 2002 Sacred Heart of Jesus, Shamgahan, Dangs established
  St. Paul's, Subir, Dangs established
  St. Francis Xavier, Dadhwada established
  Formation of Gandhinagar Metropolitan Province, Baroda is a suffragan.
• 12/6/04 - Gujarat Vidyadeep Regional Seminary is shifted to Sevasi in the Diocese.
  Apostolic Nuncio Most Rev. Pedro Lopez Quintana inaugurates the new building.
• 2007 The first Diocesan English Medium school opens at Jhagadia.
• 2008 - Errection of Syro-Malankara Personal Parish, Surat
  St. Joseph, Hingoria established
• 2009 Erection of Syro-Malabar Personal Parish, Surat
• 2010 Infant Jesus, Gorwa, Vadodara
• 2011 Dec. 21 Bishop Emeritus Francis Leo Braganza returns to eternal abode
• 2013 Divine Mercy Shrine inaugurated at Umargam.
  June : His Beatitude Cardinal Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos Head of Syro Malankara Catholic Church paid a visit to Surat to inaugurate the FIRST ever Malankara Catholic Church in Baroda Diocese and in Gujarat. Catholic Church, Netrang established
• 2013 St. Francis Xavier, Rajpipla established
• 2014 10th October: Inauguration of Jagruti Animation center, Diocesan Pastoral Centre at Netrang.
• 2015 26th March The Diocese of Gurgaon for the Syro Malankara is established. Jacob Mar Barnabas OIC isthe new Bishop of the Diocese.
  The Syro Malankara Catholics now come under the new Diocese.
• 2016 Archbishop Emeritus Stanislaus Nestor Fernandes SJ is appointed Apostolic Administrator of Baroda.
• 2017 The Syro Malabar Diocese of Shamsabad is established.
  Bishop Mar Raphael Thattil is the first bishop.
  The Syro Malabar Catholics now come under the new Diocese.
• 2018 Infant Jesus, Songad
• 2021 Our Lady of Pilar, Pardi established
  Sacred Heart Church Sama inaugurated
• 2022 26 -28th April: the first ever Diocesan Synod Meeting takes place at Rosary Cathedral Campus.
  His Excellency Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, the Apostolic Nuncio to India- Nepal, officially visits the Diocese of Baroda. He meets the clergy, religious and lay faithful at Surat and Vadodara.
  The Gujarat Vidyadeep Regional Seminary, Sevasi is closed
• 2023 18 February Rev. Fr. Sebastiao Mascarenhas SFX is consecrated the Fourth Bishop of Baroda.
• 2024 The relic (first class) of St. Anthony from Padua is installed in St. Anthony Church, Valsad