Bishop Vincent Barwa

Bishop's House,
Simdega P.O. & Dt.
Simdega - 835 223,
Jharkhand, India

Phone: 08809 915 742
Email: vincent_barwa@rediffmail.com

Bishop Vincent Barwa was born on Oct. 18, 1953, in a small village of Rengarih, Simdeha district of Jharkhand state. He was ordained priest on May 2, 1984. He was appointed bishop of Purnea on June 29, 1998, and was ordained bishop on Nov. 8, 1998. On Sept 9, 2004, Pope John Paul II appointed him auxiliary bishop of Ranchi. Pope Benedict XVI nominated him bishop of Simdega on Feb. 11, 2008.

Previous Ordinaries:

• Bishop Joseph Minj (1993 - 2008)

The total land area of the diocese is 3761.2 square kilometers. Simdega is located in the southwestern part of the state of Jharkhand. Simdega is surrounded by Gumla district in the North, Khunti and West Singhbhum in the east, Chhattisgarh state in the west, and Orissa state in the South. This district was carved out from the erstwhile Gumla district on April 30, 2001.

Population

Among the 648,515 people in the diocesan territory in 2017, Munda, Oraons, and Kharias, Badaiks, Muslims and Hindus are the ethnic groups.

Language

Languages used in the diocesan territory are Hindi, Mundari, Oraon, Kharia, and Nagpuria.

Transportation

Roads are being used for transportation in the area.

Economy

Per capita income in the diocesan territory: Rs. 23 361 or USD522 as of December 2010.

Major industries: None; Trade and agriculture: Paddy, Maize, Groundnut, and Black beans.

Education

The literacy rate is Female: 23 percent, Male: 45 percent