History

The Diocese of Jalandhar comprises the civil districts of Amritsar, Faridkot, Ferozepur, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Ludhiana, Moga, Muktsar, Nawanshahar in Punjab and Chamba, Hamirpur, Kangra, and Una in Himachal Pradesh.

Until the Partition of 1947, this area was part of the Diocese of Lahore, looked after by the Capuchin missionaries of the Belgian Province. On January 17, 1952, the Apostolic Prefecture of Jalandhar was created by the Apostolic Constitution "Inter Ceteras Curas" of Pope Pius XII. It was entrusted to the British Province of the Capuchins, and Msgr. Francis Alban Swarbrick OFM Cap., was made the Prefect.

Pope Paul VI raised the Perefecture of Jalandhar to the status of Diocese on December 6, 1971, by the Apostolic Bull, "Ad Perpetuam Rei Memoriam" , and Rt. Rev. Dr. Symphorian Keeprath OFM Cap., was appionted its first Bishop.

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