Diocese of Islamabad–Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1887.07.06: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Kafiristan e Kashmir (from Diocese of Lahore and became suffragan of Agra)
1913.05.22: Became suffragan of Simla
1947.07.10: Promoted as Diocese of Rawalpindi / Ravalpinden(sis) (Latin)
1950.07.15: Became suffragan of Karachi
1952.01.17: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Kashmir and Jammu
1955.05.08: Gained territory from Diocese of Multan
1979.06.01: Renamed as Diocese of Islamabad–Rawalpindi / Islamabaden(sis)–Ravalpinden(sis) (Latin)
1994.04.23: Became suffragan of Lahore

Present Prelates

Bishop (2017.12.08 – ...):

Archbishop Joseph Arshad (59)

President of Pakistan Catholic Bishops’ Conference

Archbishop ad personam

Ordinaries

Bishops of Islamabad–Rawalpindi (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Joseph Arshad (59)
(2017.12.08 – ...)

Bishop of Islamabad–Rawalpindi (Pakistan)
President of Pakistan Catholic Bishops’ Conference
Archbishop ad personam

Faithful to the Gospel

Born:	1964.08.25 (Lahore, Pakistan)
Ordained Priest:	1991.11.01
Consecrated Bishop:	2013.11.01

Priest of Lahore (Pakistan) (1991.11.01 – 2013.07.03)

Bishop of Faisalabad (Pakistan) (2013.07.03 – 2017.12.08)

Apostolic Administrator of Islamabad–Rawalpindi (Pakistan) (2016.11.12 – 2017.12.08)

President of Pakistan Catholic Bishops’ Conference (2017.11.10 – ...)

Bishop of Islamabad–Rawalpindi (Pakistan) (2017.12.08 – ...)

Archbishop ad personam (2017.12.08 – ...)

Bishop Joseph Arshad (59) (later Archbishop)
(Apostolic Administrator 2016.11.12 – 2017.12.08)

Bishop Rufin Anthony
(2010.02.18 – 2016.10.17)

Born:	1940.02.12 (Pakistan)
Ordained Priest:	1969.06.29
Consecrated Bishop:	2009.09.21
Died:	2016.10.17 († 76)

Priest of Faisalabad (Pakistan) (1969.06.29 – 2009.08.04)

Coadjutor Bishop of Islamabad–Rawalpindi (Pakistan) (2009.08.04 – 2010.02.18)

General Secretary of Pakistan Catholic Bishops’ Conference (2010 – 2015)

Bishop of Islamabad–Rawalpindi (Pakistan) (2010.02.18 – 2016.10.17)

Apostolic Administrator of Faisalabad (Pakistan) (2012.03.17 – 2013.07.03)

Bishop Anthony Theodore Lobo
(1993.05.28 – 2010.02.18)

Born:	1937.07.04 (Pakistan)
Ordained Priest:	1961.01.08
Consecrated Bishop:	1982.10.01
Died:	2013.02.18 († 75)

Titular Bishop of Œscus (1982.06.08 – 1993.05.28)

Auxiliary Bishop of Karachi (Pakistan) (1982.06.08 – 1993.05.28)

General Secretary of Pakistan Catholic Bishops’ Conference (1989 – 2010)

Bishop of Islamabad–Rawalpindi (Pakistan) (1993.05.28 – 2010.02.18)

Bishop Simeon Anthony Pereira (later Archbishop)
(1979.06.01 – 1993.03.22)

Born:	1927.10.19 (Pakistan)
Ordained Priest:	1951.08.24
Consecrated Bishop:	1971.10.07
Died:	2006.08.22 († 78)

Auxiliary Bishop of Rawalpindi (Pakistan) (1971.07.03 – 1973.12.17)

Titular Bishop of Badiæ (1971.07.03 – 1993.03.22)

Bishop of Rawalpindi (Pakistan) (1973.12.17 – 1979.06.01)

Bishop of Islamabad–Rawalpindi (Pakistan) (1979.06.01 – 1993.03.22)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Karachi (Pakistan) (1993.03.22 – 1994.02.11)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Karachi (Pakistan) (1994.02.11 – 2002.11.20)

President of Pakistan Catholic Bishops’ Conference (2000 – 2002)

Bishops of Rawalpindi (Roman Rite)

Bishop Simeon Anthony Pereira (later Archbishop)
(1973.12.17 – 1979.06.01)

(see above)

Bishop Nicholas Hettinga, M.H.M.
(1947.07.24 – 1973.12.17)

Esurientes implere bonis

Born:	1908.07.08 (Netherlands)
Ordained Priest:	1933.07.09
Consecrated Bishop:	1947.10.07
Died:	1973.12.26 († 65)

Bishop of Rawalpindi (Pakistan) (1947.07.24 – 1973.12.17)

Prefects Apostolic of Kafiristan e Kashmir (Roman Rite)

Fr. Joseph Patrick O’Donohoe, M.H.M.
(1934.01.26 – 1947)

Died:

1947

Apostolic Administrator of Kafiristan e Kashmir (Pakistan) (1930 – 1934.01.26)

Prefect Apostolic of Kafiristan e Kashmir (Pakistan) (1934.01.26 – 1947)

Fr. Joseph Patrick O’Donohoe, M.H.M.
(Apostolic Administrator 1930 – 1934.01.26)

Fr. Robert Winkley, M.H.M.
(1916.10.14 – 1930.11.01)

Died:

1930.11.01

Prefect Apostolic of Kafiristan e Kashmir (Pakistan) (1916.10.14 – 1930.11.01)

Fr. Dominic Wagenaar, M.H.M.
(1900.03.13 – 1915)

Died:

1915

Prefect Apostolic of Kafiristan e Kashmir (Pakistan) (1900.03.13 – 1915)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Bishop: Bishop Rufin Anthony (2009.08.04 – 2010.02.18)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Simeon Anthony Pereira (later Archbishop) (1971.07.03 – 1973.12.17)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Cathedral of St. Joseph, Rawalpindi, Punjab

Multan (↙), Quetta (↙), Afghanistan (←), Jammu–Srinagar (→), Lahore (↘), Faisalabad (↓)

Statistics (2021.12.31)

Area: 178,341 km²

Population: 217,698 Catholics (0.5% of 42,096,000 total)

Pastoral Centres: 24 parishes

Personnel: 37 priests (30 diocesan, 7 religious), 133 religious (20 brothers, 113 sisters), 34 seminarians