Apostolic Prefecture of Quetta
Encyclopedia
The Apostolic Prefecture of Quetta was established on November 9, 2001 from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Hyderabad and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Karachi. It comprises the Districts of Quetta, Ziarat, Chaggai, Loralai, Sibi and Zhob, Kachhi & Kalat and the civil province of Balochistan.
The Prefecture was established in 2001, in an area that encompasses nearly 7 million inhabitants, with roots beginning in the reign of the British Empire
in 1697, when the “Vicariate of the Great Mogul” was established, which included the lands Baluchistan. In 1832, the Vicariate formed a part of the Archdiocese of Bombay
and in 1878 it passed to the mission of Afghanistan
, which had been entrusted to the Mill Hill
missionaries. Quetta, in the years to follow would be visited by Jesuits (who left in 1935) and then Franciscans (until 1982). In 1982, the pastoral care of the local community was entrusted to the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI), later reinforced by Salesians.
.
There were seven Catholic schools in the Prefecture in 1998, all under the Baluchistan Catholic Board of Education
.
The first Prefect Apostolic has been Fr. Victor Gnanapragasam
of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. Father Victor was installed in a ceremony presided by Archbishop Alessandro D'Errico, apostolic nuncio to Pakistan, at St. Joseph Convent School in Quetta. The Prefecture currently has eight priests and 12 Religious serving about 27,000 Catholics.
Since 2003, Lac La Biche, Alberta Council in Canada has conducted an annual fundraiser for the Apostolic Prefecture, which is working to develop into a diocese. Over the years, the Knights of Columbus
have raised more than $45,000 to support the Prefecture. In 2009, the council also donated two chalices.
In 2008, the Prefecture is subdivided into six parishes and nearly 30,000 Catholics. In Quetta there are 5 congregations of religious sisters (20 sisters) and 10 priests, including OMIs and Salesians. The Prefecture also runs a home for urgent social service to orphans, abandoned women, and poor families. There are 19 Catholic learning institutions and 14 social institutions (including hospitals, aid centers for marginalized persons, etc).
The Prefecture is also home to some innovative programs like computer classes for the youth. The St. Eugene Computer Center, in the compound of the of Holy Rosary Church is run by Oblate Father Maqsood Nazeer, the parish priest.
On 29 April 2010 Pope Benedict XVI
elevated the apostolic prefecture of Quetta to the rank of apostolic vicariate. He appointed Fr. Victor as apostolic vicar of the new ecclesiastical circumscription and the titular bishop of Timida.
Sacred Heart Girls High School
St. Joseph's Convent School
History
Around 1990 the Catholics of Baluchistan had already started asking for a separate diocese.The Prefecture was established in 2001, in an area that encompasses nearly 7 million inhabitants, with roots beginning in the reign of the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
in 1697, when the “Vicariate of the Great Mogul” was established, which included the lands Baluchistan. In 1832, the Vicariate formed a part of the Archdiocese of Bombay
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bombay
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bombay is a particular church of the Roman Catholic Church in India. The archdiocese has been a metropolitan see since the time it was elevated by Pope Leo XIII on September 1, 1886. The ecclesiastical province of Bombay includes the suffragan dioceses of Nashik,...
and in 1878 it passed to the mission of Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, which had been entrusted to the Mill Hill
Mill Hill
Mill Hill is a place in the London Borough of Barnet. It is a suburb situated 9 miles north west of Charing Cross. Mill Hill was in the historic county of Middlesex until it was absorbed by London...
missionaries. Quetta, in the years to follow would be visited by Jesuits (who left in 1935) and then Franciscans (until 1982). In 1982, the pastoral care of the local community was entrusted to the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI), later reinforced by Salesians.
Current Situation
The main church is the Holy Rosary Church, QuettaHoly Rosary Church, Quetta
The Holy Rosary Church, Quetta, Pakistan is the main church of the Apostolic Prefecture of Quetta.From 1937-1939 the parish had the distinction of having as Assistant Parish Priest Fr. Liberius Pieterse, who translated the Bible into Urdu....
.
There were seven Catholic schools in the Prefecture in 1998, all under the Baluchistan Catholic Board of Education
Catholic Board of Education
The Catholic Board of Education is the arm of the Roman Catholic Church in Pakistan responsible for education. Each diocese has its own board. Collectively the Catholic Church runs 534 schools, 8 colleges, and 7 technical institutes in its 2 archdioceses, 4 dioceses, and one Apostolic...
.
The first Prefect Apostolic has been Fr. Victor Gnanapragasam
Victor Gnanapragasam
Father Victor Gnanapragasam OMI is the first prefect of the Roman Catholic Apostolic Prefecture of Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan.-Early life and education:He was born in Jaffna, Sri Lanka to Sri Lankan Tamil family...
of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. Father Victor was installed in a ceremony presided by Archbishop Alessandro D'Errico, apostolic nuncio to Pakistan, at St. Joseph Convent School in Quetta. The Prefecture currently has eight priests and 12 Religious serving about 27,000 Catholics.
Since 2003, Lac La Biche, Alberta Council in Canada has conducted an annual fundraiser for the Apostolic Prefecture, which is working to develop into a diocese. Over the years, the Knights of Columbus
Knights of Columbus
The Knights of Columbus is the world's largest Catholic fraternal service organization. Founded in the United States in 1882, it is named in honor of Christopher Columbus....
have raised more than $45,000 to support the Prefecture. In 2009, the council also donated two chalices.
In 2008, the Prefecture is subdivided into six parishes and nearly 30,000 Catholics. In Quetta there are 5 congregations of religious sisters (20 sisters) and 10 priests, including OMIs and Salesians. The Prefecture also runs a home for urgent social service to orphans, abandoned women, and poor families. There are 19 Catholic learning institutions and 14 social institutions (including hospitals, aid centers for marginalized persons, etc).
The Prefecture is also home to some innovative programs like computer classes for the youth. The St. Eugene Computer Center, in the compound of the of Holy Rosary Church is run by Oblate Father Maqsood Nazeer, the parish priest.
On 29 April 2010 Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
elevated the apostolic prefecture of Quetta to the rank of apostolic vicariate. He appointed Fr. Victor as apostolic vicar of the new ecclesiastical circumscription and the titular bishop of Timida.
Schools in the Prefecture
St Francis Grammar SchoolSacred Heart Girls High School
St. Joseph's Convent School
St. Joseph's Convent school, Quetta
St. Joseph's Convent School is a Christian school in Quetta, Pakistan.The School organized an Inter School, National Song and Debate Competition on the eve of 57th Independence Day of Pakistan. Mrs. Parween Magsi, Provincial Minister for Social Welfare Department, Government of Balochistan was the...