Vatican Establishes New Diocese of Joypurhat in Bangladesh
Vatican City, 25 March 2026 — The Holy See has announced the establishment of a new Catholic diocese in Bangladesh. According to the Holy See Press Office Bulletin, Pope Francis has erected the Diocese of Joypurhat, creating a new ecclesiastical jurisdiction to serve the pastoral needs of Catholics in the north-western region of the country.
The Diocese of Joypurhat has been formed by taking territory from the Diocese of Rajshahi and the Diocese of Dinajpur, and it will function as a suffragan diocese of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Dhaka.
At the same time, the Holy Father appointed Rev. Fr. Paul Gomes, a priest of the Diocese of Rajshahi, as the first Bishop of Joypurhat. Before his appointment, Fr. Gomes served as Rector of the Holy Spirit Major Seminary in Banani, Dhaka, and previously held several pastoral and administrative roles, including Vicar General of the Diocese of Rajshahi and parish priest of the Good Shepherd Cathedral in Rajshahi.
According to statistics released by the Vatican at the time of the diocese’s erection, the new diocese covers an area of 7,018 square kilometres and serves a population of approximately 7.7 million people, including about 24,485 Catholics. The diocese currently has 11 parishes, 15 priests (both diocesan and religious), 18 women religious, and 28 seminarians.
The episcopal seat of the new diocese is located in Joypurhat, and the Mary Help of Christians Church in Khanjanpur will serve as the pro-cathedral until a permanent cathedral is established.
The creation of the Diocese of Joypurhat reflects the continued growth and pastoral development of the Catholic Church in Bangladesh and aims to strengthen the Church’s mission of evangelization, education, and social service in the region.
Source:
Holy See Press Office. Resignations and Appointments, 25 March 2026.
https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2026/03/25/260325a.html
Congratulations and Welcome to our New Bishop!
The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend Paul Gomes, of the clergy of the diocese of Rajshahi, until now rector of the Holy Spirit Major Seminary of Banani, Dhaka, as first bishop of the newly-erected diocese.
Curriculum vitae
Msgr. Paul Gomes was born on 3 September 1962 in Kharbaria, in the diocese of Rajshahi, Bangladesh. After studying philosophy and theology at Holy Spirit National Major Seminary in Banani, Dhaka, he was awarded a Bachelor of Arts at Notre Dame College in Dhaka.
Msgr. Paul Gomes was born on 3 September 1962 in Kharbaria, in the diocese of Rajshahi, Bangladesh. After studying philosophy and theology at Holy Spirit National Major Seminary in Banani, Dhaka, he was awarded a Bachelor of Arts at Notre Dame College in Dhaka.
He was ordained a priest on 29 December 1992 for the diocese of Rajshahi.
After ordination, he first held the offices of deputy parish priest at Presentation of the Lord in Surshunipara (1992–1994) and rector of the Intermediate Seminary of Dinajpur (1994-1998). He was awarded a master’s degree and licentiate in dogmatic theology at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, in the Philippines, and went on to serve as rector of Saint Joseph Degree Seminary in Ramna (2000–2002); deputy parish priest of Beneedwar (2000–2002); professor of dogmatic theology (2002-2009) and vice rector (2009-2010) of Holy Spirit Major Seminary in Banani, Dhaka. After obtaining a diploma psycho-spirituality at the Saint Anselm Institute in Kent, England, he held the roles of parish priest of Virgo Potens in Borni (2010–2016) and the Good Shepherd Cathedral in Rajshahi (2016–2021); vicar general and diocesan consultor of the diocese of Rajshahi (2016-2021); and since 2021, rector of the Holy Spirit Major Seminary in Banani, Dhaka.
