What are the opening hours?

Monday 9am - 12pm Tuesday 9am - 12pm Wednesday 9am - 12pm Thursday 9am - 12pm Friday 9am - 12pm Saturday 9am - 12pm

St Mary's Cathedral, Ranchi

Home
India
Ranchi
St Mary's Cathedral, Ranchi

St. Mary's Cathedral is the first church of the centuries old history of this tribal town Ranchi, In the Chota Nagpur Plateau area.

Christian Missionaries serving among the people made thatched sheds on the hillock near the market and Kallada River. One of the thatched sheds used as Church during 1866 was the first Church of Ranchi established by the Roman Catholic missionaries. The Church was named after 'Mother of Good Counsel'(St. Mary) and liturgies of the Church were in Latin. Mary’s Church was built in 1909 and remodelle

d with concrete structure during 25 May 1927. Belgian Carmelite missionaries were the First Fathers of Punalur and of places around Punalur. During the Second World War the First Fathers had to go back, entrusting the church work to the diocesan clergy of Quilon (Kollam). Ranchi Diocese was separated from the Diocese of Quilon (Kollam) and created into a separate unit by the Bull “Verba Christ” of Pope John Paul II, issued on 21 December 1985.

11/02/2026

February 11
Our Lady of Lourdes
World Day of the Sick

Having conquered Israel in 170 BC, the Syrians sought to wipe out the Jewish faith. In the second book of the Maccabees, we read of how the Jews were persecuted on account of their religious beliefs and hundreds died as martyrs to their religion. One of the very inspiring stories is that of the widow whose seven sons were tortured and killed right before her, because they refused to eat unclean food as it would be in disobedience to their Scriptures and a sin against God.

Stories such as that of the widow and her sons had inspired the Jews to respect ancient traditions. Sadly some religious fundamentalists began putting more stress on the unclean foods that made one impure rather than on the uncleanness of one’s heart. And it was this erroneous belief that Jesus sought to correct when He said that it was not what went into a person that made one unclean, but what came out; for it is from within one’s heart that evil intentions emerge.

Perhaps it would be good to ask ourselves if we understand the meaning of our religious rituals, and how have they led us to a deeper relationship with God.

February 11 is celebrated as World Day of the Sick. For, ever since Our Lady appeared to the 14-year-old Marie Bernadette Soubirous on this day in 1858, there have been innumerable healings and cures – both physical and spiritual – of those who have prayed at the place of the apparitions. Lourdes is living evidence of Mary’s powerful intercessory role.

30/11/2025

Little is recorded of St Andrew in the Gospels, yet he appears at key moments. He was instrumental in introducing his brother Simon Peter to Jesus. He also introduced the little boy with the loaves and fishes to Jesus. When the Greeks sought Jesus, Philip sought recourse in Andrew who then took them to Jesus. According to tradition, he later preached in Greece and Turkey, ultimately dying on an X-shaped cross at Patras.

20/04/2025

April 20
Easter Sunday

Christians are quintessentially a people of joy. This joy stems from the earliest Christian eureka moment, when the first disciples discovered the presence and power of the risen Lord in their lives.

Many centuries later, we are called to share in this same joy of the redemptive power of truth, goodness and love, over the dark forces of deceit, evil and indifference.

The readings of the Easter vigil liturgy progressively narrate numerous transitions God initiates in human history as part of the process of creation: from non-existence to the beauty of creation, from a lack of identity to the firm faith of Abraham, from slavery to an exodus towards freedom, from exile to restoration, and finally from death to eternal life by the sacrifice of the new Adam.

Each of these symbolizes an increase of the value of life, and is a cause of increasing joy. There will always be moments of sadness and even conditions of oppression, but a true Christian is largely animated by a joy which the world cannot easily give, and which cannot be easily taken away.

19/04/2025

April 19
Holy Saturday

The Great Silence...

As we wait in the silence, let us abandon ourselves to the heart of Jesus.

18/04/2025

April 18
Good Friday

The Good Friday service is a sombre and quiet one, echoing the sentiments one has when attending a funeral. The re-enactment of the passion and death of Christ presents a sad contrast between the raw compassion of God and the stubbornness and violence of human beings.

The mission of Jesus was to reveal the intimate and caring face of God, so that we may experience the fullness of life as persons and as a human community. In this process, He upset a lot of the normal perspectives and practices of especially those who had leading and powerful community roles.

The will of God is to stay loving at all times. If to stay loving meant death, then Jesus was willing to pay the price for this. He stood by His values in a consistent and determined manner. This comes across powerfully in the passion narrative of St. John.

If we wish to share in the redemptive suffering of Jesus, we too will need to labour and pay the price for the wellbeing of those from whom we may receive nothing in return.

13/04/2025

April 13
Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord

Hosanna is their cry. A few days later they will crucify Him.

The first reading presents us with the words of the suffering servant. In obedience, Jesus allows Himself to be led to His crucifixion. His connection with His Father is complete for, on the strength of His conviction in His Father, He goes to His death. His emptying of power and authority is absolute; His acceptance of our condition is complete.

It was evident to all that Jesus was innocent. Pilate was also convinced of this. But the mob was too powerful, there was too much at stake for Pilate, there was too much for him to lose. He had surrendered his freedom. Jesus is the epitome of one who is free; no person shackled by name or fame would be able to forgive. The suffering servant is at this very moment the glorious Lord, for in obedience to the will of His Father, He saves.

31/01/2025

January 31
St John Bosco

The beginning is the most important part of any journey. It is only after you begin, that you can keep going. This is true for life as well. Seeds are symbols of beginnings, and Jesus uses the example of a mustard seed to show the importance of making a beginning however small.

The Kingdom of God was the goal of the ministry of Jesus and this Kingdom was inaugurated in Him. This kingdom was to grow and spread all over. Like a seed, the kingdom could take root and have its beginning in any situation or any place, where the disciples had the courage to plant the Gospel message.

Jesus also tells us that the seed grows without the knowledge of the sower. Growth is the work of God. Our efforts at building the kingdom of God will be richly rewarded if we trust God to make it grow.

09/12/2024

December 9
Immaculate Conception of the BVM

Today, the Church commemorates the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title ‘Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception’.

This feast celebrates the Church’s dogma that the Blessed Mother was given the gift from God of being conceived without original sin. We see evidence of this when the angel Gabriel greeted Mary and announced that she would give birth to the Son of God. Gabriel did not merely address the Blessed Mother as “Mary,” but as “Full of Grace,” or the “Highly Favoured One,” because she wasn’t just another woman, she was about to be the Mother of God. We ourselves reaffirm this every time we pray the Hail Mary.

Some Catholic commentators through the years, going back even to some of the Church Fathers themselves, have said that this expression “full of grace” literally means that Mary was filled with an abundance or with the fullness of sanctifying grace.

Mary always did God’s will. We pray through her intercession that we too may be able to say “yes” to the Lord and live it.

03/12/2024

December 3
St Francis Xavier

Today we celebrate the Feast of the - St Francis Xavier.

What was different about St Francis Xavier’s message? Why was he so effective?

Available images of Francis Xavier, show him with a crucifix, a bible and (occasionally) a bell! In other words, the focus of his preaching & teaching was the Paschal Mystery and Scripture.

Faced with diverse mythologies, theologies, philosophies and religious practices, Francis presented a theology of monotheism – three persons, one God! He spoke of salvation 'history' – recorded events of how God’s promise to his people in the Old Testament through the prophets was brought to fulfilment in the New Testament through Jesus. He spoke of Jesus’ teachings - especially the commandment of ‘LOVE’ and his miracles that pointed to God’s love for humankind.

Francis’ teachings brought many to the belief in the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection, the uniformity of prayer through the Sacraments. He also taught inclusiveness, removing social barriers between rich and poor, women and men, and those considered outcasts.

Francis was a fearless witness. How do I witness?

Address

Near St. Xavier College, Drive Camil Bulcke Path
Ranchi
834001

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 12pm
Tuesday	9am - 12pm
Wednesday	9am - 12pm
Thursday	9am - 12pm
Friday	9am - 12pm
Saturday	9am - 12pm

Telephone

+916512351039

Website

http://www.stmarysranchi.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when St Mary's Cathedral, Ranchi posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Want your place of worship to be the top-listed Place Of Worship in Ranchi?