New Bishop for the Diocese of Muzaffarpur

The Holy Father accepted the resignation of Archbishop John Baptist Thakur, SJ from the pastoral governance of the North Indian Diocese of Muzaffarpur,   in accordance with canon 401 § 1 of the Code of Canon Law,  and appointed Rev.Dr. Cajetan Francis Osta, as Bishop of the same diocese of Muzaffarpur.  

Rev.Dr. Cajetan Francis Osta, was born on 30th  July, 1961 in the city of Kathara-Bokaro, Diocese of Hazaribag. He completed high school at the Khrist Raja School (Bettiah) in 1980 and then entered the Minor Seminary of Muzaffarpur. From 1981 to 1984 he attended courses in philosophy at the Papal Seminary (Pune), and thereafter  three years of Regency in the Diocese. He completed his theological studies at St. Albert's College (Ranchi) in 1992 and ordained a priest on May 9, 1992 and incardinated in the Diocese of Muzaffarpur.

After his ordination he held the following positions:

1992-1994 Assistant Parish priest at Bettiah (Muzaffarpur);

1994-1996 Master's degree in Canon Law at St. Peter's Pontifical Institute  (Bangalore);

1996-1997 Assistant Parish priest at Bettiah (Muzaffarpur);

1997-1998 Rector of the Minor Seminary (Muzaffarpur);

1998-2001 Secretary of the Bishop of Bettiah;

2001-2004  Master's Degree in Missiology at Sacred Heart,  Shillong and Parish priest  at Marpa;

2004-2009 Parish priest at Tinkomma (Muzaffarpur);

2009-2011 Parish priest at Barauni (Muzaffarpur);

2007 Judicial Vicar of the Diocese of Muzaffarpur;

since 2009 Chairman of the Diocesan Priests Bijhan and Consultant;

since 2011 Parish priest of the Cathedral of Muzaffarpur.

The Diocese of Muzaffarpur (1980), suffragan of the Archdiocese of Patna, has an area of 27,120 square kilometers and a population of 30.31 million inhabitants, of whom 5,250 are Catholics. There are 19 parishes and 16 missions, served by 49 priests (39 diocesan and 10 religious), 20 religious brothers, 100 sisters and 12 major seminarians.