 Church
in Nimar region began with the coming of the missionaries of St. Francis
De Sales to Asirgarh Fort. To take care of the needs of the faithful Rev.
Fr. Amadeys Delalex, one of the French MSFS stationed at Jabalpur, then
under the jurisdiction of Vishagapatanam, used to visit Khandwa from 1866.
Rev. Fr. Amedeys Delalex who, as a military chaplain of Jabalpur, had to
visit periodically the Asirgarh Fort, which was not very far from Khandwa.
In 1870 Rev. Fr. J. Thevenet MSFS built a small chapel at Khandwa, later
in 1879 a Church in gothic style was built. It was solemnly blessed by Bishop
Tissot of Vizagapatanam in the presence of Dr. Meurin, Vicar Apostolic of
Bombay. Rev. Fr. Adolphe Souchon appointed the first resident parish priest
of Khandwa from 1880 to 1888.
Mission activities in Khandwa area started with the arrival of Franciscan
Missionary Brothers in December 1901. The first among them was Brothers
Paulus Moritz. In 15th January 1902 the first village school was opened
at Roshni Followed by Aulia. In 1904 Fr. J. Andrews started R. C Mission
School which is today known as St. Thomas Higher Secondary School. In 1912
Rev. Fr. Fidelis laid the foundation stone for church at Sirpur. Thus Khandwa
slowly emerged a Centre of intense missionary activities under MSFS brothers.
During the First World War German brothers were sent to interment camps
by the British. And missionary activity came to stand still. In 1928 the
mission was brought under the prefecture of Jabalpur.
 The
arrival of Divine Word Missionaries
In 1934 it was handed over to the Society of the Divine Word The MSFS
father left the mission after 68 years of prolific service. Thus begin
the second phase of missionary activity in Nimar region. Rev. Fr. Valentine
Zimmermann was appointed to Chiklya in 1934. And in 1936 Rev. Fr. William
Wuellner took charge of Barwani. While the work was going on among Bhilalas
of Barwani area, the SVD missionaries also turned their attention to Balahis
and Korkus of Khandwa region. Rev. Fr. Jacob Lercher SVD was the pioneer
who used to visit Korku settlements in deep jungles. Rev.Fr. William Knopp
SVD who worked among the Balahis gained gradual entry into Korkus settlement
at Dongalia. With the death of Rev. FR. Knopp in 1944 missionary activity
in this area suffered a set back.
Khandwa Under Indore Diocese:
Rt. Rev. Bishop Francis Simons SVD, the first shepherd of Indore Diocese
gave utmost priority to East and West Nimar Mission. During his tenure
New stations like nepanagar (1957)were opened and new educational institutions
were started. This time was marked by the entry of many women religious
congregation like CMC sisters at Burhanpur(1965), S.Sp.S at Aulia(1963),
Lay Missionaries at Barwani(1952), Augustinian Sisters at Sendhwa (1972).
The New Diocese
The year 1977 is a landmark in the history of Catholic Church in Nimar
region. Nearly a century after Khandwa was given the status of independent
parish, the whole Nimar region was raised to the status of a full fledged
diocese. The Diocese of Khandwa came into existence formally on 3rd February
1977, by the Papal Apostolic bull of Pope Paul VI. It comprises of four
civil districts of Khandwa, Khargone, Burhanpur and Barwani. Rt. Rev.
Abraham Viruthakulangara was appointed the first bishop of this newly
erected Diocese and he later became Archbishop of Nagpur in 1998. On June
29, 1999 Rev. Fr. Leo Cornelio SVD was elected the new Bishop of Khandwa
by Pope John Paul II and was consecrated on September 8,1999 by His Grace
Archbishop Abraham Viruthakulangara. Bishop Leo is appointed as the Archbishop
of Bhopal on 15 June 2007.
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The Beginnings...
The Beginnings...
