APOSTOLIC VICARIATE OF QUETTA
The Apostolic Vicariate of Quetta (Latin: Vicariatus Apostolicus Quettensis), originally the Apostolic Prefecture of Quetta, is a Latin Church missionary territory or apostolic vicariate of the Catholic Church in Pakistan. It comprises the civil province of Balochistan and the Karachi region of Sindh, Pakistan.The areas were originally under the jurisdiction of the “Vicariate of the Great Mogul” which was established in 1697. 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.Around 1990, the Catholics of Baluchistan had already started asking for a separate diocese. The Prefecture was established on November 9, 2001, from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Hyderabad and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Karachi. 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's Convent School in Quetta. At that time the prefecture had eight priests and 12 Religious serving about 27,000 Catholics.The main church is the Holy Rosary Church, Quetta. There were seven Catholic schools in the Prefecture in 1998, all under the Baluchistan Catholic Board of Education.
There are 3 Major Catholic institutions in Apostolic Vicariate of Quetta.
St. Joseph's Convent School is a Pakistani Christian school for girls located in Quetta, Balochistan.It is located on Zarghoon Road, 200 meters away from the St. Francis' Grammar School.The school is registered with the British Council in Pakistan, and it offers O Level, AS Level, and A Level courses.The principal in 2013 was Angelina Ibrahim. Naseem Naimat became principal in 2015.The school organized an inter-school, national song and debate competition on the eve of the 57th Independence Day of Pakistan in 2004. Parween Magsi, Provincial Minister for Social Welfare Department, Government of Balochistan was the chief guest. She promised her full co-operation and assistance for construction work already started in the school, and announced a cash donation of rupees five hundred thousand.In 2008, Chief Minister of Balochistan Jam Mohammad Yousaf declared the school to be the second-best education institution in Balochistan and awarded it a Best Performance Award.[3] The caliber of the school is also supported by the results of the Secondary School Certificate Examination 2002 in which several students obtained top positions.
The Holy Rosary Church, Quetta, Pakistan is the main church of the Apostolic Prefecture of Quetta.From 1937-1939 the parish had as Assistant Parish Priest Fr. Liberius Pieterse, who translated the Bible into Urdu.The parish is also home to some innovative programs like computer classes for the youth. The St. Eugene Computer Center, in the compound of the Holy Rosary Church is run by Oblate Father Maqsood Nazeer. The center offers three-month courses on how to use various programs such as the popular Microsoft Office and Inpage, an Urdu publishing software, for a monthly fee of 300 rupees. It has three computers. The main purpose is to uplift and help Catholic youth.The parish is also home to the St. Joseph Convent School. In March 2008 the youth of the parish performed a drama at the school to celebrate International Women's Day.Father Anjum Nazir was parish priest of Holy Rosary Church in 2008.On 29 April 2010 Pope Benedict XVI elevated the apostolic prefecture of Quetta to the rank of apostolic vicariate. He appointed Fr. Victor Gnanapragasam OMI as apostolic vicar of the new ecclesiastical circumscription.
The Don Bosco Learning Center in Quetta has taken a courageous step towards environmental conservation, inspired by the teachings of Pope Francis and his call for the care of the planet outlined in his Encyclical Laudato Si'. Pakistan is among the top five Asian countries severely affected by climate change, as indicated by the Global Climate Risk Index. In light of this sad reality, the Don Bosco Learning Center in Quetta has taken up the challenge, trying to instill a deep sense of responsibility and pride in protecting the environment through seminars and concrete actions. During March and April 2024, the entire community of the Don Bosco Learning Center, including teachers, students, former students and young people, gathered under the guidance of the rector, Fr Samuel Ghouri, SDB, to plant over 200 trees both inside the school compound and outside, marking a significant commitment in the fight against climate change and in the growth of a generation of environmental stewards. Particular attention was paid to the selection of tree species suitable for the local climate and soil conditions, ensuring their survival.