Jesuit Missionaries began evangelization of this part of the Chotanagpur Mission, Fr Constant Livens (1856–1893) being the most prominent among them.

They, therefore, requested the Divine Word Missionaries (SVD) who had been working in the neighbouring states of Central India since 1932, to take up the Gangpur Mission in Northern Orissa.

During his tenure as well as that of Bishop Raphael Cheenath, SVD (1974–1979), mission work in this ecclesiastical territory progressed in leaps and bounds.

Today the Diocese of Rourkela owes a lot to the relentless zeal and indefatigable labour of these eminent personalities, and their co - Missionaries - Priests, Brothers, Sisters, Lay people, generous benefactors and all well-wishers.

Total Population: 19,25,000 Catholics: 2,72,453 Personal Bishop: 1 Retired Bishop: 1 Diocesan Priests :85 Religious Priests: 96 Religious Brother: 250 Religious Sisters: 421 Seminarians: 25 Parishes Total Number of Parishes: 42 Institutes Ecclesiastical/Formation Centers: 12 Junior Colleges:5 High Schools:5 Middle Schools:1 Primary Schools:151 Vocational Training Centers: 4 There are 44 parishes in the Diocese of Rourkela.