Telesphore toppo biography of martin

Born in Gumla on October 15, , Toppo was ordained priest in , appointed Bishop of Dumka in , Archbishop of Ranchi in and.

At the age of 84, he passed away at Constant Lievens Hospital in Mandar, Ranchi, after several months of being bedridden due to age-related health issues. Cardinal Toppo was the Bishop of Dumka from to and the Archbishop of Ranchi from to Born on October 15, , in Jhargaon, a small village in the Chainpur parish of Gumla which was part of the Ranchi Archdiocese at the time , Cardinal Toppo was the eighth of ten children in a farming family.

Despite the long daily journey of several kilometers, his enthusiasm for learning never wavered. During his school years, Belgian Jesuit missionaries frequently visited his village, which left a deep impression on him. He was inspired by their dedication to serving the local tribal communities and began to feel a calling to follow in their footsteps.

This desire to serve and spread the message of Christ motivated him throughout his youth.

Hailing from an Oraon tribal family of eight children, Toppo was ordained as a priest in and appointed bishop of Dumka Diocese in

He joined St. He pursued further philosophical studies at St. After returning to India, he served as a teacher and later as acting principal at St. He was subsequently appointed as the secretary to Archbishop Pius Kerketta, the Archbishop of Ranchi. His leadership extended to international roles as well, including serving as President Delegate at the 11th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in His leadership was instrumental in the growth and development of the Adivasi Church in Jharkhand.

He was widely respected for his deep concern for the marginalized, particularly the Chotanagpur tribal community. His compassion, humility, and dedication to the welfare of the poor earned him the Jharkhand Ratna Award in for his social contributions. Cardinal Toppo was a man of deep faith and prayer.