The Diocese of Kohima is situated in Nagaland, one of the Eight Sister states of Northeast of India sharing the international border with Myanmar. The diocese covers the entire state of Nagaland. Geographically, it has the area of 16, 579 sq kms, with a total population of 19,78,602 (2011 Census), with a literacy rate of 80.11%. The Catholic population at present is 61,905 in 36 parishes and 21 mission centres. There are 17 major tribes speaking their own dialects and the presence of Catholic communities in all the tribes is noteworthy. Among them, the Angami and Lotha communities have largest Catholic Population. 

Christianity arrived in Nagaland in the early part of 19th Century. The attempt to preach the Good News of Jesus Christ in Nagaland by the Catholic Church goes back to 1908 when Fr. Marcellinus Molz reached Tamlu. But this first visit of a Catholic missionary to Nagaland could not bear the desired fruit. Nagaland had to wait another 40 years more before the next opportunity arrived. That was in December 1948 when a group of Spanish Sisters - Srs. Margarita and Guadalupe belonging to the Missionaries of Christ Jesus and Msgr. Emmanuel Bars SDB, as the Chaplain reached Kohima at the request of Sir Akbar Hydari, the then Governor of Assam, to offer their service at the newly established Civil Hospital, Kohima. 

When the Sisters had to leave the hospital in 1952, Fr. Marocchino, SDB, who by then had replaced Msgr Bars, was allowed to stay in Kohima, but he had to quit the hospital premises. After much wandering about, he was able to build a hut of his own in a corner of Kohima Village and he paved the way for the growth of the Catholic Church in the Angami area. 

In the meantime, the Catholic Faith began to take root in another part of Nagaland, among the Lotha tribe, who were close to Assam. In 1950, some Lotha men from Lakhuti village contacted the Catholic priests at Golaghat and received Baptism 6 in April 1951. Soon it led to the establishment of a Catholic community in Lakhuti village in spite of stiff opposition from the Baptists. Gradually and steadily the Catholics began to take root in many villages in different parts of Nagland. 

The Catholics of Nagaland were under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Dibrugarh, Assam until 1973 when the states of Nagaland and Manipur were separated from the Diocese of Dibrugarh and made into the Diocese of Kohima-Imphal. Bishop Abraham Alangimattathil SDB, was appointed as its first Bishop, with his motto, “A loving service to God and man,” he laid a solid foundation for the church in Nagaland. 

On June 29, 1980 the Diocese of Kohima - Imphal was bifurcated and the Diocese of Imphal was created comprising the State of Manipur. Bishop Abraham Alangimattathil SDB, continued to be the Bishop of the Diocese of Kohima comprising only the state of Nagaland until his resignation on 11th July 1996 due to ill health. He went to his eternal reward on 18th November, 1997. 

Most Rev. Jose Mukala, the then Vicar General of the diocese succeded him as Diocesan Administrator and from 1998 as Bishop. He shepherded the Diocese with his motto, “To build up the body of Christ,” till he resigned on 30th Octber 2009. 

The diocese was then placed under the care of the Apostolic Administrator in the person of Archbishop Dominic Lumon until a new Bishop was appointed in June 2011. At present Most Rev. Dr. James Thoppil shepherds the diocese as the Bishop with the Motto-“Do everything for the Gospel.” There are 109 diocesan priests, 100 religious priests, 3 religious brothers and 493 women religious belonging to 22 Congregations actively involved in the evangelization work. The multifaceted pastoral care has laid emphasis on catechesis, education, and social welfare. 

It is heartening to note that vocation to priesthood and religious life has taken firm root among the local tribes. Today already we have over 60 priests and over 300 nuns from the various tribes of Nagaland. The diocese is constantly making effort to move forward in the spirit of the first missionaries who brought the Gospel in this part of the world.