The parish of St. Michael, Katihar, opens as a sub-station of Purnea parish in 1972, is made a quasi-parish on 31 May 1980. It is erected as a parish on 26th April 1987 and handed over to the Salesians in perpetuity on 22nd January 1990. From the time the Salesians have taken charge, three new parishes of Gopalpur, Baghela, and Bagwakol have been carved out of the parish of Katihar. The Missionaries of Charity arrive on 11 May 1979 to run a Home for the aged, a T.B. Clinic, and another clinic for the children. Besides the parish, there is a boarding for boys on the parish premises. The Sisters of Mary Immaculate arrive in April 1985 to run a similar boarding for girls and a primary school. The Salesian community is attached to Don Bosco Purnea. 

On 22nd January 1990 Bishop Stephen Tiru of Dumka blesses the renewed church of Katihar and entrusts the parish to the Salesians.

In the Year 2008 the Salesians start an English medium school and a boarding for the Tribal students located few kilometres away from the Parish. In 2013 the Katihar community was declared as a canonically erected house.