The Catholic mission in the diocese of Dumka traces its origins to 1862, when Fr Raphael from the Patna Vicariate visited the Santhal Parganas for pastoral ministry. Some years later, Br Heliodorus, OFM Cap., then parish priest of Purnea (1872–1887), regularly visited the railway colony at Sahibganj, which already had a fairly large Catholic community. These early visits gradually prepared the ground for a more permanent mission presence in the region.​

         In November 2007, Brs Simon Murmu and John B. Barla visited the diocese to explore the possibility of opening a Capuchin house there. After discernment and consultation, Susnia, then a mission station of Guhiajori parish about 21 km from Dumka, was chosen as the site for the new mission.​

         In 2002, the Bishop of Dumka had already acquired about three acres of land at Susnia for the mission. A multipurpose hall was built in 2003 to serve as a place for Sunday Masses and other gatherings, and in 2004 a school building, now upgraded up to standard 5, was constructed to provide quality education to local children. The aim of this educational initiative is to help the children become responsible citizens and to enable their families to live more dignified lives.​

         On 6 July 2008, in the presence of a large gathering of the faithful, priests and religious, the Bishop officially entrusted the care of Susnia mission to the Capuchins of St Fidelis Province North India, Lucknow. On this occasion, Br Simon Murmu was installed as Priest-in-Charge and another friar as Co-Pastor, thus establishing the first Capuchin parish in the diocese of Dumka.​

         At present, the parish has around 2,015 Catholics, and the Eucharistic celebrations are conducted in Santhali, the language of the local people. On the same campus function the parish, the school and a hostel for poor children, providing an integrated environment for faith formation, education and care. The friars residing in this friary are engaged in both educational and pastoral ministries, living a simple community life and bearing witness to the Capuchin charism in the surrounding villages.​