Roman Catholic Diocese of Geraldton

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Catholic ecclesiastical territory

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Geraldton is a Latin Rite suffragan diocese in the ecclesiastical province of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Perth, covering the Mid West, Western Australia.

Its cathedral episcopal see is St Francis Xavier Cathedral, in Geraldton.

History[edit]

Established on 30 January 1898 as Diocese of Geraldton / Geraldtonen(sis) (Latin), on territory split off from the then Diocese of Perth (now its Metropolitan).

Statistics[edit]

As per 2014, it pastorally served 29,700 Catholics (23.1% of 128,800 total) on 131,831 km² in 16 parishes and 24 missions with 18 priests (12 diocesan, 6 religious), 35 lay religious (10 brothers, 25 sisters), 3 seminarians.

Parishes[edit]

The diocese has fifteen parishes with regular liturgical services held in the following locations, with churches dedicated to particular saints:[1]

  • Geraldton (Cathedral of St Francis Xavier), Greenough (St Peter), and Rangeway (St John)
  • Bluff Point (St Lawrence) and Wonthella (St Patrick)
  • Carnarvon (St Mary Star of the Sea) and Exmouth (St John)
  • Dongara (Our Lady Star of the Sea) and Leeman (Mary Queen of Peace)
  • Karratha (St Paul), Dampier (St Peter), and Wickham (Our Lady of the Pilbara)
  • Leonora (Sacred Heart), Laverton (Christ the Redeemer), and Leinster
  • Morawa (Holy Cross)
  • Mt Magnet (St Brigid), Meekatharra (Christ the King), and Cue (St Patrick)
  • Mullewa (Our Lady of Mt Carmel) and Mingenew (St Joseph)
  • Newman (St Joseph)
  • Northampton (Our Lady in Ara Coeli), Kalbarri (Our Lady Help of Christians), and Nanson (Our Lady of Fatima)
  • Port Hedland (St Cecilia)
  • South Hedland (St John the Baptist)
  • Three Springs (St Paul), Perenjori (St Joseph), Coorow (Our Lady Queen of Peace), and Carnamah (St Andrew)
  • Tom Price (St Thomas) and Paraburdoo (St Theresa)

Bishops[edit]

Episcopal ordinaries[edit]

The following individuals have been elected as Roman Catholic Suffragan Bishops of Geraldton (all Roman rite) :[2]

Order Name Date enthroned Reign ended Term of office Reason for term end
1 William Bernard Kelly † 21 March 1898 26 December 1921 23 years, 280 days Died in office
2 Richard Ryan, Congregation of the Mission (C.M.) 30 January 1923, previously Apostolic Vicar of Kimberley in Western Australia (1894 – 1909) 10 March 1926 3 years, 39 days Appointed Bishop of Sale (Australia) (1926.03.10 – 1957.06.16)
3 James Patrick O’Collins † 11 February 1930 23 December 1941 11 years, 315 days Appointed Bishop of Ballarat (Australia) (1941.12.23 – 1971.05.01)
4 Alfred Gummer † 24 February 1942 5 April 1962 20 years, 40 days Died in office
5 Francis Xavier Thomas † 18 June 1962 31 July 1981 19 years, 43 days Retired as Bishop Emeritus of Geraldton
6 William Foley † 13 July 1981 26 October 1983 2 years, 105 days Elevated as Metropolitan Archbishop of Perth (1983.10.26 – 1991.02.10)
7 Barry Hickey 22 March 1984 23 July 1991 7 years, 123 days Elevated as Metropolitan Archbishop of Perth (1991.07.23 – 2012.02.20), also Vice-President of Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (2006.05.05 – 2012.05.04)
8 Justin Joseph Bianchini 25 March 1992 15 May 2017 31 years, 1 day Retired as Bishop Emeritus of Geraldton
9 Michael Morrissey 15 May 2017 incumbent 5 years, 315 days …

Other priest of this diocese who became bishop[edit]

Catholic Education[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

Sources and external links[edit]