Roman Catholic Diocese of Geraldton Catholic ecclesiastical territory
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Geraldton is a Latin Church ecclesiastical jurisdiction or diocese of the Catholic Church covering the Mid West , Western Australia . It is a suffragan diocese in the ecclesiastical province of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Perth .
Its cathedral episcopal see is St Francis Xavier Cathedral , in Geraldton .
History
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
As of 2014[update] , 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
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
Episcopal ordinaries
The following individuals have been elected as Bishops of Geraldton:[ 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) (10 March 1926 – 16 June 1957)
3
James Patrick O'Collins †
11 February 1930
23 December 1941
11 years, 315 days
Appointed Bishop of Ballarat (Australia) (23 December 1941 – 1 May 1975)
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 (26 October 1983 – 10 February 1991)
7
Barry Hickey
22 March 1984
23 July 1991
7 years, 123 days
Elevated as Metropolitan Archbishop of Perth (23 July 1991 – 20 February 2020), also Vice-President of Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (5 May 2006 – 4 May 2012)
8
Justin Joseph Bianchini
25 March 1992
15 May 2017
32 years, 280 days
Retired as Bishop Emeritus of Geraldton
9
Michael Morrissey
15 May 2017
incumbent
7 years, 229 days
Other priest of this diocese who became bishop
Catholic Education
See also
References
Sources and external links
A list of the Catholic dioceses, chapels, churches, and cathedrals in Australia.
Province of Brisbane
Metropolitan Archdiocese of Brisbane
Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Stephen
St Stephen's Chapel
Corpus Christi, Nundah
Our Lady of Victories, Bowen Hills
Marist Brothers College, Rosalie
Mary Immaculate Church, Annerley
Mount Carmel Convent, Wynnum
Mount St Mary's Convent, Toowong
St Brigid's, Red Hill
St Brigid's Church, Rosewood
St Francis Xavier, Goodna
St Ignatius Loyola, Toowong
St Mary's, Ipswich
St Mary's, Maryborough
St Mary's, South Brisbane
St Patrick's, Fortitude Valley
St Patrick's, Gympie
St Patrick's, Mount Perry
Diocese of Toowoomba Diocese of Cairns Diocese of Rockhampton Diocese of Townsville