Roman Catholic Diocese of Richmond
 |
This article needs additional citations for verification. (February 2007) |
| Diocese of Richmond Dioecesis Richmondiensis |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Location | |
| Country | United States of America |
| Territory | Central and Southern Virginia, as well as the Eastern Shore |
| Ecclesiastical province | Province of Baltimore |
| Metropolitan | Richmond, Virginia United States |
| Population - Catholics |
212,189 |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Rite | Roman Rite |
| Established | July 11, 1820 |
| Cathedral | Cathedral of the Sacred Heart |
| Patron saint | St. Vincent de Paul |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Francis |
| Bishop | Francis Xavier DiLorenzo |
| Metropolitan Archbishop | William E. Lori |
| Map | |
 |
|
| Website | |
| richmonddiocese.org | |
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Richmond is an ecclesiastical and episcopal see or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. Prior to the American Revolution there were few Catholics within Virginia. Anti-Catholic laws discouraged the faithful from settling in colonial Virginia. [1] It was not until the passing of Thomas Jefferson's Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom in 1786 that Catholics were free to worship openly in the Old Dominion. The Diocese of Richmond was canonically erected by Pope Pius VII on July 11, 1820. Its current territory encompasses all of central and southern Virginia, Hampton Roads, and the eastern shore. It is a ceremonial suffragan of the metropolitan province of Baltimore, from which its territories were taken.
Today there are 235,816 Catholics at 146 parishes in the Diocese of Richmond. The diocese currently has 87 active priests, 59 retired priests, 88 permanent deacons, 180 members of Catholic religious order and 16 seminarians. There are 32 Catholic schools in the diocese with a total enrollment of 12,062 students in 8 High Schools and 24 Elementary Schools. [2]
The diocese is currently led by a prelate bishop which pastors the mother church in the City of Richmond, at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart. The current bishop is Most Reverend Francis Xavier DiLorenzo, previously the Bishop of Honolulu. He was appointed by Pope John Paul II on March 31, 2004 and installed on May 24, 2004.
Contents |
Bishops [edit]
- Most Rev. Patrick Kelly (Aug 24, 1820 - Feb 9, 1822)
- Most Rev. Richard Vincent Whelan (Dec 19, 1840 - Jul 23, 1850)
- Most Rev. John McGill (Jul 23, 1850 - Jan 14, 1872)
- Most Rev. James Gibbons (Jul 30, 1872 - May 20, 1877)
- Most Rev. John Joseph Keane (Mar 28, 1878 - Aug 12, 1888)
- Most Rev. Augustine Van de Vyver (Jul 16, 1889 - Oct 16, 1911)
- Most Rev. Denis Joseph O'Connell (Jan 19, 1912 - Jan 15, 1926)
- Most Rev. Andrew James Louis Brennan (May 28, 1926 - Apr 14, 1945)
- Most Rev. Peter Leo Ireton (Apr 14, 1945 - Apr 27, 1958)
- Most Rev. John Joyce Russell (Jul 3, 1958 - Apr 28, 1973)
- Most Rev. Walter Francis Sullivan (Jun 4, 1974 - Sep 16, 2003)
- Most Rev. Francis Xavier DiLorenzo (May 24, 2004 - current)
Notable people [edit]
- Francis J. Parater (1897–1920), seminarian, Eagle Scout, and candidate for canonization
Knights of Columbus [edit]
The Knights of Columbus has several councils in the Richmond Diocese. The Knights serve parish and communities throughout both dioceses in the Commowealth. One of the best known services is the KOVAR drive that raises money for assisting Virginians with intellectual disabilities.[3]
High schools [edit]
- Benedictine High School, Richmond
- Bishop Sullivan Catholic High School, Virginia Beach
- Blessed Sacrament Huguenot, Powhatan
- Holy Cross Regional Catholic School, Lynchburg
- Peninsula Catholic High School, Newport News
- Roanoke Catholic School, Roanoke
- Saint Gertrude High School, Richmond
- Walsingham Academy, Williamsburg
References [edit]
External Links [edit]
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Richmond
- Cathedral of the Sacred Heart
- Diocese of Richmond entry at the Catholic Encyclopedia
|
|||||
Coordinates: 37°32′50.8″N 77°27′07.7″W / 37.547444°N 77.452139°W
