Argentina—2

This blog will discuss six ecclesiastical provinces in the north and west of Argentina.

Province of Cordoba

The province consists of the civil Province of Cordoba.  The Diocese of Cordoba was established in 1570 and was promoted to a metropolitan archdiocese in 1934.  Construction of Cordoba’s Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption began in 1582, but the building collapsed in 1677.  Work on a new Spanish Baroque cathedral took place over much of the 18^th Century.  The interior features a sterling silver altar and gold and silver votive offerings, as well as murals and frescoes.

First picture is from pinterest and the others are from Wikipedia.

The Province has five suffragan jurisdictions.

• The Diocese of Rio Cuarto was established in 1934 and was renamed Villa de la Conception del Rio Cuarto in 1995.
• The Diocese of Villa Maria was established in 1957.
• The Diocese of San Francisco was established in 1961.
• The Diocese of Cruz del Eje was established in 1963.
• The Territorial Prelature of Dean Funes was established in 1980. 

Province of Salta

The province consists of the civil Provinces of Salta, Catamarca, and Jujuy.  The Diocese of Salta was created in 1806 and became the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Salta in 1934.  The Baroque Cathedral Basilica of Our Lord and the Virgin of Milagro in Salta replaced an earlier cathedral destroyed by an earthquake.  The church was built between 1858 and 1882.  Pope Pius XI named the cathedral a minor basilica in 1938. 

The first picture is from pinterest and the others are from Wikipedia.

The Province has five suffragan jurisdictions.

• The Diocese of Catamarca was created in 1910.
• The Diocese of Jujuy was created in 1934.
• The Diocese of Oran was created in 1961.
• The Territorial Prelature of Cafayete was created in 1969.
• The Territorial Prelature of Humahuaca was created in 1969.

Province of San Juan de Cuyo

The province consists of the civil Provinces of San Juan, La Rioja, and San Luis.  The Apostolic Vicariate of San Juan de Cuyo was established in 1826 and became a diocese in 1834.  It was promoted to a metropolitan archdiocese in 1934.

St. John the Baptist Cathedral in San Juan de Cuyo replaced an 18th Century building destroyed by a 1944 earthquake.  The current Cathedral opened in 1979.  The front doors of the Cathedral are bronze and feature bas-reliefs of saints.  The interior is supported by twelve columns.  The 150-foot red brick bell tower has a clock and a German carillon.

Both pictures are from Wikipedia.

The Province has two suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of La Rioja was created in 1934.
• The Diocese of San Luis was created in 1934.

Province of Tucuman

The province consists of the civil Provinces of Tucuman and Santiago del Estero.  The Diocese of Tucuman was created in 1897 and became a metropolitan archdiocese in 1957.  Our Lady of the Incarnation Cathedral in San Miguel de Tucuman has its origins in the 17^th Century, but most of the current building dates to the middle 1800s.

All are from Wikipedia.

The Province has three suffragan dioceses.

• The Archdiocese of Santiago del Estero was created in 1570, suppressed in 1697, and was restored in 1907.  It became an archdiocese in 2024.
• The Diocese of Anatuya was created in 1961.
• The Diocese of Conception was created in 1963. 

Province of Corrientes

The province consists of the civil Provinces of Corrientes and Misiones.  The Diocese of Corrientes was created in 1910 and became a metropolitan archdiocese in 1961.  Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral in Corrientes was built in the mid-1800s.

From Wikipedia.

The Province has five suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Posadas was established in 1957.
• The Diocese of Goya was established in 1961.
• The Diocese of Santo Tome was created in 1979.
• The Diocese of Puerto Iguazu was created in 1986.
• The Diocese of Obera was created in 2009.

Province of Mendoza

The province consists of the civil Provinces of Mendoza and Neuquen.  The Diocese of Mendoza was created in 1934 and became the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Mendoza in 1961.  Our Lady of Loreto Cathedral in Mendoza was built in 1934 and is known for the beauty of its stained glass windows.  As it only seats 500, plans are underway for a larger cathedral. 

From Wikipedia.

The Province has two suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Neuquen was established in 1961.
• The Diocese of San Rafael was established in 1961. 

Definitions

The Catholic Church is mostly divided into ecclesiastical provinces—a province consists of a metropolitan archdiocese and one or more dioceses.  The province and the archdiocese are led by an archbishop.  Each of the dioceses is called a suffragan diocese and is led by a bishop.  Archbishops have some responsibilities for the province, but all bishops answer directly to the Pope.  There are also archdioceses that are not part of a province that are directly under the jurisdiction of the Pope.  There are also jurisdictions below the level of a diocese.  These include apostolic vicariates and territorial prelatures.  Both are missionary territories below the level of a diocese.  The difference is that a vicar apostolic holds the rank of a bishop while a territorial prelature is led by a priest below the level of a bishop. 

A basilica is an honorary title bestowed on a church by the Pope because of the church’s antiquity, dignity, historical importance, or significance as a center of worship.  Some cathedrals are also basilicas.  Each basilica has a ceremonial umbrella in the papal colors of white and yellow and a ceremonial bell (although some basilicas do not display them).  Both of these are symbolic of the Pope’s special relationship to the basilica.

Argentina—1

Magellan claimed Argentina for Spain in 1519 and colonization started in the 1530s.  Missionaries also began evangelizing the native peoples during the 16^th Century.  Argentina broke away from Spain in 1810 and declared independence in 1816.  Today, there are about 40 million Catholics in Argentina, or over 90 percent of the total population.

Argentina has 13 ecclesiastical provinces.  In addition, the Archdiocese of Mercedes-Lujan is immediately subject to the Pope.  It was established as a diocese in 1934 and became an archdiocese in 1997.  

Argentina also has five eastern-rite jurisdictions.  The Maronite Diocese of San Charbel en Buenos Aires and the Ukrainian Diocese of Santa Maria del Patrocinio en Buenos Aires are under the jurisdiction of the Roman-rite Archbishop of Buenos Aires.  The Armenian Diocese of San Gregorio de Narak en Buenos Aires, established in 1989, is under the jurisdiction of the Armenian patriarch. The Greek Melkite Apostolic Exarchate of Argentina, established in 2002, is immediately subject to the Pope.  The Ordinariate to the Faithful of Oriental Rites was established in 1959 and is led by the Archbishop of Buenos Aires.  There is also a military services diocese.

This blog will cover seven Roman-rite ecclesiastical provinces in the east and south of Argentina.

Province of Buenos Aires

The province consists of the City of Buenos Aires and its suburbs.  The Diocese of Buenos Aires was established in 1620 and was promoted to a metropolitan archdiocese in 1866.

The Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in Buenos Aires combines a neoclassical exterior with a Renaissance and Baroque interior.  Construction of the current church started in the late 17^th Century, but the nave collapsed in 1752 and rebuilding took place over the next 40 years.  The current façade dates to the 1860s.  The Cathedral’s floor is covered with mosaics designed in Italy and the main altar has an 18^th Century gilt wood Rococo altarpiece from Spain.  The Cathedral also has 17^th Century crucifix, an 1871 Walcker pipe organ with over 3,500 pipes, and Stations of the Cross that are original oil paintings that are about 5 feet high and 3 feet wide.  The image of the Virgin of Buen Ayre recalls the origin of the name of the metropolitan city.

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

The Province has 12 suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Lomas de Zamora was created in 1957.
• The Diocese of Moron was created in 1957.
• The Diocese of San Isidro was created in 1957.
• The Diocese of Avellaneda-Lanus was created in 1961 as the Diocese of Avellaneda and acquired its current name in 2001.
• The Diocese of San Martin was created in 1961.
• The Diocese of San Justo was created in 1969.
• The Diocese of Quilmes was created in 1976.
• The Ukrainian Diocese of Santa Maria del Patrocinio en Buenos Aires was created as an apostolic exarchate in 1968 and became a Diocese in 1978.
• The Diocese of San Miguel was created in 1978.
• The Maronite Diocese of San Charbel en Buenos Aires was created in 1990.
• The Diocese of Merlo-Moreno was created in 1997.
• The Diocese of Gregorio de Laferrere was created in 2000.

Province of Parana

The province consists of the civil Province of Entre Rios.  The Diocese of Parana was created in 1859 and became the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Parana in 1934.

Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral in Parana was built in the late 19^th Century, although the parish dates to 1730.  The Cathedral is a mix of Renaissance and Byzantine styles and has two towers and a dome.

From Wikipedia

The Province has two suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Gualeguaychu was established in1957.
• The Diocese of Concordia was established in 1961.

Province of La Plata

The province consists of the civil Province of Buenos Aires, except for the City of Buenos Aires and its immediate suburbs.  The Diocese of La Plata was created in 1897 and became the Metropolitan Archdiocese of La Plata in 1934.

The cornerstone of the brick Our Lady of Sorrows Cathedral in La Plata was laid in 1884.  The unfinished church was consecrated in 1902 but construction was halted in the 1930s due to concerns about the foundation.  Renovations took place in the late 1990s which strengthened the foundation and added the two 367-foot towers.  The neo-Gothic building is modeled after the cathedrals in Amiens, France, and Cologne, Germany.  The Spanish website is catedraldelaplata.com.

All are from Wikipedia.

The Province has five suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Azul was created in 1934.
• The Diocese of Mar del Plata was established in 1957.
• The Diocese of Nueve de Julio was created in 1957.
• The Diocese of Zarate-Campana was established in 1976.
• The Diocese of Chascomus established in 1980. 

Province of Santa Fe de la Vera Cruz

The province consists of the northern part of the civil Province of Santa Fe.  The Diocese of Santa Fe was created in 1897 and became the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Santa Fe in 1934.  It acquired its current name in 1992.

The adobe All Saints Cathedral in Santa Fe was originally constructed in 1649 in an Italian Classical style, although additions were made over the centuries.  The Cathedral has two bell towers and a marble altar that dates to the early 19^th Century.  The Cathedral also features oil paintings, a carving of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and a marble sculpture of the crucified Christ.

Both are from Wikipedia.

The Province has two suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Reconquista was created in 1957.
• The Diocese of Rafaela was established in 1961. 

Province of Bahia Blanca

The province consists of southern Buenos Aires (civil) Province and the civil Provinces of La Pampa, Rio Negro, Chubut, and Santa Cruz.  The Diocese of Bahia Blanca was created in 1934 and became the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Bahia Blanca in 1957.  Our Lady of Mercy Cathedral in Bahia Blanca was completed in 1929.

From Wikipedia.

The Province has eight suffragan jurisdictions.

• The Diocese of Viedma was created in 1934.
• The Diocese of Comodoro Rivadavia was created in 1957.
• The Diocese of Santa Rosa was created in 1957.
• The Diocese of Rio Gallegos was created in 1961.
• The Diocese of Alto Valle del Rio Negro was created in 1993.
• The Diocese of San Carlos de Bariloche was created in 1993.
• The Territorial Prelature of Esquel was created in 2009.
• The Diocese of Rawson was created in 2023.

Province of Rosario

The province consists of the southern part of the civil Santa Fe Province.  The Diocese of Rosario was established in 1934 and was promoted to a Metropolitan archdiocese in 1963.

The Cathedral Basilica Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary in Rosario began as a parish church in 1731.  The current building was built in the late 19^th Century and contains a statue of the Virgin of the Rosary that was brought from Spain in 1773.  The main altar is made of Italian Carrara marble.  Pope Paul VI designated the Cathedral as a minor basilica in 1964.

From Wikipedia.

The Province has two suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of San Nicolas de los Arroyos was created in 1947.
• The Diocese of Venado Tuerto was created in 1963. 

Province of Resistencia

The province consists of the civil Provinces of Chaco and Formosa.  The Diocese of Resistencia was established in 1939 and became the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Resistencia in 1984.  St. Ferdinand the King Cathedral in Resistencia was built in the 1930s.

From Wikipedia.

The Province has two suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Formosa was established in 1957.
• The Diocese of San Roque de Presidencia Roque Saenz Pena was established in 1963 as the Diocese of Presidencia Roque Saenz Pena and acquired its current name in 1992.

Definitions

The Catholic Church is mostly divided into ecclesiastical provinces—a province consists of a metropolitan archdiocese and one or more dioceses.  The province and the archdiocese are led by an archbishop.  Each of the dioceses is called a suffragan diocese and is led by a bishop.  Archbishops have some responsibilities for the province, but all bishops answer directly to the Pope.  There are also archdioceses that are not part of a province that are directly under the jurisdiction of the Pope.  There are also jurisdictions below the level of a diocese.  These include apostolic vicariates, apostolic prefectures, and territorial prelatures.  All are missionary territories below the level of a diocese.  The difference is that a vicar apostolic holds the rank of a bishop and the other two are led by a priest, but not a bishop. 

Most Catholics in the world belong to the Latin or Roman rite.  Rite refers to liturgical practices, ecclesiastical discipline, and spiritual heritage.  Many Catholics belong to one of two dozen Eastern rite churches.  Eastern rite churches trace their heritage to Eastern Europe and the Middle East.  Eastern rite churches sometimes use different terminologies.  For example, a diocese might be called an eparchy and is led by an eparch.  A vicariate apostolic is called an exarchy and is led by an exarch. 

A basilica is an honorary title bestowed on a church by the Pope because of the church’s antiquity, dignity, historical importance, or significance as a center of worship.  Some cathedrals are also basilicas.  Each basilica has a ceremonial umbrella in the papal colors of white and yellow and a ceremonial bell—both are symbolic of the Pope’s special relationship to the basilica.

Other Nations—1

This blog is the first of six to discuss nations that do not have ecclesiastic provinces.  Typically the jurisdictions are directly subject to the pope.

North Africa

Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, and Western Sahara

Libya

Catholicism came to Libya during the days of the Roman Empire, but suffered a setback when Arab Muslims conquered Libya in the 7^th Century.  European Christians briefly controlled Libya in the 12^th Century before it once again fell to Muslims.  Italy took control of Libya in 1911 and over the next 40 years, 150,000 Italians settled in Libya.  Italy yielded control of Libya as a result of the Second World War and Libya claimed independence in 1951.  Muammar Gaddifi staged a coup d’etat against the Libyan government in 1969 and expelled most of the remaining Italians from the country.  Today, Libya has a population of 6.8 million and almost all of the people are Muslim.  There are between 20,000 and 50,000 Catholics in Libya, depending on the source, and these Catholics are of Italian, Maltese, and Filipino descent.  The Catholics are part of four jurisdictions, all of which are immediately subject to the Pope.

·       The Apostolic Vicariate of Tripoli was established as an apostolic prefecture in 1640 and became an apostolic vicariate in 1913.   The Apostolic Vicariate of Benghazi was established in 1927.

·       The Apostolic Vicariate of Derna was established in 1939 but has not had a bishop since 1948, and the Apostolic Prefecture of Misurata was established in 1939 but has not had a leader since 1985.

Today there are two Catholic churches in Libya—one in Tripoli and one in Benghazi.  Both are administered by Franciscan priests from Malta, one of whom is the Apostolic Vicar of Tripoli and the administrator of the Apostolic Vicariate of Benghazi.

Morocco

Morocco was part of the Roman Empire and many of the people were Christian—notably St. Augustine.  Arab Muslims controlled Morocco after 700, but many Christians remained there until the 13^th Century.  By then, almost all Moroccans were Muslim.  Starting in the 11th Century, Morocco was ruled by a succession of Muslim kings.  [An interesting historical note:  in 1777, Morocco was the first nation to recognize the United States as an independent nation.]  In the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries, France and Spain ruled parts of Morocco, and many people from those countries settled there.  France granted independence to Morocco in 1956 as did Spain, although Spain retains two coastal cities.

Morocco has a total population of 34 million, almost all of whom are Muslim—the King claims to be a direct descendant of Muhammad.  Prior to independence, there were half a million Catholics in Morocco, but today there are fewer than 25,000 and most are of French or Spanish ancestry or are from sub-Saharan Africa.  These Catholics are served by two archdioceses, both of which are immediately subject to the Pope.  Over 90 percent of these Catholics are in the Archdiocese of Rabat, which was established as an apostolic vicariate in 1923 and became an archdiocese in 1955.

St. Peter's Cathedral in Rabat, from Wikipedia

The Archdiocese of Tanger was initially established as a diocese in 1469, before being suppressed in 1570.  It became an apostolic prefecture in 1630, an apostolic vicariate in 1908, before becoming an archdiocese in 1956. 

Holy Spirit Cathedral in Tanger from Wikipedia.

Tunisia

Tunisia became part of the Roman Empire after Rome conquered Carthage in 146 B.C.  The region prospered under Rome and eventually became Christian.  Arab Muslims conquered what is now Tunisia in the 7^th Century and over the next 400 years the people became Muslim, although some Christians remained.  Tunisia became part of the Ottoman Empire in 1534 and was conquered by France in 1881.  European colonization followed and by 1956, when France granted independence to Tunisia, there were over 250,000 French and Italian people living in Tunisia.

Today, almost all of Tunisia’s 12 million people are Muslim and only about 25,000 are Catholic.  The Catholics are served by the Archdiocese of Tunis, which is immediately subject to the Pope.  Tunis was established as an apostolic vicariate in 1843 and was suppressed in 1884 (in favor of the Archdiocese of Carthage which existed from 1884 to 1964).  Tunis became a territorial prelature in 1964, a diocese in 1995, and an archdiocese in 2010.  The Catholics are mostly of Italian and French descent, but some are indigenous Tunisians.

Cathedral of St. Vincent de Paul in Tunis from Wikipedia.

Western Sahara

Western Sahara is a non-self-governing territory that is claimed by Morocco and by the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.  Once a colony of Spain, the territory gained independence in 1976, but its governance has been in dispute ever since.  Western Sahara’s 620,000 people are Muslim, but there are a few hundred Catholics (almost all Spaniards).  They are served by the Apostolic Prefecture of Western Sahara, which was established (under a different name) in 1954 and is immediately subject to the Pope.

Middle East

Cyprus and the Arabian Peninsula

Cyprus

Cyprus gained independence from Great Britain in 1960 but almost immediately was immersed in a civil war between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.  Today about one third of the island nation claims to be the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.  The Turkish portion of the nation is presumably all Muslim and the following statistics are only for the Greek part of Cyprus.

Christianity came to Cyprus during apostolic times and the apostle, Barnabas, is believed to be buried in Cyprus.  Cyprus has 1.2 million people and 89 percent are Greek Orthodox.  There are about 30,000 Catholics.  About 10,000 Maronite Catholics form the Archdiocese of Cyprus, which was established in 1357, and is immediately subject to the Maronite Patriarch.  Roman Rite Catholics are under the jurisdiction of the Patriarch of Jerusalem.

Arabian Peninsula

Although Christianity reached the Arabian Peninsula in apostolic times, the region has long been predominantly Muslim.  Roman Rite Catholics in the Arabian Peninsula are divided between the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia and the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia.  

The Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia was established as an apostolic prefecture in 1953 and became an apostolic vicariate in 1954.  It is headquartered in Kuwait City and is directly under the jurisdiction of the Pope.  Catholics in four countries are served by this vicariate—Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.  There are about 2.6 million Roman Rite Catholics in these countries served by 11 parishes.  Most of the Catholics are foreign workers.

Holy Family Cathedral in Kuwait City from Wikipedia.

Kuwait has a population of 4.4 million, about 70 percent of whom are immigrants.  Muslims account for 75 percent of the total and Christians for 18 percent.  Catholics number 370,000.  In addition to the Roman Rite Catholics, there are a few dozen Greek-Melkite and Syriac Catholics in Kuwait.  The Greek-Melkite Catholics form the Patriarchal Exarchate of Kuwait which was created in 1972 and is immediately subject to the Greek-Melkite Patriarch.  Syriac Catholics are part of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Basra and the Gulf in Iraq. 

Bahrain has 1.4 million people and over 70 percent are Muslim.  Almost half of Bahrain’s population is made up of foreign workers.  Catholics number 100,000. 

Qatar has 2.4 million people and two-thirds are Muslim.  Catholics number 350,000.

Saudi Arabia has a population of 29 million.  Saudi citizens are 100 percent Muslim, but there are 1.6 million Catholics—mostly Filipino.  Unlike the other Arabian countries, freedom of worship is not allowed in Saudi Arabia and there are no Christian churches in the country.

The other three nations of the Arabian Peninsula—the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Yemen—are under the jurisdiction of the Vicariate Apostolic of Southern Arabia, located in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.  The Apostolic Prefecture of Jedda was established in 1840 and became the Apostolic Vicariate of Aden in 1888.  It acquired its current name in 2011.  The Vicariate serves one million Catholics in 16 parishes in the three countries and is immediately subject to the Pope.  Almost all of the Catholics in these countries are foreign workers.  The Vicariate is staffed by the Capuchins of Florence, Italy.

Both pictures are of St. Joseph Cathedral in Abu Dhabi.  The top picture is from Wikipedia and the bottom picture is from the cathedral's website.

The United Arab Emirates has 9.7 million people and 88 percent are immigrants.  About 75 percent of the people are Muslim and over 800,000 are Catholic.

Oman has a population of 4 million and almost half are immigrants.  Muslims account for 86 percent of the total population.  There are over 80,000 Catholics.

Yemen has 29 million people, almost all of whom are Muslim.  There are only a few thousand Catholics.

Definitions

There are dioceses and archdioceses that are not part of a province and that are directly under the jurisdiction of the Pope.  There are also missionary jurisdictions below the level of a diocese.  These include apostolic vicariates, apostolic prefectures, and territorial prelatures.  An apostolic vicariate is led by a bishop and the others are led by priests below the level of a bishop. 

Most Catholics in the world belong to the Latin or Roman rite.  Rite refers to liturgical practices, ecclesiastical discipline, and spiritual heritage.  Many Catholics belong to one of two dozen Eastern rite churches.  Eastern rite churches trace their heritage to Eastern Europe and the Middle East.  Eastern rite churches sometimes use different terminologies.  For example, a diocese might be called an eparchy and is led by an eparch.  A vicariate apostolic is called an exarchy and is led by an exarch. 

Oceania—1

This blog covers Australia and New Zealand.

Australia

Catholics came to Australia on the first British ships in 1788 and these Catholics were mostly Irish convicts or Royal Marines.  By 1828, there were only 10,000 Catholics in Australia, but by 1841 there were 40,000.  The first priests settled in Australia in 1820 and the first bishop, John Polding, an English Benedictine, arrived in 1834.  Other religious orders, including the Christian Brothers and the Jesuits arrived in the 1840s.

Australia has 5.8 million Catholic or about 25 percent of the total population.  About 30 percent of the population are Protestant or Orthodox Christians and 40 percent of Australians claim no particular religion.  Australia has five Catholic ecclesiastical provinces—Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, and Perth.  In addition, the Roman Rite Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn (New South Wales) and the Roman Rite Archdiocese of Hobart (Tasmania), are immediately subject to the Pope.  The Diocese of Goulburn was established in 1862 and became the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn in 1948.  The Diocese of Hobart was created in 1842 and was raised to an archdiocese in 1888. 

The Anglican Rite Diocese of Our Lady of the Southern Cross is immediately subject to the Pope.  The Chaldean Rite Diocese of Saint Thomas the Apostle of Sydney, the Greek-Melkite Rite Diocese of St. Michael's of Sydney, the Maronite Rite Diocese of Saint Maron of Sydney, and the Syro-Malabar Rite Diocese of Saint Thomas the Apostle of Melbourne, are immediately subject their respective patriarchs or major archbishop.  There is also a military diocese.

Province of Sydney

The Province consists of most of the civil province of New South Wales.  The Apostolic Vicariate of New Holland and Van Diemen’s Land was established in 1834 and this became the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Sydney in 1842. 

The Cathedral Church and Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Mother of God, Help of Christians (St. Mary's Cathedral) is located in Sydney.  The English Gothic Revival Cathedral replaced the first cathedral which burned in 1865.  The current church, built of sandstone, began construction in 1868 and was opened and dedicated in 1882.  Work continued on the Cathedral and it was not until 2000 that the 245-foot spires on the south side of the Cathedral were added.  The Cathedral’s stained glass windows (over 40 of them) were made by Hardman Studios in England in the late 1880s.  The Stations of the Cross were made by a 19^th Century French artist.  The Cathedral also has a relic of St. Francis Xavier (his right hand).  Pope Pius XI designated the Cathedral as a minor basilica in 1932.  Additional information can be found at stmaryscathedral.org.au.

The first two pictures are from the Cathedral's website and the second two are from Wikipedia.

The Province has nine suffragan dioceses.

·         The Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle was established as the Diocese of Maitland in 1847 and was given its current name in 1995.

·         The Diocese of Bathurst was established in 1865.

·         The Diocese of Armidale was established in 1869.

·         The Diocese of Lismore was established in 1887 as the Diocese of Grafton and became the Diocese of Lismore in 1900.

·         The Diocese of Wilcannia-Forbes was established in 1887 as the Diocese of Wilcannia and acquired its current name in 1917.

·         The Diocese of Wagga Wagga was established in 1917.

·         The Diocese of Woolongong was established in 1951.

·         The Diocese of Broken Bay was established in 1986.

·         The Diocese of Parramatta was established in 1986.

Province of Melbourne

The Province consists of the civil province of Victoria.  The Diocese of Melbourne was created in 1847 and was promoted as the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Melbourne in 1874.  

Construction of St. Patrick’s Cathedral Basilica in Melbourne began in 1858, and although the nave was finished within ten years, the official completion would not come until 1939.  The Cathedral is constructed of bluestone and sandstone in a Gothic-revival style.  The central spire is 344 feet high and the flanking towers and spires are 203 feet high.  Since almost all Melbourne Catholics in the middle of the 19^th Century were Irish, the Cathedral was dedicated to St. Patrick.  Pope Paul VI designated the Cathedral as a minor basilica in 1974.  The current cathedral choir dates to 1939 when the Vienna Mozart Boys Choir was stranded in Australia at the beginning of the Second World War.  Today the choir members are students at St. Kevin’s College.  The Cathedral’s website is cam.org.au/cathedral.

The top picture is from Flickr and the other two are from Wikipedia.

The Province has four suffragan dioceses.

·         The Diocese of Ballarat was established in 1874.

·         The Diocese of Sandhurst was established in 1874.

·         The Diocese of Sale was established in 1887.

·         The Ukrainian Rite Catholic Diocese of Saints Peter and Paul of Melbourne was established as the Apostolic Vicariate of Australia in 1958 and attained its current name in 1982.

Province of Adelaide

The Province consists of the civil provinces of South Australia and the Northern Territory.  The Diocese of Adelaide (South Australia) was established in 1842.  It was promoted as the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Adelaide in 1887. 

Construction of St. Francis Xavier’s Cathedral in Adelaide began in 1856 and the church was dedicated in 1958.  Several expansions have been made over the years and the bell tower was not completed until 1996.  The main bell was cast in 1867 and seven of the other 13 bells came from St. Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney.  The Cathedral features a statue of St. John the Baptist baptizing Jesus, carved in Italy in 1925; a chapel altar made of Carrara marble with panels of lapis lazuli made in 1954; and windows depicting St. Patrick and St. Lawrence.  The Cathedral’s website is adelcathparish.org.

Both pictures are from Wikipedia.

The Province has two suffragan dioceses.

·         The Diocese of Darwin (Northern Territory) began as the Apostolic Vicariate of Essington in 1845 and became the Diocese of Victoria in 1847.  It acquired its current name in 1938.

·         The Diocese of Port Augusta was established in 1887 and became the Diocese of Port Pirie (South Australia) in 1951.

Province of Brisbane

The Province consists of the civil province of Queensland.  The Diocese of Brisbane was created in 1859 and became the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Brisbane in 1887.

St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Brisbane is a Gothic Revival building made of Brisbane tuff and freestone.  The towers are made of sandstone.  Construction began in 1863 and the incomplete Cathedral was dedicated in 1874.  The Cathedral’s Stations of the Cross were made in Germany.  For additional information, see cathedralofststephen.org.au.

Both are from Wikipedia

The Province has four suffragan dioceses.

·         The Diocese of Rockhampton was established in 1881.

·         The Diocese of Toowoomba was established in 1929.

·         The Diocese of Townsville was established in 1930.

·         The Diocese of Cairns was established as the Apostolic Vicariate of Queensland in 1877 and became a diocese in 1941.

Province of Perth

The Province consists of the civil province of Western Australia.  The Diocese of Perth was established in 1845 and was promoted to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Perth in 1913.

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Perth replaced an earlier cathedral built in 1865.  Construction of the current building began in 1926 and was opened in an incomplete state in 1930.  Full completion of the Cathedral did not come until 2009.  The Cathedral is made of limestone and is designed in an English Perpendicular Gothic style.  The Cathedral has stained glass windows from England and mosaics based on the Irish Book of Kells.  The Cathedral’s website is stmaryscathedralperth.com.au.

The first is from the Cathedral's website and the other two are from Wikipedia.

The Province has three suffragan dioceses.

·         The Diocese of Geraldton was established in 1898.

·         The Diocese of Bunbury was established in 1954.

·         The Diocese of Broome was established as the Apostolic Vicariate of Kimberly in Western Australia in 1887 and acquired its current name in 1966.

New Zealand

British colonization of New Zealand began in 1840, but it would take until 1872 for the British to fully defeat the Maori people.  New Zealand gained independence in 1907.  Catholic missionaries came to New Zealand in 1840 and today New Zealand has 540,000 Catholics, or 12 percent of the total population.  Less than half of New Zealanders claim to be Christian.

New Zealand has one province—Wellington.  There is also a military diocese.  Chaldean Catholics, Greek-Melkite Catholics, and Ukrainian Catholics are under the leadership of bishops in Australia. 

Province of Wellington

The Province consists of New Zealand.  The Diocese of Wellington (North Island) was established in 1848 and became the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Wellington in 1887.

The Metropolitan Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Wellington replaced an earlier Cathedral that burned in 1898.  The current Cathedral was opened in 1901 and is mainly built with Oamaru limestone in a basilica style.  At one time, the Cathedral had two bell towers, but they were torn down in 1942 after being damaged by an earthquake.  The Cathedral has bronze sculptures by a local artist that depict Mary’s sorrow underneath each of the Stations of the Cross.  There is also a carved rock that was a gift of Catholic Maori that depicts the Faith given by Jesus at the base, and above that representations of various aspects of the Faith.  The courtyard has a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary that was made in France and that was originally placed in the old Cathedral.  The statue fell 80 feet during the 1898 fire, but was largely undamaged.  The Cathedral’s website is mcshwellington.org.

The top picture is from tripadvisor and the other two are from Wikipedia.

The Province has five suffragan dioceses.

·         The Diocese of Auckland (North Island) was created as the Apostolic Vicariate of New Zealand in 1842 and became a diocese in 1848.

·         The Diocese of Dunedin (South Island) was established in 1869.

·         The Diocese of Christchurch (South Island) was established in 1887.

·         The Diocese of Hamilton (North Island) was established in 1980.

·         The Diocese of Palmerston North (North Island) was established in 1980.