Roman Catholic Diocese of Bathurst (Canada)
Encyclopedia
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Bathurst (erected 8 May 1860, as the Diocese of Chatham) is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Moncton
. It was renamed on 13 March 1938. It is located in New Brunswick
, Canada
.
In its early years, Irish
clergy dominated its affairs, though there was a French
Catholic majority population in more northerly Restigouche and Gloucester Counties. Northumberland County
, where Chatham was located, was predominantly Irish and Scottish Catholic. Over time, however, the tendency of the Irish to prefer an urban life, and move to Boston and other parts of the USA, reduced the English speaking Catholic populations, especially in the northern counties.
The first bishop was The Most Reverend James Rogers who retired in 1903, a well-respected and portly Irishman who did much to build the Catholic Church in the Diocese. Religious orders were brought in, schools and hospitals built and vocations harvested. A fine cathedral, now St. Michael's Basilica
was constructed, with a matching Bishop's Palace which housed the diocesan administration as well as the bishop. Colleges were opened in Chatham for the English (now St. Thomas University
) and Bathurst for the French (Collège du Sacré-Coeur de Bathurst, merged into Université de Moncton
). Bishop Thomas Barry continued Bishop Roger's work from 1902 to 1920.
The next appointment in 1920 was a French speaker. By this time the French were in a majority in the diocese and Bishop Patrice Chiasson decided to move his headquarters to Bathurst, a majority French speaking area. The move was complete in 1938.
Bishop Camille Leblanc, who served from 1942 to 1969, was especially esteemed for his simlpicity and frugal life style.
The diocese was left with a large and beautiful church in Chatham, larger than most of the cathedrals of western Canada.
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Moncton
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Moncton is a Roman Catholic archdiocese that includes part of the Province of New Brunswick and includes the suffragan dioceses of Bathurst, Edmundston, and Saint John, New Brunswick. It is currently led by Archbishop André Richard.As of 2004, the archdiocese...
. It was renamed on 13 March 1938. It is located in New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
History
The Diocese of Chatham covered the entire north of the Province of New Brunswick.In its early years, Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
clergy dominated its affairs, though there was a French
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
Catholic majority population in more northerly Restigouche and Gloucester Counties. Northumberland County
Northumberland County, New Brunswick
Northumberland County , having the largest area of any county in the province, is located in northeastern New Brunswick, Canada.-Geography:Northumberland County is covered by thick forests, whose products stimulate the economy...
, where Chatham was located, was predominantly Irish and Scottish Catholic. Over time, however, the tendency of the Irish to prefer an urban life, and move to Boston and other parts of the USA, reduced the English speaking Catholic populations, especially in the northern counties.
The first bishop was The Most Reverend James Rogers who retired in 1903, a well-respected and portly Irishman who did much to build the Catholic Church in the Diocese. Religious orders were brought in, schools and hospitals built and vocations harvested. A fine cathedral, now St. Michael's Basilica
St. Michael's Basilica
The Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel, is located on a hill overlooking the Miramichi River in the Province of New Brunswick, Canada. It is the dominant feature of the former Town of Chatham, New Brunswick and one of the largest churches in Eastern Canada. It is now included within the new City...
was constructed, with a matching Bishop's Palace which housed the diocesan administration as well as the bishop. Colleges were opened in Chatham for the English (now St. Thomas University
St. Thomas University (New Brunswick)
St. Thomas University is jointly a public and Roman Catholic liberal arts university located in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada. It offers degrees exclusively at the undergraduate level for approximately 3,000 students in the liberal arts, humanities, journalism, education, and social work....
) and Bathurst for the French (Collège du Sacré-Coeur de Bathurst, merged into Université de Moncton
Université de Moncton
The Université de Moncton is a French language university located in Moncton, New Brunswick serving the Acadian community of Atlantic Canada...
). Bishop Thomas Barry continued Bishop Roger's work from 1902 to 1920.
The next appointment in 1920 was a French speaker. By this time the French were in a majority in the diocese and Bishop Patrice Chiasson decided to move his headquarters to Bathurst, a majority French speaking area. The move was complete in 1938.
Bishop Camille Leblanc, who served from 1942 to 1969, was especially esteemed for his simlpicity and frugal life style.
The diocese was left with a large and beautiful church in Chatham, larger than most of the cathedrals of western Canada.
Ordinaries
- James RogersJames Rogers (bishop)James Rogers was a Canadian Roman Catholic priest and the 1st Bishop of Chatham, New Brunswick from 1860 to 1902.Rogers was born in Mount Charles, Ireland and emigrated with his family to Canada in 1831...
(1860 - 1902) - Thomas Francis Barry (1902 - 1920)
- Patrice Alexandre Chiasson, C.I.M. (1920 - 1942)
- Camille-André Le Blanc (1942 - 1969)
- Edgar Godin (1969 - 1985)
- Arsène Richard (1985 - 1989)
- André Richard, C.S.C. (1989 - 2002)
- Valéry Vienneau (2002 - )
Territorial losses
| Year | Along with | To form |
|---|---|---|
| 1936 | Diocese of Saint John, New Brunswick | Archdiocese of Moncton |
| 1944 | Diocese of Edmundston |
External links and references
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Bathurst official site