Roman Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids
Encyclopedia
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids is a diocese
of the Roman Catholic Church
in western Michigan
, in the United States
. It comprises 102 churches in Ottawa
, Kent
, Ionia
, Muskegon
, Newaygo
, Oceana
, Montcalm
, Mecosta
, Lake
, Mason
, and Osceola
counties in Michigan. The diocese was created on May 19, 1882 by Pope Leo XIII
. The motherchurch of the diocese is the Cathedral of St. Andrew.
The prelate
of the diocese is the bishop
. On June 21, 2005, more than a year after the death of the previous bishop, Kevin Britt, Pope Benedict XVI
named Walter A. Hurley
the eleventh Bishop of Grand Rapids. Hurley was installed on August 4.
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
in western Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It comprises 102 churches in Ottawa
Ottawa County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 238,314 people, 81,662 households, and 61,328 families residing in the county. The population density was 421 people per square mile . There were 86,856 housing units at an average density of 154 per square mile...
, Kent
Kent County, Michigan
-Air Service:*Commercial air service to Grand Rapids is provided by Gerald R. Ford International Airport . Previously named Kent County International Airport, it holds Grand Rapids' mark in modern history with the United States' first regularly scheduled airline service, beginning July 31, 1926,...
, Ionia
Ionia County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 61,518 people, 20,606 households, and 15,145 families residing in the county. The population density was 107 people per square mile . There were 22,006 housing units at an average density of 38 per square mile...
, Muskegon
Muskegon County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 170,200 people, 63,330 households, and 44,267 families residing in the county. The population density was 334 people per square mile . There were 68,556 housing units at an average density of 135 per square mile...
, Newaygo
Newaygo County, Michigan
Newaygo County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is part of the Grand Rapids–Wyoming, MI, Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 48,460. The county seat is White Cloud. Newaygo County was either named for an Ojibwe leader who signed the Saginaw...
, Oceana
Oceana County, Michigan
-US highways:* US-31* US 31 Business Route is a spur serving downtown Hart.* US 31 Business Route loops through downtown Pentwater, returning to mainline US-31 at both ends.-Michigan State Trunklines:* M-20* M-120-Intercounty Highways:*B-15...
, Montcalm
Montcalm County, Michigan
-Michigan State Highways:* M-46* M-57* M-66* M-82* M-91-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 61,266 people, 22,079 households, and 16,183 families residing in the county. The population density was 86 people per square mile . There were 25,900 housing units at an average density...
, Mecosta
Mecosta County, Michigan
Mecosta County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. The county is named after Chief Mecosta, the leader of the Potawatomi Native American tribe that once traveled the local waterways in search of fish and game. Chief Mecosta was one of the signers the Treaty of Washington in 1836. The easily...
, Lake
Lake County, Michigan
-Highways:* US 10* M-37-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 11,333 people, 4,704 households, and 3,052 families residing in the county. The population density was 20 people per square mile . There were 13,498 housing units at an average density of 24 per square mile...
, Mason
Mason County, Michigan
Mason County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the population was 28,705. The county seat is Ludington.-History:...
, and Osceola
Osceola County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 23,197 people, 8,861 households, and 6,415 families residing in the county. The population density was 41 people per square mile . There were 12,853 housing units at an average density of 23 per square mile...
counties in Michigan. The diocese was created on May 19, 1882 by Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII , born Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci to an Italian comital family, was the 256th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, reigning from 1878 to 1903...
. The motherchurch of the diocese is the Cathedral of St. Andrew.
The prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
of the diocese is the bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
. On June 21, 2005, more than a year after the death of the previous bishop, Kevin Britt, Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
named Walter A. Hurley
Walter A. Hurley
Walter Allison Hurley is a Canadian American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the eleventh and current Bishop of Grand Rapids.-Early life:...
the eleventh Bishop of Grand Rapids. Hurley was installed on August 4.
Bishops
- Henry RichterHenry Richter (bishop)Henry Joseph Richter was a German-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He was the first Bishop of Grand Rapids, Michigan .-Biography:...
(1883-1916) - Michael J. Gallagher (1916-1918)
- Edward D. Kelly (1919-1926)
- Joseph G. PintenJoseph G. PintenJoseph Gabriel Pinten was the third Roman Catholic bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Superior, in Superior, Wisconsin and the fourth bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids, in Grand Rapids, Michigan....
(1926-1940) - Joseph C. PlagensJoseph C. PlagensJoseph Casimir Plagens was a Polish-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Sault Sainte Marie-Marquette and then Bishop of Grand Rapids .-Biography:...
1941-1943) - Francis J. HaasFrancis J. HaasFrancis Joseph Haas was an American Roman Catholic bishop and advocate for social justice. He was the sixth bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids from 1943 until his death in 1953.-Early Life and Training:...
(1943-1953) - Allen James BabcockAllen James BabcockAllen James Babcock was an American Roman Catholic clergyman. He was born in Bad Axe, Michigan, and ordained to the priesthood on March 7, 1925. On February 15, 1947, he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit and Titular Bishop of Irenopolis in Cilicia by Pope Pius XII...
(1954-1970) - Joseph M. BreitenbeckJoseph M. BreitenbeckJoseph Matthew Breitenbeck was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He was the eighth Bishop of Grand Rapids from 1969 to 1989, having previously served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Detroit .-Early life and education:Breitenbeck was born in Detroit, Michigan, one of...
(1969-1989) - Robert John RoseRobert John RoseRobert John Rose is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Gaylord and Bishop of Grand Rapids .-Biography:...
(1989-2003) - Kevin Michael BrittKevin Michael BrittKevin Michael Britt was an American Roman Catholic bishop.-Biography:Born in Detroit, Michigan, Britt was ordained to the priesthood on June 28, 1970 for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit. On November 23, 1993, Britt was appointed auxiliary bishop of the Detroit Archdiocese and he was...
(2003-2004) - Walter A. HurleyWalter A. HurleyWalter Allison Hurley is a Canadian American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the eleventh and current Bishop of Grand Rapids.-Early life:...
(2005-present)
High schools
- Catholic Central High School, Grand Rapids
- Muskegon Catholic Central High SchoolMuskegon Catholic Central High SchoolMuskegon Catholic Central High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Muskegon, Michigan. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids.-Background:...
, Muskegon - St. Patrick High SchoolSt. Patrick High School (Portland, Michigan)St. Patrick High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Portland, Michigan. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids....
, Portland - West Catholic High SchoolWest Catholic High SchoolGrand Rapids West Catholic High School in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It is a Roman Catholic private, coeducational school and was opened in 1962. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids.-Athletics:...
, Grand Rapids