Roman Catholic Diocese of Great Falls-Billings
Encyclopedia
The Diocese of Great Falls-Billings is the Catholic diocese
of eastern Montana
, established in 1904.
Pope Pius X
erected the "Diocese of Great Falls" on May 18, 1904, by dividing the Diocese of Helena
, which previously comprised the entire state.
For its first 76 years, it was called the "Diocese of Great Falls" . Bishop Thomas J. Murphy
changed the name of the diocese on February 14, 1980, adding "Billings" (and also changing the way that "Great Falls" was translated into Latin).
The diocese has two cathedrals: St Ann's Cathedral in Great Falls
, which was dedicated on December 15, 1907; and St Patrick's Co-Cathedral in Billings
, which was dedicated on March 1, 1908.
The co-patrons of the diocese are:
The past bishop
s of the diocese are:
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 eastern Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
, established in 1904.
Pope Pius X
Pope Pius X
Pope Saint Pius X , born Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto, was the 257th Pope of the Catholic Church, serving from 1903 to 1914. He was the first pope since Pope Pius V to be canonized. Pius X rejected modernist interpretations of Catholic doctrine, promoting traditional devotional practices and orthodox...
erected the "Diocese of Great Falls" on May 18, 1904, by dividing the Diocese of Helena
Roman Catholic Diocese of Helena
The Diocese of Helena is the Catholic diocese for western Montana. It was erected from the year-old Vicarate of Montana on March 7, 1884, while Montana was still a territory. The diocese is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Portland, which encompasses Oregon, Idaho, and Montana.For its first...
, which previously comprised the entire state.
For its first 76 years, it was called the "Diocese of Great Falls" . Bishop Thomas J. Murphy
Thomas Joseph Murphy
Thomas Joseph Murphy was an American bishop in the Catholic Church who served as Bishop of Great Falls from 1978–1987, Coadjutor Archbishop of Seattle from 1987–1991, and Archbishop of Seattle from 1991 until his death....
changed the name of the diocese on February 14, 1980, adding "Billings" (and also changing the way that "Great Falls" was translated into Latin).
The diocese has two cathedrals: St Ann's Cathedral in Great Falls
Great Falls, Montana
Great Falls is a city in and the county seat of Cascade County, Montana, United States. The population was 58,505 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Great Falls, Montana Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Cascade County...
, which was dedicated on December 15, 1907; and St Patrick's Co-Cathedral in Billings
Billings, Montana
Billings is the largest city in the U.S. state of Montana, and is the principal city of the Billings Metropolitan Area, the largest metropolitan area in over...
, which was dedicated on March 1, 1908.
The co-patrons of the diocese are:
- Saint MatthiasSaint MatthiasMatthias , according to the Acts of the Apostles, was the apostle chosen by the remaining eleven apostles to replace Judas Iscariot following Judas' betrayal of Jesus and his suicide.-Biography:...
, whose feast day is May 14, from the patron saint of the first bishop - Saint Pius X, whose feast day is August 21, since this saint, while pope, erected the diocese
The past 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...
s of the diocese are:
- Mathias Clement LenihanMathias Clement LenihanMathias Clement Lenihan, was a 20th century archbishop in the Catholic Church in the United States. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Great Falls in the state of Montana from 1904-30.-Early Life & Ministry:...
(1904–1930), originally from Dubuque, IowaDubuque, IowaDubuque is a city in and the county seat of Dubuque County, Iowa, United States, located along the Mississippi River. In 2010 its population was 57,637, making it the ninth-largest city in the state and the county's population was 93,653....
. - Edwin Vincent O'HaraEdwin Vincent O'HaraEdwin Vincent O'Hara was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church.-Early life:Edwin O'Hara was born in Lanesboro, Minnesota, as one of eight children. His parents emigrated from Ireland during the potato famine and settled in the United States. O'Hara studied at St. Paul's Seminary before...
(1930–1939), from Portland, OregonPortland, OregonPortland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
. - William Joseph CondonWilliam Joseph CondonWilliam Joseph Condon was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Great Falls from 1939 until his death in 1967.-Biography:...
(1939–1967), from Spokane, WashingtonSpokane, WashingtonSpokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
. - Eldon Bernard SchusterEldon Bernard SchusterEldon Bernard Schuster was an American Roman Catholic clergyman.Schuster was born in Calio, North Dakota, to John Francis and Leona Marie Schuster. He attended Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, and the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C...
(1967–1977), from Great Falls, MontanaGreat Falls, MontanaGreat Falls is a city in and the county seat of Cascade County, Montana, United States. The population was 58,505 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Great Falls, Montana Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Cascade County...
. - Thomas Joseph MurphyThomas Joseph MurphyThomas Joseph Murphy was an American bishop in the Catholic Church who served as Bishop of Great Falls from 1978–1987, Coadjutor Archbishop of Seattle from 1987–1991, and Archbishop of Seattle from 1991 until his death....
(1978–1987), from Chicago, Illinois. - Anthony Michael MiloneAnthony Michael MiloneAnthony Michael Milone was the sixth bishop of the Diocese of Great Falls-Billings. He was born in Omaha, Nebraska on September 24, 1932....
(1987–2006), from Omaha, NebraskaOmaha, NebraskaOmaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
. - Michael William WarfelMichael William WarfelMichael William Warfel is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the seventh and current Bishop of Great Falls-Billings.-Biography:...
(2007–present), from Elkhart, IndianaElkhart, IndianaElkhart is a city in Elkhart County, Indiana, United States. The city is located east of South Bend, northwest of Fort Wayne, east of Chicago, and north of Indianapolis...
.
High schools
- Billings Central Catholic High SchoolBillings Central Catholic High SchoolBillings Central Catholic High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Billings, Montana. It is one of three Catholic high schools in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Great Falls-Billings.-Background:...
- BillingsBillings, MontanaBillings is the largest city in the U.S. state of Montana, and is the principal city of the Billings Metropolitan Area, the largest metropolitan area in over... - Great Falls Central Catholic High SchoolGreat Falls Central Catholic High SchoolGreat Falls Central Catholic High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Great Falls, Montana. It is one of three Catholic high schools in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Great Falls-Billings.-Background:...
- Great FallsGreat Falls, MontanaGreat Falls is a city in and the county seat of Cascade County, Montana, United States. The population was 58,505 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Great Falls, Montana Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Cascade County... - St. Labre Indian Catholic High SchoolSt. Labre Indian Catholic High SchoolSt. Labre Indian Catholic High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Ashland, Montana. It is located within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Great Falls-Billings and serves students from Crow and Northern Cheyenne tribes.-Background:...
- AshlandAshland, MontanaAshland is a census-designated place in Rosebud County, Montana, United States. The population was 464 at the 2000 census. Ashland is immediately east of the boundary of the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation and the location of the St...
External links
- Diocese of Great Falls-Billings - official site
- Catholic Hierarchy.org - Diocese of Great Falls-Billings
- St. Ann's Cathedral - Great Falls - website
- St. Patrick's Cathedral - Billings - website
- Billings Catholic Schools - website
- Great Falls Central High School - official site