The Diocese of Hamilton () is a
Latin Church
The Latin Church () is the largest autonomous () particular church within the Catholic Church, whose members constitute the vast majority of the 1.3 billion Catholics. The Latin Church is one of 24 Catholic particular churches and liturgical ...
ecclesiastical territory or
diocese
In Ecclesiastical polity, church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop.
History
In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided Roman province, prov ...
of the
Catholic Church
The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...
in
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...
. It is a
suffragan diocese
A suffragan diocese is one of the dioceses other than the metropolitan archdiocese that constitute an ecclesiastical province. It exists in some Christian denominations, in particular the Catholic Church, the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandr ...
in the
ecclesiastical province
An ecclesiastical province is one of the basic forms of jurisdiction in Christian churches, including those of both Western Christianity and Eastern Christianity, that have traditional hierarchical structures. An ecclesiastical province consist ...
of the
metropolitan Archdiocese in Toronto.
The
cathedral
A cathedral is a church (building), church that contains the of a bishop, thus serving as the central church of a diocese, Annual conferences within Methodism, conference, or episcopate. Churches with the function of "cathedral" are usually s ...
is the
Cathedral Basilica of Christ the King, dedicated to
Christ the King in 1933, in Hamilton,
Ontario
Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...
. There is a former cathedral, St. Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, also in Hamilton and a
minor basilica,
Our Lady Immaculate, in
Guelph, Ontario.
History
It was established on 29 February 1856 by Pope Pius IX as the Diocese of Hamilton, on territory split off from the
Archdiocese of Toronto, which became its Metropolitan. On 22 November 1958, it lost territory to establish the
Diocese of Saint Catharines. The Diocese of Hamilton celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2006, with Anthony Tonnos celebrating
Mass
Mass is an Intrinsic and extrinsic properties, intrinsic property of a physical body, body. It was traditionally believed to be related to the physical quantity, quantity of matter in a body, until the discovery of the atom and particle physi ...
at the seat of the diocese. Special signs, marks and posters were commissioned for many of the diocese's churches, schools and buildings.
Bishops
Episcopal ordinaries
*
John Farrell (1856.02.29 – death 28 September 1873), a native of Ireland, consecrated May 11, 1856. He introduced Catholic schools, built St. Mary's Cathedral, and helped to establish the academies of the Ladies of Loretto in Hamilton and Guelph. He also encouraged the founding of St. Jerome's College by the Fathers of the Resurrection, and confided the Owen Sound Missions to the Basilian Fathers. The CRC had been formed in 1836 in Paris. Many of its members were Polish emigres who left their native country in a time of political turmoil.
* P. F. Crinnon (1874.02.03 – death November 25, 1882), also born in Ireland and consecrated April 19, 1873. He built St. Patrick's Church in
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Ontario. Hamilton has a 2021 Canadian census, population of 569,353 (2021), and its Census Metropolitan Area, census metropolitan area, which encompasses ...
, established the House of Providence, Dundas and secured a site for Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.
*
James Joseph Carbery (1883.09.04 – death 17 December 1887 in Ireland),
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers (, abbreviated OP), commonly known as the Dominican Order, is a Catholic Church, Catholic mendicant order of pontifical right that was founded in France by a Castilians, Castilian priest named Saint Dominic, Dominic de Gu ...
(O.P.) also born in Ireland, consecrated on November 11, 1883, and held an important diocesan synod.
*
T. J. Dowling, D.D., first Canadian incumbent (1889.01.11 – death 1924.08.06), previously Bishop of
Peterborough (Canada) (1886.12.14 – 1889.01.11). Since his May 1889 installment, 14 new parishes had been established, 28 priests ordained, and 22 new churches, schools and presbyteries erected. Catholic hospitals at Hamilton and Guelph, and the new House of Providence at Dundas were also established in his time. During Dowling's time, there were 42 priests in the diocese of Canadian by birth. Four were from Ireland, four from the United States, four from France, three from Germany, two from Poland and two from Italy. Candidates for the priesthood studied at St. Jerome's College in Berlin, Ontario (now called
Kitchener,
Ontario
Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...
) and Grand Seminary in Montreal, Quebec. The diocese had nine parishes for German-speaking people and one Indian parish. There were also chapels for Poles and Italians.
*
John Thomas McNally (1924.08.12 – 1937.02.17), previously Bishop of
Calgary
Calgary () is a major city in the Canadian province of Alberta. As of 2021, the city proper had a population of 1,306,784 and a metropolitan population of 1,481,806 making it the third-largest city and fifth-largest metropolitan area in C ...
(Canada) (1913.04.04 – 1924.08.12); later Metropolitan Archbishop of
Halifax (Canada) (1937.02.17 – 1952.11.18).
* Joseph F. Ryan (1937.08.16 – retired 1973.03.27), died 1990. His term brought much growth and expansion of churches and Catholic schools.
*
Paul F. Reding (1973.09.14 – death 1983.12.08) succeeding as previous
Auxiliary Bishop
An auxiliary bishop is a bishop assigned to assist the diocesan bishop in meeting the pastoral and administrative needs of the diocese. Auxiliary bishops can also be titular bishops of sees that no longer exist as territorial jurisdictions.
...
of Hamilton (1966.07.02 – 1973.09.14) and
Titular Bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.
By definition, a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop, the tradition of the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox an ...
of
Liberalia
In ancient Roman religion
Religion in ancient Rome consisted of varying imperial and provincial religious practices, which were followed both by the Roman people, people of Rome as well as those who were brought under its rule.
The Romans t ...
(1966.07.02 – 1973.09.14)
**
Auxiliary Bishop
An auxiliary bishop is a bishop assigned to assist the diocesan bishop in meeting the pastoral and administrative needs of the diocese. Auxiliary bishops can also be titular bishops of sees that no longer exist as territorial jurisdictions.
...
(1978.02.09 – 1982.08.12) James Hector MacDonald,
Titular Bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.
By definition, a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop, the tradition of the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox an ...
of
Gibba (1978.02.09 – 1982.08.12); next Bishop of
Charlottetown
Charlottetown is the capital and largest city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Prince Edward Island, and the county seat of Queens County, Prince Edward Island, Queens County. Named after Queen Charlotte, Charlott ...
(Canada) (1982.08.12 – 1991.02.02), Metropolitan Archbishop of
Saint John’s (
Newfoundland
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada, in the country's Atlantic region. The province comprises the island of Newfoundland and the continental region of Labrador, having a total size of . As of 2025 the population ...
, Canada) (1991.02.02 – retired 2000.12.04)
*
Anthony F. Tonnos (1984.05.02 – retired on November 8, 2010, after 27 years in the diocese, informally remaining active), succeeding as previous
Auxiliary Bishop
An auxiliary bishop is a bishop assigned to assist the diocesan bishop in meeting the pastoral and administrative needs of the diocese. Auxiliary bishops can also be titular bishops of sees that no longer exist as territorial jurisdictions.
...
of Hamilton (1983.05.13 – 1984.05.02) and Titular Bishop of
Nationa (1983.05.13 – 1984.05.02)
**
Auxiliary Bishop
An auxiliary bishop is a bishop assigned to assist the diocesan bishop in meeting the pastoral and administrative needs of the diocese. Auxiliary bishops can also be titular bishops of sees that no longer exist as territorial jurisdictions.
...
Matthew Francis Ustrzycki (1985.05.10 – retired 2007.06.01, still informally active in the diocese), Titular Bishop of
Nationa (1985.05.10 – ...)
** Auxiliary bishop Gerard (Paul) Bergie (2005.07.11 – 2010.09.14), Titular Bishop of
Tabæ (2005.07.11 – 2010.09.14); next Bishop of
Saint Catharines (Ontario, Canada) (2010.09.14 – ...)
*
Douglas Crosby (November 8, 2010 – present), also vice-president of Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (2013.09.25 – 2015.09.15), President of Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (2015.09.15 – ...); previously Bishop of the Bishop of
Labrador City–Schefferville (Canada) (1997.10.24 – 2007.05.31), Bishop of
Saint George’s (Canada) (2003.08.06 – 2007.05.31), Bishop of
Corner Brook and Labrador (
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada, in the country's Atlantic region. The province comprises the island of Newfoundland and the continental region of Labrador, having a total size of . As of 2025 the populatio ...
, Canada) (2007.05.31 – 2010.09.24)
**
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop is a bishop assigned to assist the diocesan bishop in meeting the pastoral and administrative needs of the diocese. Auxiliary bishops can also be titular bishops of sees that no longer exist as territorial jurisdictions.
...
Daniel Joseph Miehm (2013.02.20 – 2017.03.10), Titular Bishop of
Gor (2013.02.20 – 2017.03.10); next Bishop of
Peterborough (Canada) (2017.03.10 – ...).
Auxiliary bishops
*
Paul Francis Reding (1966-1973), appointed Bishop here
*
James Hector MacDonald (1978-1982), appointed Bishop of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
*
Anthony Frederick Tonnos (1982-1983), appointed Bishop here
*
Matthew Francis Ustrzycki (1985-2017)
*
Gerard Paul Bergie (2005-2010), appointed Bishop of Saint Catharines, Ontario
*
Daniel Joseph Miehm (2013-2017), appointed Bishop of Peterborough, Ontario
*
Wayne Lawrence Lobsinger (2020–present), appointed Bishop of Gemellae in Numidia
Other priests of this diocese who became bishops
*
Joseph Anthony O'Sullivan, appointed Bishop of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island in 1931
*
Joseph Lawrence Wilhelm, appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Calgary, Alberta in 1963
*
John Michael Sherlock, appointed Auxiliary Bishop of London, Ontario in 1974
*
Thomas Christopher Collins, appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Saint Paul in Alberta in 1997; future Cardinal
*
Peter Joseph Hundt, appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Toronto, Ontario in 2006
Statistics and extent
, it pastorally served 626,723 Catholics (28.5% of 2,201,155 total) on 16,824 km
2 in 124 parishes and 1 mission with 228 priests (137 diocesan, 91 religious), 35 deacons, 269 lay religious (102 brothers, 167 sisters) and 15 seminarians.
[http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/hami0.htm GCatholic]
The Diocese of Hamilton comprises the counties and regions of Brant, Bruce, Grey, Halton, Hamilton, Waterloo, Wellington, as well as four Townships in the County of Dufferin, all located in Ontario. The Diocese of Hamilton had begun as a Catholic Mission in Upper Canada (Ontario).
There are 6 deaneries (Brant, Bruce-Grey, Halton, Hamilton, Waterloo and Wellington) which have 126 parishes in their geographical grouping. There are 7 Catholic school boards in the diocese, 1 Catholic university and 3 university Catholic campus ministries. It has 142 secular and 98 religious priests ministering to 620,518 people in 126 parishes.
Catholic schools
The Government of Ontario accords Catholic schools the same rights as public schools. The taxes paid by Catholics go to support Catholic schools only. Teachers, whether religious or lay, must be qualified to teach according to the same regulations as those governing public school teachers.
Here are the institutions, within the jurisdiction of the Diocese:
*
Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir
*
Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board
*
Halton Catholic District School Board
*
Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board
*
Wellington Catholic District School Board
*
Waterloo Catholic District School Board
*
Bruce-Grey Catholic District School Board
Cemeteries
* Holy Sepulchre Catholic Cemetery (Burlington West-Hamilton Centre)
* Gates of Heaven Catholic Cemetery (Burlington West-Hamilton Centre)
* Our Lady of Angels Catholic Cemetery (Hamilton East-Stoney Creek)
* Resurrection Catholic Cemetery (Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas)
* Marymount Catholic Cemetery (Waterloo-Guelph-Wellington)
* Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery (Cambridge-Brantford-Brant)
* Holy Redeemer Catholic Cemetery (Erin-Halton Hills)
* Holy Family Catholic Cemetery (Burlington East-Milton-Oakville)
Gallery
File:St Marys Pro-Cathedral Hamilton.JPG, St Mary's Pro-Cathedral. Cathedral from 1856 to 1927
File:St Patrick Catholic Church, Hamilton - Exterior.JPG, St. Patrick's Church. Cathedral from 1927 to 1933
File:Cathedral Basilica of Christ the King 2018 - Hamilton, ON.jpg, Cathedral of Christ the King (Hamilton). Cathedral from 1933–Present
See also
*
List of Catholic dioceses in Canada
*
Loyola House
*
Ignatius Jesuit Centre
References
Sources and external links
Diocese of Hamilton website*
ttp://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dhami.html Catholic Hierarchy - Diocese of Hamilton*
Detailed Short History
Holy Sepulchre Cemetery
{{R-C provinces in Canada
1856 establishments in Canada West