The Diocese of Hamilton was created on February 29th, 1856 by a division of the Archdiocese of Toronto. The Diocese comprises of the the counties and regions of Brant, Bruce, Grey, Halton, Waterloo, Wellington, Wentworth, as well as four Townships in the the County of Dufferin, all located in the Ontario. This is a list of the Roman Catholic Archbishops of Toronto. ...

The Diocese of Hamilton started off as a Catholic Missionary in Upper Canada (Ontario). It was officially made a diocese in 1856, with a cathedral on the opposite side of modern Hamilton, Ontario as the seat of the diocese.

There are 6 Deaneries which have 123 Parishes in their Geographical Grouping. There are 7 Catholic School Boards in the Diocese, as well as 1 Catholic University and 3 University Catholic Campus Ministry and Chaplaincy.

History

The Diocese of Hamilton (Hamiltonensis), is a suffragan of Toronto. It comprises the counties of Haldimand, Brant, Wentworth, Halton, Waterloo, Wellington, Grey and Bruce, and has 43 seculars and 18 religious priests ministering to 55,000 people with 42 churches, 24 chapels and 20 stations. This diocese was erected out of Toronto by papal Bull, Feb 17th, 1856. 1

Bishops

The first bishop of the Diocese was Right Rev. John Farrell, a native of Ireland, consecrated May 11th, 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.

Farrell died on Sept 26th, 1873, and was succeeded by the Right Rev. P. F. Crinnon, also born in Ireland and consecrated April 19th, 1873. He built St. Patrick's Church in Hamilton Ontario, established the House of Providence, Dundas, and secured a site for Holy Sepulchre cemetery.

Crinnon passed away on Nov. 25th, 1882 and was succeeded by the Right Rev. James Joseph Carbery. Bishop Carbery was consecrated on November 11th, 1883, and held an important diocesan synod. He died in Ireland in Decemeber 1887.

Rt. Rev. T. J. Dowling, D.D., bishop of Peterborough, was installed Bishop of Hamilton in May, 1889. Since then, 14 new parishes had been established, 28 priests ordained, as well as 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 Dowlings time, there was 42 priests in the diocese of Canadian by birth, 4 Irish, 4 are from the United States, 4 French, 3 German, 2 Polish and 2 Italian. Candidates for the priesthood study in St. Jerome's College in Berlin, Ontario (now called Kitchener, Ontario) and Grand Seminary in Montreal, Quebec. The diocese had 9 parishes for German-speaking people and one Indian parish. There was also chapels for Poles and Italians. For other uses of the word Kitchener please see Kitchener (disambiguation) Map of Waterloo Regional Municipality, Ontario with Kitchener in red. ... Motto: Ut Incepit Fidelis Sic Permanet (Latin: Loyal she began, loyal she remains) Official languages English Flower White Trillium Tree Eastern White Pine Bird Common Loon Capital Toronto Largest city Toronto Lieutenant-Governor James K. Bartleman Premier Dalton McGuinty (Liberal) Parliamentary representation  - House seats  - Senate seats 106 24 Area Total...

From 1924 until 1937, Bishop John T. McNally guided the Diocese. In mid-1937, Bishop Joseph F. Ryan took over and guided the diocese for 36 years. During this time, there was large growth and expandsion of churches and catholic schools. He retired in 1973 and was replaced by Bishop Paul F. Reding who served as bishop for 10 years before stepping down in 1983. The current bishop is Bishop Anthony F. Tonnos appointed to that role in 1984.

The diocese's home cathedral is Christ the King Cathedral in Hamilton. The bishop presiding over the diocese is Bishop Anthony Tonnos, along with Bishop Matthew Uzstrecki and Auxiliary Bishop Gerard Bergie.

Catholic School History

There are 51 Catholic separate schools under the Sisters of St. Joseph in Hamilton, the Sisters of Loretto in Toronto, and the Sisters of Notre Dame in Milwaukee, with 6000 pupils by 1889.

The Government of Canada accords Catholic schools the same rights as to public schools during this period. The taxes paid by Catholics go to support Catholic schools only. Teachers, whether religious or lay, must qualify exactly like public school teachers. Higher education of young women is provided for in the academies of the Ladies of Loretto at Hamilton and Guelph.

St. Jerome's College, in charge of the Resurrectionist Fathers. Connected with the college is also the American novitiate for candidates before going to Rome to complete their studies.

Parishes

There are 123 Parishes within the Diocese of Hamilton

Number of Churches in Brackets

• Acton (1)
• Ancaster (1)
• Arthur (1)
• Brantford (4)
• Burford (1)
• Burlington (8)
• Cambridge (7)
• Cape Croker (1)
• Chepstow (1)
• Drayton (1)
• Dundalk (1)
• Dundas (1)
• Durham (1)
• Elmira (1)
• Elora (1)
• Erin (1)
• Fergus (1)
• Formosa (1)
• Freelton (1)
• Guelph (5)
• Halton Hills (2)
• Hamilton (33)
• Hanover (1)
• Kincardine (1)
• Kitchener (13)
• Linwood (1)
• Maryhill (1)
• Mildmay (1)
• Milton (1)
• Mount Forest (1)
• New Hamburg (1)
• Oakville (9)
• Owen Sound (1)
• Paris (1)
• Port Elgin (1)
• Rockwood (1)
• Scotland (1)
• St Agatha (1)
• St Clement (1)
• Stoney Creek (3)
• Walkerton (1)
• Waterdown (1)
• Waterloo (4)

Current affairs

The Diocese of Hamilton celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2006, with the Most Reverand Bishop Anthony Tonnos celebrating mass at the seat of the diocese in that honour. Special signs, marks and posters were commissioned for many of the diocese's churches, schools and buildings.

Also See

Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto is a Roman Catholic archdiocese that includes part of the Province of Ontario and includes the suffragan dioceses of Hamilton, the London, the Saint Catherines, and the Thunder Bay. ...

External Links

• Detailed Short History
• Diocese Website