Diocese of Fargo

---

Bishop(s) Samuel Joseph Aquila, Bishop

General Information Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese Name Changed: 6 April 1897 Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis Rite: Latin (or Roman) State: North Dakota Country: United States of America Square Kilometers: 92,650 (35,786 Square Miles) Description: Cass, Richland, Sargent, Ransom, Dickey, La Moure, Barnes, McIntosh, Logan, Kidder, Stutsman, Sheridan, Wells, Foster, Griggs, Steele, Traill, Grand Forks, Nelson, Eddy, Benson, Pierce, Rolette, Towner, Ramsey, McHenry, Bottineau, Cavalier, Walsh, and Pembina Counties. Conference Region: VIII (MN, ND, SD) Catholic Directory Abbreviation: FAR Official Web Site: http://www.fargodiocese.org/ Mailing Address: Chancery Office, 5201 Bishops Blvd., Suite A, Fargo, ND 58104 Telephone: (701)356-7900 Fax: 356-7999

Historical Details

• Diocese of Jamestown
  • Erected: 10 November 1889
  • Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
  • State: North Dakota
  • Country: United States of America

---

Past and Present Ordinaries

• John Shanley † (15 Nov 1889 Appointed - 16 Jul 1909 Died)
• James O'Reilly † (24 Jun 1909 Appointed - 19 Dec 1934 Died)
• Aloysius Joseph Muench † (10 Aug 1935 Appointed - 9 Dec 1959 Resigned)
• Leo Ferdinand Dworschak † (23 Feb 1960 Appointed - 8 Sep 1970 Resigned)
• Justin Albert Driscoll † (8 Sep 1970 Appointed - 19 Nov 1984 Died)
• James Stephen Sullivan † (29 Mar 1985 Appointed - 18 Mar 2002 Resigned)
• Samuel Joseph Aquila (18 Mar 2002 Succeeded - )

---

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Diocese of Jamestown
10 November 1889	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Dakota	Diocese of Jamestown (erected)
Diocese of Fargo
6 April 1897	Name Changed	Diocese of Jamestown	Diocese of Fargo
31 December 1909	Territory Lost	Diocese of Fargo	Diocese of Bismarck (erected)

---

Statistics

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Diocese of Fargo
1950	75,734	408,873	18.5%	145	22	167	453		4	368	185	ap1951
1966	100,168	386,748	25.9%	167	25	192	521			480	182	ap1967
1970	103,345	386,748	26.7%	140	21	161	641		26	568	118	ap1971
1976	97,727	372,983	26.2%	124	30	154	634		39	430	119	ap1977
1980	101,111	387,000	26.1%	120	26	146	692	11	31	345	116	ap1981
1990	101,823	398,520	25.6%	104	24	128	795	31	26	262	117	ap1991
1999	98,915	391,000	25.3%	153	9	162	610	32	8	153	159	ap2000
2000	98,915	391,000	25.3%	112	10	122	810	32	27	196	159	ap2001
2001	98,960	391,000	25.3%	110	10	120	824	32	22	153	159	ap2002
2002	99,868	391,000	25.5%	128	9	137	728	26	13	206	156	ap2003
2003	87,730	374,969	23.4%	122	9	131	669	31	9	213	158	ap2004
2004	84,190	374,256	22.5%	128	7	135	623	40	7	203	158	ap2005
2006	82,891	379,821	21.8%	118	9	127	652	42	10	160	138	ap2007

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

---

Affiliated Bishops

• Samuel Joseph Aquila (Coadjutor Bishop: 12 Jun 2001; Bishop: 18 Mar 2002)
• Justin Albert Driscoll † (Bishop: 8 Sep 1970 to 19 Nov 1984)
• Leo Ferdinand Dworschak † (Priest: 29 May 1926 to 22 Jun 1946; Auxiliary Bishop: 10 Apr 1947; Bishop: 23 Feb 1960 to 8 Sep 1970)
• Raymond William Lessard (Priest: 16 Dec 1956 to 5 Mar 1973)
• Aloysius Joseph Muench † (Bishop: 10 Aug 1935; Archbishop (Personal Title): 28 Oct 1950 to 9 Dec 1959)
• William Theodore Mulloy † (Priest: 7 Jun 1916 to 18 Nov 1944)
• James O'Reilly † (Bishop: 24 Jun 1909 to 19 Dec 1934)
• Vincent James Ryan † (Priest: 7 Jun 1912 to 19 Mar 1940)
• John Shanley † (Bishop: 15 Nov 1889 to 16 Jul 1909)
• James Stephen Sullivan † (Bishop: 29 Mar 1985 to 18 Mar 2002)