Archdiocese of Wellington

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Bishop(s) John Atcherley Dew, Archbishop Thomas Stafford Williams, Cardinal, Archbishop Emeritus Suffragan Dioceses Auckland Christchurch Dunedin Hamilton in New Zealand Palmerston North

General Information Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese Elevated: 10 May 1887 Metropolitan See Rite: Latin (or Roman) Country: New Zealand Square Kilometers: 35,810 (13,831 Square Miles) Official Web Site: http://www.wn.catholic.org.nz/ Mailing Address: 22-30 Hill St., P.O. Box 1937, Wellington 6015, New Zealand Telephone: (04)496-1795 Fax: 496-1728

Historical Details

• Diocese of Wellington
  • Latin Name: Vellingtonensis
  • Erected: 20 June 1848
  • Country: New Zealand

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Past and Present Ordinaries

• Philippe-Joseph Viard, S. M. † (20 Jun 1848 Appointed - 2 Jun 1872 Died)
• Francis Mary Redwood, S. M. † (10 Feb 1874 Appointed - 3 Jan 1935 Died)
• Thomas O'Shea, S. M. † (3 Jan 1935 Succeeded - 9 May 1954 Died)
• Peter Thomas McKeefry † (9 May 1954 Succeeded - 18 Nov 1973 Died)
• Reginald John Delargey † (25 Apr 1974 Appointed - 29 Jan 1979 Died)
• Thomas Stafford Williams (30 Oct 1979 Appointed - 21 Mar 2005 Retired)
• John Atcherley Dew (21 Mar 2005 Succeeded - )

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Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Diocese of Wellington
20 June 1848	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of New Zealand	Diocese of Wellington (erected)
26 November 1869	Territory Lost	Diocese of Wellington	Diocese of Dunedin (erected)
5 May 1887	Territory Lost	Diocese of Wellington	Diocese of Christchurch (erected)
Archdiocese of Wellington
10 May 1887	Elevated	Diocese of Wellington	Archdiocese of Wellington
6 March 1980	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Wellington	Diocese of Palmerston North (erected)

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Statistics

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Archdiocese of Wellington
1949	78,000	550,000	14.2%	85	106	191	408		100	669	55	ap1951
1966	125,380	830,000	15.1%	181	179	360	348		283	931	87	ap1967
1970	143,500	846,555	17.0%	178	183	361	397		183	1,041	92	ap1971
1980	157,511	954,336	16.5%	154	178	332	474		361	735	91	ap1981
1990	87,081	567,000	15.4%	78	85	163	534	1	116	339	50	ap1991
1999	82,201	515,124	16.0%	71	57	128	642		82	235	48	ap2000
2000	82,201	515,124	16.0%	70	63	133	618		86	231	48	ap2001
2001	84,201	515,124	16.3%	71	70	141	597		98	223	48	ap2002
2002	84,204	515,124	16.3%	65	58	123	684		82	217	48	ap2003
2003	81,189	559,350	14.5%	63	59	122	665		83	201	48	ap2004
2004	81,189	522,504	15.5%	64	60	124	654		84	203	47	ap2005

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

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Affiliated Bishops

• Peter James Cullinane (Priest: 13 Dec 1961 to 6 Mar 1980)
• Reginald John Delargey † (Archbishop: 25 Apr 1974 to 29 Jan 1979)
• John Atcherley Dew (Priest: 9 May 1976; Auxiliary Bishop: 1 Apr 1995; Coadjutor Archbishop: 24 May 2004; Archbishop: 21 Mar 2005)
• Owen John Dolan (Priest: 21 Jul 1954 to 6 Mar 1980)
• Edward Russell Gaines † (Priest: 13 Jul 1950 to 28 Oct 1976)
• John Patrick Kavanagh † (Priest: 6 Sep 1936 to 14 Jul 1949)
• Peter Thomas McKeefry † (Coadjutor Archbishop: 12 Jun 1947; Archbishop: 9 May 1954 to 18 Nov 1973)
• Thomas O'Shea, S. M. † (Coadjutor Archbishop: 9 May 1913; Archbishop: 3 Jan 1935 to 9 May 1954)
• Francis Mary Redwood, S. M. † (Bishop: 10 Feb 1874; Archbishop: 13 Mar 1887 to 3 Jan 1935)
• Owen Noel Snedden † (Auxiliary Bishop: 23 May 1962 to 17 Apr 1981)
• Philippe-Joseph Viard, S. M. † (Apostolic Administrator: 20 Jun 1848; Bishop: 3 Jul 1860 to 2 Jun 1872)
• Thomas Stafford Williams (Priest: 20 Dec 1959; Archbishop: 30 Oct 1979 to 21 Mar 2005)