Nelson (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Gregory John Bittman, Bishop
Eugene Jerome Cooney, Bishop Emeritus
John Dennis Corriveau, O.F.M. Cap., Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 22 February 1936
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Vancouver
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Province: British Columbia
Country: Canada
Square Kilometers: 144,000 (55,620 Square Miles)
Description: Kootenay and Okanagan regions of southeastern British Columbia
Conference Region: West (Ouest)
Catholic Directory Abbreviation: Nel
Official Web Site: https://www.nelsondiocese.org
Mailing Address: 3665 Benvoulin Rd., Kelowna, BC V1W 4M7, Canada
Telephone: (250)448-2725
Fax: (866)964-3858

Past and Present Ordinaries

Martin Michael Johnson † (18 Jul 1936 Appointed - 27 Nov 1954 Appointed, Coadjutor Archbishop of Vancouver, British Columbia)
Thomas Joseph McCarthy † (5 May 1955 Appointed - 9 Nov 1958 Appointed, Bishop of Saint Catharines, Ontario)
Wilfrid Emmett Doyle † (9 Nov 1958 Appointed - 6 Nov 1989 Retired)
Peter Joseph Mallon † (6 Nov 1989 Appointed - 9 Jun 1995 Appointed, Archbishop of Regina, Saskatchewan)
Eugene Jerome Cooney (15 Mar 1996 Appointed - 30 Nov 2007 Retired)
John Dennis Corriveau, O.F.M. Cap. (30 Nov 2007 Appointed - 13 Feb 2018 Retired)
Gregory John Bittman (13 Feb 2018 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
22 February 1936	Erected	Archdiocese of Vancouver (Deanery of Nelson, Cranbrook, and part of Keloiona)	Diocese of Nelson (erected)
18 December 1937	Territory Added		Diocese of Nelson (Boundaries adjusted) Archdiocese of Vancouver (Boundaries adjusted)
31 January 1985	Territory Lost	Diocese of Nelson (Sacred Heart in Lumby and Our Lady of Fatima in Sicamous)	Diocese of Kamloops
31 January 1985	Territory Added	Diocese of Kamloops (St. Edward in Winfield)	Diocese of Nelson

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

1950 17,035 122,067 14.0% 25 18 43 396 19 84 26 ap1951

1966 31,500 165,000 19.1% 37 22 59 533 25 114 35 ap1967

1968 38,031 196,913 19.3% 32 20 52 731 23 82 33 ap1971

1976 36,000 250,000 14.4% 33 13 46 782 14 54 34 ap1977

1980 37,557 215,000 17.5% 31 16 47 799 16 56 36 ap1981

1990 63,800 232,000 27.5% 26 20 46 1,386 20 57 31 ap1991

1999 65,000 335,000 19.4% 26 16 42 1,547 16 27 30 ap2000

2000 65,000 335,000 19.4% 28 11 39 1,666 11 24 31 ap2001

2001 55,000 335,000 16.4% 29 10 39 1,410 10 22 31 ap2002

2002 55,000 335,000 16.4% 32 10 42 1,309 12 18 31 ap2003

2003 65,000 365,000 17.8% 28 7 35 1,857 8 20 31 ap2004

2004 65,000 365,000 17.8% 28 8 36 1,805 8 19 31 ap2005

2013 96,300 404,000 23.8% 31 5 36 2,675 5 12 32 ap2014

2016 98,730 417,535 23.6% 26 6 32 3,085 6 6 40 ap2017

2019 102,500 428,600 23.9% 31 1 32 3,203 1 4 46 ap2020

2021 105,460 440,785 23.9% 32 32 3,295 4 53 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1950	17,035	122,067	14.0%	25	18	43	396	19	84	26	ap1951
1966	31,500	165,000	19.1%	37	22	59	533	25	114	35	ap1967
1968	38,031	196,913	19.3%	32	20	52	731	23	82	33	ap1971
1976	36,000	250,000	14.4%	33	13	46	782	14	54	34	ap1977
1980	37,557	215,000	17.5%	31	16	47	799	16	56	36	ap1981
1990	63,800	232,000	27.5%	26	20	46	1,386	20	57	31	ap1991
1999	65,000	335,000	19.4%	26	16	42	1,547	16	27	30	ap2000
2000	65,000	335,000	19.4%	28	11	39	1,666	11	24	31	ap2001
2001	55,000	335,000	16.4%	29	10	39	1,410	10	22	31	ap2002
2002	55,000	335,000	16.4%	32	10	42	1,309	12	18	31	ap2003
2003	65,000	365,000	17.8%	28	7	35	1,857	8	20	31	ap2004
2004	65,000	365,000	17.8%	28	8	36	1,805	8	19	31	ap2005
2013	96,300	404,000	23.8%	31	5	36	2,675	5	12	32	ap2014
2016	98,730	417,535	23.6%	26	6	32	3,085	6	6	40	ap2017
2019	102,500	428,600	23.9%	31	1	32	3,203	1	4	46	ap2020
2021	105,460	440,785	23.9%	32		32	3,295		4	53	ap2022