Pembroke (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Michael Brehl, C.Ss.R., Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Elevated: 4 May 1898
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Ottawa-Cornwall
Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Province: Ontario
Country: Canada
Square Kilometers: 20,000 (7,725 Square Miles)
Conference Region: Ontario
Catholic Directory Abbreviation: Pem
Official Web Site: https://pembrokediocese.com
Mailing Address: Chancery Office, 284 Trafalgar Rd., Pembroke, ON K8A 5A8, Canada
Telephone: (613)732-7933
Fax: 732-1679

Historical Details

Vicariate Apostolic of Pontiac
- Erected: 11 July 1882
- Vicariate
- Province: Ontario
- Country: Canada

Past and Present Ordinaries

Narcisse Zéphirin Lorrain † (14 Jul 1882 Appointed - 18 Dec 1915 Died)
Patrick Thomas Ryan † (5 Aug 1916 Appointed - 15 Apr 1937 Died)
Charles Leo Nelligan † (16 Aug 1937 Appointed - 19 May 1945 Resigned)
William Joseph Smith † (19 May 1945 Appointed - 8 Feb 1971 Resigned)
Joseph Raymond Windle † (8 Feb 1971 Succeeded - 5 May 1993 Retired)
Brendan Michael O’Brien (5 May 1993 Appointed - 4 Dec 2000 Appointed, Archbishop of Saint John’s, Newfoundland)
Richard William Smith (27 Apr 2002 Appointed - 22 Mar 2007 Appointed, Archbishop of Edmonton, Alberta)
Michael Mulhall (30 Jun 2007 Appointed - 28 Mar 2019 Appointed, Archbishop of Kingston, Ontario)
Guy Desrochers, C.SS.R. (6 May 2020 Appointed - 8 Jul 2023 Appointed, Archbishop of Moncton, New Brunswick)
Michael Brehl, C.Ss.R. (11 Jun 2024 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Vicariate Apostolic of Pontiac
11 July 1882	Erected	Diocese of Ottawa Archdiocese of Saint-Boniface Diocese of Trois-Rivières	Vicariate Apostolic of Pontiac (erected)
10 May 1887	Metropolitan Changed		Vicariate Apostolic of Pontiac (from Québec)
Diocese of Pembroke
4 May 1898	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Pontiac	Diocese of Pembroke (Name changed and Vicariate raised to a Diocese)
21 September 1908	Territory Lost	Diocese of Pembroke (Northern part)	Vicariate Apostolic of Temiskaming (erected)
27 February 1937	Territory Added		Diocese of Pembroke (Boundaries adjusted) Diocese of Sault Sainte Marie (Boundaries adjusted)

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 Pembroke

1950 52,000 102,000 51.0% 91 5 96 541 5 402 51 ap1951

1966 54,571 117,121 46.6% 92 2 94 580 2 416 51 ap1967

1968 54,959 118,784 46.3% 92 2 94 584 3 326 52 ap1971

1976 53,581 110,876 48.3% 96 18 114 470 28 301 52 ap1977

1980 55,498 113,188 49.0% 81 15 96 578 19 285 53 ap1981

1990 64,326 129,486 49.7% 78 9 87 739 3 15 261 73 ap1991

1999 65,863 131,752 50.0% 73 4 77 855 8 4 202 69 ap2000

2000 65,888 131,795 50.0% 71 4 75 878 7 8 188 69 ap2001

2001 65,896 131,812 50.0% 72 3 75 878 7 6 174 69 ap2002

2002 65,985 131,987 50.0% 73 3 76 868 7 6 165 69 ap2003

2003 65,988 131,995 50.0% 71 3 74 891 7 6 152 68 ap2004

2004 65,650 132,000 49.7% 71 3 74 887 8 6 134 59 ap2005

2013 73,200 147,700 49.6% 38 6 44 1,663 9 9 159 48 ap2014

2016 75,600 152,600 49.5% 44 19 63 1,200 13 21 146 48 ap2017

2019 79,470 161,804 49.1% 40 26 66 1,204 13 29 91 48 ap2020

2021 81,730 166,420 49.1% 41 21 62 1,318 13 22 72 47 ap2022

2023 60,000 149,208 40.2% 38 19 57 1,052 12 20 62 49 ap2024

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 Pembroke
1950	52,000	102,000	51.0%	91	5	96	541		5	402	51	ap1951
1966	54,571	117,121	46.6%	92	2	94	580		2	416	51	ap1967
1968	54,959	118,784	46.3%	92	2	94	584		3	326	52	ap1971
1976	53,581	110,876	48.3%	96	18	114	470		28	301	52	ap1977
1980	55,498	113,188	49.0%	81	15	96	578		19	285	53	ap1981
1990	64,326	129,486	49.7%	78	9	87	739	3	15	261	73	ap1991
1999	65,863	131,752	50.0%	73	4	77	855	8	4	202	69	ap2000
2000	65,888	131,795	50.0%	71	4	75	878	7	8	188	69	ap2001
2001	65,896	131,812	50.0%	72	3	75	878	7	6	174	69	ap2002
2002	65,985	131,987	50.0%	73	3	76	868	7	6	165	69	ap2003
2003	65,988	131,995	50.0%	71	3	74	891	7	6	152	68	ap2004
2004	65,650	132,000	49.7%	71	3	74	887	8	6	134	59	ap2005
2013	73,200	147,700	49.6%	38	6	44	1,663	9	9	159	48	ap2014
2016	75,600	152,600	49.5%	44	19	63	1,200	13	21	146	48	ap2017
2019	79,470	161,804	49.1%	40	26	66	1,204	13	29	91	48	ap2020
2021	81,730	166,420	49.1%	41	21	62	1,318	13	22	72	47	ap2022
2023	60,000	149,208	40.2%	38	19	57	1,052	12	20	62	49	ap2024

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Michael Brehl, C.Ss.R. (Bishop: 11 Jun 2024 - )
Guy Desrochers, C.SS.R. (Bishop: 6 May 2020 to 8 Jul 2023)
Michael Mulhall (Bishop: 30 Jun 2007 to 28 Mar 2019)
Brendan Michael O’Brien (Bishop: 5 May 1993 to 4 Dec 2000)
Richard William Smith (Bishop: 27 Apr 2002 to 22 Mar 2007)
James Matthew Wingle (Priest: 16 Apr 1977 to 31 May 1993)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Michael Alphonsus Harrington † (Priest: 29 May 1926 to 1935)
Élie Anicet Latulipe † (Priest: 30 May 1885 to 1 Oct 1908)
Narcisse Zéphirin Lorrain † (Vicar Apostolic: 14 Jul 1882; Bishop: 6 May 1898 to 18 Dec 1915)
Charles Leo Nelligan † (Bishop: 16 Aug 1937 to 19 May 1945)
Patrick Thomas Ryan † (Priest: 21 Dec 1887; Auxiliary Bishop: 6 May 1912; Bishop: 5 Aug 1916 to 15 Apr 1937)
William Joseph Smith † (Bishop: 19 May 1945 to 8 Feb 1971)
Joseph Raymond Windle † (Priest: 16 May 1943 to 15 Nov 1960; Coadjutor Bishop: 23 Jan 1969; Bishop: 8 Feb 1971 to 5 May 1993)

Source(s)

Diocese of Pembroke
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 29, Page 472, and Page 473

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Diocese of Pembroke

Dioecesis Pembrokensis