Saint Thomas (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Jerome Feudjio, Bishop
Herbert Armstrong Bevard, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Elevated: 20 April 1977
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Washington
Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
State: American Virgin Islands
Country: United States of America
Square Kilometers: 352 (135 Square Miles)
Description: Comprises the Islands of St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John.
Conference Region: IV (DC, DE, MD, VA, VI, WV)
Catholic Directory Abbreviation: STV
Official Web Site: http://www.catholicvi.com/
Mailing Address: Bishop's Residence, P.O. Box 301825, 29A Princesse Gade, St.Thomas, V.I. 00803-1825, USA
Telephone: (340)774-3166
Fax: 774-5816

Historical Details

Territorial Prelature of Virgin Islands
- Latin Name: Insulis Virgineis
- Erected: 30 April 1960
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Washington
- State: American Virgin Islands
- Country: United States of America

Past and Present Ordinaries

Edward John Harper, C.Ss.R. † (23 Jul 1960 Appointed - 16 Oct 1985 Retired)
Seán Patrick O’Malley, O.F.M. Cap. (16 Oct 1985 Succeeded - 16 Jun 1992 Appointed, Bishop of Fall River, Massachusetts)
Elliott Griffin Thomas † (30 Oct 1993 Appointed - 29 Jun 1999 Resigned)
George Vance Murry, S.J. † (29 Jun 1999 Succeeded - 30 Jan 2007 Appointed, Bishop of Youngstown, Ohio)
Herbert Armstrong Bevard (7 Jul 2008 Appointed - 18 Sep 2020 Resigned)
Jerome Feudjio (2 Mar 2021 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Territorial Prelature of Virgin Islands
30 April 1960	Erected	Diocese of San Juan de Puerto Rico (Virgin Islands)	Territorial Prelature of Virgin Islands (erected)
12 October 1965	Metropolitan Changed		Territorial Prelature of Virgin Islands (from San Juan de Puerto Rico)
27 February 1971	Territory Lost	Territorial Prelature of Virgin Islands (Islands under British control)	Diocese of Saint John’s
Diocese of Saint Thomas
20 April 1977	Elevated	Territorial Prelature of Virgin Islands	Diocese of Saint Thomas (Name Changed and Prelature raised to a Diocese)

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

Territorial Prelature of Virgin Islands

1965 14,000 49,000 28.6% 12 12 1,166 12 39 11 ap1967

1970 18,928 65,750 28.8% 1 14 15 1,261 14 25 5 ap1971

1976 23,000 70,000 32.9% 1 15 16 1,437 17 26 6 ap1977

Diocese of Saint Thomas

1980 27,300 100,000 27.3% 1 13 14 1,950 15 18 6 ap1981

1990 30,000 110,000 27.3% 10 6 16 1,875 12 7 15 8 ap1991

1999 30,000 9 6 15 2,000 21 3 14 8 ap2000

2000 30,000 101,900 29.4% 13 5 18 1,666 22 15 19 8 ap2001

2001 30,000 101,900 29.4% 9 5 14 2,142 18 15 17 8 ap2002

2003 32,000 106,600 30.0% 12 5 17 1,882 28 15 17 8 ap2004

2004 30,000 108,612 27.6% 12 5 17 1,764 30 14 18 8 ap2005

2010 30,000 108,612 27.6% 11 4 15 2,000 29 6 24 8 ap2011

2014 36,179 106,405 34.0% 8 4 12 3,014 32 5 20 8 ap2015

2017 35,350 106,500 33.2% 13 1 14 2,525 28 2 15 8 ap2018

2020 32,500 102,000 31.9% 13 1 14 2,321 28 1 17 8 ap2021

2022 32,180 101,000 31.9% 14 69 83 387 28 69 5 8 ap2023

2023 32,180 101,000 31.9% 19 1 20 1,609 27 2 7 8 ap2024

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Territorial Prelature of Virgin Islands
1965	14,000	49,000	28.6%		12	12	1,166		12	39	11	ap1967
1970	18,928	65,750	28.8%	1	14	15	1,261		14	25	5	ap1971
1976	23,000	70,000	32.9%	1	15	16	1,437		17	26	6	ap1977
Diocese of Saint Thomas
1980	27,300	100,000	27.3%	1	13	14	1,950		15	18	6	ap1981
1990	30,000	110,000	27.3%	10	6	16	1,875	12	7	15	8	ap1991
1999	30,000			9	6	15	2,000	21	3	14	8	ap2000
2000	30,000	101,900	29.4%	13	5	18	1,666	22	15	19	8	ap2001
2001	30,000	101,900	29.4%	9	5	14	2,142	18	15	17	8	ap2002
2003	32,000	106,600	30.0%	12	5	17	1,882	28	15	17	8	ap2004
2004	30,000	108,612	27.6%	12	5	17	1,764	30	14	18	8	ap2005
2010	30,000	108,612	27.6%	11	4	15	2,000	29	6	24	8	ap2011
2014	36,179	106,405	34.0%	8	4	12	3,014	32	5	20	8	ap2015
2017	35,350	106,500	33.2%	13	1	14	2,525	28	2	15	8	ap2018
2020	32,500	102,000	31.9%	13	1	14	2,321	28	1	17	8	ap2021
2022	32,180	101,000	31.9%	14	69	83	387	28	69	5	8	ap2023
2023	32,180	101,000	31.9%	19	1	20	1,609	27	2	7	8	ap2024

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Edward John Harper, C.Ss.R. † (Prelate: 23 Jul 1960; Bishop: 20 Apr 1977 to 16 Oct 1985)
George Vance Murry, S.J. † (Coadjutor Bishop: 5 May 1998; Bishop: 29 Jun 1999 to 30 Jan 2007)
Elliott Griffin Thomas † (Priest: 6 Jun 1986; Bishop: 30 Oct 1993 to 29 Jun 1999)

Source(s)

Territorial Prelature of Virgin Islands
- Acta Apostolicæ Sedis, Volume 53, Page 88, to Page 91
- Acta Apostolicæ Sedis, Volume 58, Page 424, to Page 426
Diocese of Saint Thomas
- Acta Apostolicæ Sedis, Volume 69, Page 323, and Page 324

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Diocese of Saint Thomas

Dioecesis Sancti Thomae in Insulis Virgineis