Sydney (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Anthony Colin Joseph Fisher, O.P., Archbishop
Daniel Joseph Meagher, Auxiliary Bishop
Richard James Umbers, Auxiliary Bishop
Terence John Gerard Brady, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus
David Cremin, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 22 April 1842
Metropolitan See
Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Australia
Square Kilometers: 1,264 (488 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://www.sydneycatholic.org/
Mailing Address: Polding Centre, Level 16, 133 Liverpool Street, Sydney, N.S.W. 2000, Australia
Telephone: (02)9390.5100
Fax: 9261.8312

Historical Details

Vicariate Apostolic of New Holland and Van Diemen’s Land
- Erected: 1834
- Vicariate
- Country: Australia
Diocese of Sydney
- Latin Name: Sydneyensis
- Elevated: 5 April 1842
- Country: Australia

Past and Present Ordinaries

John Bede Polding, O.S.B. † (3 Jul 1832 Appointed - 16 Mar 1877 Died)
Roger William Bede Vaughan, O.S.B. † (16 Mar 1877 Succeeded - 17 Aug 1883 Died)
Patrick Francis Moran † (14 Mar 1884 Appointed - 16 Aug 1911 Died)
Michael Kelly † (16 Aug 1911 Succeeded - 8 Mar 1940 Died)
Norman Thomas Gilroy † (8 Mar 1940 Succeeded - 9 Jul 1971 Retired)
James Darcy Freeman † (9 Jul 1971 Appointed - 12 Feb 1983 Retired)
Edward Bede Clancy † (12 Feb 1983 Appointed - 26 Mar 2001 Retired)
George Pell † (26 Mar 2001 Appointed - 24 Feb 2014 Appointed, Prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy)
Anthony Colin Joseph Fisher, O.P. (18 Sep 2014 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Vicariate Apostolic of New Holland and Van Diemen’s Land
1834	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Mauritius	Vicariate Apostolic of New Holland and Van Diemen’s Land (erected)
5 April 1842	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of New Holland and Van Diemen’s Land	Vicariate Apostolic of Adelaide (erected) Vicariate Apostolic of Hobart (erected)
Diocese of Sydney
5 April 1842	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of New Holland and Van Diemen’s Land	Diocese of Sydney
Archdiocese of Sydney
22 April 1842	Elevated	Diocese of Sydney	Archdiocese of Sydney
4 May 1845	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Sydney	Vicariate Apostolic of Essington (erected)
4 May 1845	Territory Lost	Diocese of Adelaide Archdiocese of Sydney	Vicariate Apostolic of King George Sounde - The Sound (erected)
6 May 1845	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Sydney	Diocese of Perth (erected)
25 June 1847	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Sydney	Diocese of Maitland (erected) Diocese of Melbourne (erected)
12 April 1859	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Sydney (Queensland)	Diocese of Brisbane (erected)
17 November 1862	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Sydney	Diocese of Goulburn (erected)
28 November 1862	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Sydney	Diocese of Armidale (erected)
20 June 1865	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Sydney	Diocese of Bathurst (erected)
28 July 1917	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Sydney (Milton, Braidwood, Araluen, Moruya, Cobargo, Bega, Pambula, Bombala, Cooma, Michelego, Queanbeyan, and Bungendore)	Diocese of Goulburn
5 May 1950	Territory Added		Diocese of Bathurst (Boundries adjusted) Archdiocese of Sydney (Boundries adjusted)
15 November 1951	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Canberra (and Goulburn) Archdiocese of Sydney	Diocese of Wollongong (erected)
21 February 1955	Territory Added		Archdiocese of Sydney Diocese of Wollongong
29 October 1962	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Sydney (Parish of Lithgow)	Diocese of Bathurst
24 August 1965	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Sydney (Belmont, Lake Macquarie, Morisset, Swansea, and Toronto)	Diocese of Maitland
8 April 1986	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Sydney (Baulkham Hills Shire, Blacktown City, the City of the Blue Mountains, Hawkesbury Shire, the Municipality of Holroyd, Parramatta City, Penrith City, and parts of Wollondilly and Liverpool)	Diocese of Parramatta (erected)
8 April 1986	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Sydney (Northern Beaches, North Shore, and Central Coast)	Diocese of Broken Bay (erected)

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 Sydney

1950 414,910 1,885,818 22.0% 316 256 572 725 756 2,388 165 ap1951

1966 634,320 2,996,600 21.2% 429 314 743 853 738 2,674 199 ap1967

1968 634,320 2,200,000 28.8% 426 338 764 830 1,158 3,011 200 ap1971

1980 838,095 3,098,600 27.0% 415 389 804 1,042 1,130 2,499 221 ap1981

1990 801,000 2,513,400 31.9% 221 274 495 1,618 778 2,020 141 ap1991

1999 589,244 1,824,810 32.3% 228 270 498 1,183 1 287 1,368 137 ap2000

2000 589,244 1,824,810 32.3% 218 270 488 1,207 1 286 1,388 137 ap2001

2001 589,012 1,825,012 32.3% 194 272 466 1,263 4 304 1,376 137 ap2002

2002 589,042 1,825,012 32.3% 193 254 447 1,317 4 286 1,388 138 ap2003

2003 578,567 1,993,236 29.0% 222 265 487 1,188 5 286 1,388 138 ap2004

2004 578,567 1,993,236 29.0% 254 265 519 1,114 5 525 1,383 139 ap2005

2010 634,000 2,366,000 26.8% 237 241 478 1,326 5 472 1,111 138 ap2011

2014 611,392 2,528,000 24.2% 217 276 493 1,240 3 470 1,051 137 ap2015

2017 638,300 2,638,400 24.2% 221 252 473 1,349 7 442 851 136 ap2018

2020 667,900 2,760,900 24.2% 207 249 456 1,464 14 440 767 135 ap2021

2022 687,400 2,841,540 24.2% 206 238 444 1,548 14 412 724 133 ap2023

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 Sydney
1950	414,910	1,885,818	22.0%	316	256	572	725		756	2,388	165	ap1951
1966	634,320	2,996,600	21.2%	429	314	743	853		738	2,674	199	ap1967
1968	634,320	2,200,000	28.8%	426	338	764	830		1,158	3,011	200	ap1971
1980	838,095	3,098,600	27.0%	415	389	804	1,042		1,130	2,499	221	ap1981
1990	801,000	2,513,400	31.9%	221	274	495	1,618		778	2,020	141	ap1991
1999	589,244	1,824,810	32.3%	228	270	498	1,183	1	287	1,368	137	ap2000
2000	589,244	1,824,810	32.3%	218	270	488	1,207	1	286	1,388	137	ap2001
2001	589,012	1,825,012	32.3%	194	272	466	1,263	4	304	1,376	137	ap2002
2002	589,042	1,825,012	32.3%	193	254	447	1,317	4	286	1,388	138	ap2003
2003	578,567	1,993,236	29.0%	222	265	487	1,188	5	286	1,388	138	ap2004
2004	578,567	1,993,236	29.0%	254	265	519	1,114	5	525	1,383	139	ap2005
2010	634,000	2,366,000	26.8%	237	241	478	1,326	5	472	1,111	138	ap2011
2014	611,392	2,528,000	24.2%	217	276	493	1,240	3	470	1,051	137	ap2015
2017	638,300	2,638,400	24.2%	221	252	473	1,349	7	442	851	136	ap2018
2020	667,900	2,760,900	24.2%	207	249	456	1,464	14	440	767	135	ap2021
2022	687,400	2,841,540	24.2%	206	238	444	1,548	14	412	724	133	ap2023

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Terence John Gerard Brady (Priest: 20 Aug 1983; Auxiliary Bishop: 4 Oct 2007 to 10 Oct 2022)
Peter Andrew Comensoli (Auxiliary Bishop: 20 Apr 2011 to 20 Nov 2014; Apostolic Administrator: 27 Feb 2014 to 12 Nov 2014)
David Cremin (Priest: 12 Jun 1955; Auxiliary Bishop: 25 Oct 1973 to 22 Feb 2005)
Anthony Colin Joseph Fisher, O.P. (Auxiliary Bishop: 16 Jul 2003 to 8 Jan 2010; Archbishop: 18 Sep 2014 - )
Gregory Paul Homeming, O.C.D.
Michael John Malone (Priest: 18 Jul 1964 to 12 Dec 1994)
Robert Michael McGuckin (Priest: 20 Oct 1973 to 1993)
Daniel Joseph Meagher (Priest: 2 Jul 1995; Auxiliary Bishop: 18 Nov 2021)
Timothy John Norton, S.V.D.
Julian Charles Porteous (Priest: 7 Sep 1974; Auxiliary Bishop: 16 Jul 2003 to 19 Jul 2013)
Anthony Randazzo (Auxiliary Bishop: 24 Jun 2016 to 7 Oct 2019)
Christopher Henry Toohey (Priest: 21 Aug 1982 to 9 Jul 2001)
Richard James Umbers (Auxiliary Bishop: 24 Jun 2016)
David Louis Walker (Priest: 21 Jul 1962 to 9 Jul 1996)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

William Barry † (Priest: 24 Jun 1898 to 7 Apr 1919)
William Joseph Brennan †
Richard Placid Burchall, O.S.B. † (Coadjutor Bishop: 9 Jul 1847 - Did Not Take Effect)
James Patrick Carroll † (Priest: 30 May 1931; Auxiliary Bishop: 6 Jan 1954 to 23 Jul 1984)
Edward Idris Cassidy †
Edward Bede Clancy † (Priest: 23 Jul 1949; Auxiliary Bishop: 25 Oct 1973 to 24 Nov 1978; Archbishop: 12 Feb 1983 to 26 Mar 2001)
Barry Francis Collins † (Priest: 15 Jul 1961 to 30 Mar 1994)
Austen Robin Crapp, O.F.M. †
John Neil Cullinane † (Priest: 22 Jul 1944 to 13 Jan 1959)
Patrick Dougherty † (Priest: 7 Dec 1954 to 15 Oct 1976)
John Dunne † (Priest: 31 Oct 1870 to May 1871)
James Darcy Freeman † (Priest: 13 Jul 1930; Auxiliary Bishop: 9 Dec 1956 to 18 Oct 1968; Archbishop: 9 Jul 1971 to 12 Feb 1983)
Norman Thomas Gilroy † (Coadjutor Archbishop: 1 Jul 1937; Archbishop: 8 Mar 1940 to 9 Jul 1971)
James Hanley †
William Hayden † (Priest: 28 Oct 1891 to 13 Mar 1918)
John Edward Heaps † (Priest: 8 Mar 1958; Auxiliary Bishop: 4 Sep 1981 to 12 Mar 1992)
Bede Vincent Heather † (Priest: 15 Jul 1951; Auxiliary Bishop: 30 Jun 1979 to 8 Apr 1986)
Joseph Higgins † (Auxiliary Bishop: 11 Sep 1888 to 4 May 1899)
Joseph Hoare † (Auxiliary Bishop: 3 Aug 1888 - Did Not Take Effect)
Peter William Ingham † (Priest: 18 Jul 1964; Auxiliary Bishop: 24 May 1993 to 6 Jun 2001)
Edward Francis Kelly, M.S.C. † (Auxiliary Bishop: 6 Feb 1969 to 19 Dec 1975)
Michael Kelly † (Coadjutor Archbishop: 20 Jul 1901; Archbishop: 16 Aug 1911 to 8 Mar 1940)
Henry Joseph Kennedy † (Priest: 30 Nov 1938 to 14 Sep 1967)
Patrick Francis Lyons † (Auxiliary Bishop: 8 Mar 1950 to 11 Oct 1956)
Geoffrey Francis Mayne † (Priest: 21 Jul 1956 to 2 Jan 1985)
Patrick Francis Moran † (Archbishop: 14 Mar 1884 to 16 Aug 1911)
Thomas William Muldoon † (Auxiliary Bishop: 1 Mar 1960 to 6 Sep 1982)
Patrick Laurence Murphy † (Priest: 22 Jul 1944; Auxiliary Bishop: 20 Dec 1976 to 8 Apr 1986)
William Edward Murray † (Priest: 21 Jul 1945 to 5 Jun 1975)
Eris Norman Michael O’Brien † (Priest: 30 Nov 1918; Auxiliary Bishop: 5 Feb 1948 to 16 Nov 1953)
George Pell † (Archbishop: 26 Mar 2001 to 24 Feb 2014)
John Bede Polding, O.S.B. † (Vicar Apostolic: 3 Jul 1832; Bishop: 5 Apr 1842; Archbishop: 22 Apr 1842 to 16 Mar 1877)
Geoffrey James Robinson † (Priest: 21 Dec 1960; Auxiliary Bishop: 23 Jan 1984 to 15 Jul 2004)
Michael Sheehan † (Coadjutor Archbishop: 22 Feb 1922 to 1 Jul 1937)
Samuel John Augustine Sheehy, O.S.B. † (Auxiliary Bishop: 23 Nov 1866 to 28 Mar 1868)
Justin Daniel Simonds † (Priest: 30 Nov 1912 to 18 Feb 1937)
John Thomas Toohey † (Priest: 30 Nov 1927 to 11 Mar 1948)
Roger William Bede Vaughan, O.S.B. † (Coadjutor Archbishop: 28 Feb 1873; Archbishop: 16 Mar 1877 to 17 Aug 1883)
James Whyte † (Priest: 3 Jul 1892 to 22 Apr 1920)
William Joseph Wright † (Deacon: Oct 1976; Priest: 20 Aug 1977 to 4 Apr 2011)

Source(s)

Diocese of Sydney
- Hierarchia Catholica, Volume 7, Page 355
Archdiocese of Sydney
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 42, Page 889, and Page 890
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 47, Page 617, and Page 618
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 54, Page 869

About Catholic-Hierarchy

Terminology/Site Help

Copyright David M. Cheney, 1996-2024
Code: web_d, v3.4.8, 30 Jun 2024; Data: 31 Aug 2024

✠

Archdiocese of Sydney

Archidioecesis Sydneyensis