Diocese of Gent {Ghent, Gand}

Dioecesis Gandavensis

Bishop(s)

Lucas Van Looy, S.D.B., Bishop
Arthur Luysterman, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 12 May 1559
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Mechelen-Brussel {Malines-Brussels}
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Belgium
Square Kilometers: 2,995 (1,156 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Bisdomplein 1, B-9000 Gent, Belgie
Telephone: (09)225.16.26
Fax: 223.39.59

Past and Present Ordinaries

Charles Maez † ( 1610 Appointed - )
Etienne-André-François de Paule de Fallot de Béaupré de Beaumont † (11 Apr 1802 Appointed - 22 Mar 1807 Appointed, Bishop of Foreign Diocese)
Maurice-Jean-Madeleine de Broglie † (22 Mar 1807 Appointed - 20 Jul 1821 Died)
Jean-François Van de Velde † ( 1829 Appointed - 1838 Died)
Louis-Joseph Delebecque † (16 Sep 1838 Appointed - 1864 Died)
Henri-François Bracq † (27 Mar 1865 Appointed - 1888 Died)
Henri-Charles Lambrecht † ( 1888 Appointed - 1889 Died)
Antonio Stillemans † (30 Dec 1889 Appointed - 1916 Resigned)
Emilio Giovanni Seghers † (22 Mar 1917 Appointed - 17 May 1927 Died)
Onorato Giuseppe Coppieters † (17 May 1927 Succeeded - 20 Dec 1947 Died)
Karel Justien Calewaert † (28 Jan 1948 Appointed - 28 Dec 1963 Died)
Léonce Albert Van Peteghem † (28 May 1964 Appointed - 27 Dec 1991 Retired)
Arthur Luysterman (27 Dec 1991 Succeeded - 19 Dec 2003 Resigned)
Lucas Van Looy, S.D.B. (19 Dec 2003 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
12 May 1559	Erected	Diocese of Cambrai Diocese of Tournai {Doornik} Archdiocese of Utrecht	Diocese of Gent {Ghent, Gand} (erected)
27 May 1834	Territory Lost	Diocese of Gent {Ghent, Gand}	Diocese of Brugge {Bruges} (erected)

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

1950 1,131,000 1,237,502 91.4% 1,285 394 1,679 673 1,628 9,126 387 ap1951

1970 1,290,000 1,321,831 97.6% 1,254 447 1,701 758 606 7,012 416 ap1971

1980 1,300,000 1,344,576 96.7% 1,080 352 1,432 907 9 903 5,246 424 ap1981

1990 1,208,900 1,350,000 89.5% 856 255 1,111 1,088 39 678 3,903 427 ap1991

1999 1,174,000 1,355,000 86.6% 681 199 880 1,334 60 538 2,816 427 ap2000

2000 1,174,000 1,378,702 85.2% 657 199 856 1,371 60 474 2,655 427 ap2001

2001 1,174,000 1,400,000 83.9% 641 199 840 1,397 63 474 2,550 427 ap2002

2002 1,174,000 1,400,000 83.9% 622 199 821 1,429 64 456 2,435 425 ap2003

2003 1,174,000 1,400,000 83.9% 610 199 809 1,451 67 477 2,198 427 ap2004

2004 1,000,000 1,400,000 71.4% 588 199 787 1,270 69 477 2,055 427 ap2005

2006 1,000,000 1,398,650 71.5% 554 199 753 1,328 73 348 1,871 427 ap2007

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1950	1,131,000	1,237,502	91.4%	1,285	394	1,679	673		1,628	9,126	387	ap1951
1970	1,290,000	1,321,831	97.6%	1,254	447	1,701	758		606	7,012	416	ap1971
1980	1,300,000	1,344,576	96.7%	1,080	352	1,432	907	9	903	5,246	424	ap1981
1990	1,208,900	1,350,000	89.5%	856	255	1,111	1,088	39	678	3,903	427	ap1991
1999	1,174,000	1,355,000	86.6%	681	199	880	1,334	60	538	2,816	427	ap2000
2000	1,174,000	1,378,702	85.2%	657	199	856	1,371	60	474	2,655	427	ap2001
2001	1,174,000	1,400,000	83.9%	641	199	840	1,397	63	474	2,550	427	ap2002
2002	1,174,000	1,400,000	83.9%	622	199	821	1,429	64	456	2,435	425	ap2003
2003	1,174,000	1,400,000	83.9%	610	199	809	1,451	67	477	2,198	427	ap2004
2004	1,000,000	1,400,000	71.4%	588	199	787	1,270	69	477	2,055	427	ap2005
2006	1,000,000	1,398,650	71.5%	554	199	753	1,328	73	348	1,871	427	ap2007

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Josef De Kesel (Priest: 26 Aug 1972 to 20 Mar 2002)
Arthur Luysterman (Priest: 26 Aug 1956; Coadjutor Bishop: 13 Jul 1990; Bishop: 27 Dec 1991 to 19 Dec 2003)
Paul Van den Berghe (Priest: 15 Jun 1957 to 3 Jul 1980)
Lucas Van Looy, S.D.B. (Bishop: 19 Dec 2003 - )

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Gustavo Leonardo de Battice † (Coadjutor Bishop: 28 Dec 1877)
Henri-François Bracq † (Bishop: 27 Mar 1865 to 1888)
Maurice-Jean-Madeleine de Broglie † (Bishop: 22 Mar 1807 to 20 Jul 1821)
Karel Justien Calewaert † (Priest: 23 Apr 1922; Bishop: 28 Jan 1948 to 28 Dec 1963)
Onorato Giuseppe Coppieters † (Priest: 19 Dec 1896; Coadjutor Bishop: 28 Jan 1927; Bishop: 17 May 1927 to 20 Dec 1947)
Leo-Karel Jozef De Kesel † (Priest: 18 Apr 1927; Auxiliary Bishop: 28 Dec 1960 to 13 Jul 1990)
Louis-Joseph Delebecque † (Bishop: 16 Sep 1838 to 1864)
Etienne-André-François de Paule de Fallot de Béaupré de Beaumont † (Bishop: 11 Apr 1802 to 22 Mar 1807)
Nicolas Franch † (Auxiliary Bishop: 1668 to 23 Aug 1678)
Oscar Joseph Joliet † (Auxiliary Bishop: 17 Apr 1948 to 3 Feb 1969)
Gustaaf Joos † (Priest: 28 Apr 1946 to 7 Oct 2003)
Henri-Charles Lambrecht † (Bishop: 1888 to 1889)
Charles Maez † (Bishop: 1610)
Emilio Giovanni Seghers † (Bishop: 22 Mar 1917 to 17 May 1927)
Antonio Stillemans † (Bishop: 30 Dec 1889 to 1916)
Jean-François Van de Velde † (Bishop: 1829 to 1838)
Léonce Albert Van Peteghem † (Priest: 18 Aug 1940; Bishop: 28 May 1964 to 27 Dec 1991)
Eugenio van Rechem † (Priest: 18 Dec 1881; Auxiliary Bishop: 26 Mar 1914 to 1943)

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