Owensboro (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

William Francis Medley, Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 9 December 1937
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Louisville
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
State: Kentucky
Country: United States of America
Square Kilometers: 32,380 (12,506 Square Miles)
Description: Western portion of the state of Kentucky
Conference Region: V (AL, KY, LA, MS, TN)
Catholic Directory Abbreviation: OWN
Official Web Site: https://owensborodiocese.org
Mailing Address: Chancery Office, 600 Locust St., Owensboro, KY 42301, USA
Telephone: (270)683-1545
Fax: 683-6883

Past and Present Ordinaries

Francis Ridgley Cotton † (16 Dec 1937 Appointed - 25 Sep 1960 Died)
Henry Joseph Soenneker † (10 Mar 1961 Appointed - 30 Jun 1982 Retired)
John Jeremiah McRaith † (23 Oct 1982 Appointed - 5 Jan 2009 Resigned)
William Francis Medley (15 Dec 2009 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
9 December 1937	Erected	Diocese of Louisville (Ballard, Carliste, Hickman, Fulton, McCracken, Graves, Livingston, Marshall, Calloway, Trigg, Lyon, Crittenden, Caldwell, Christian, Hopkins, Webster, Union, Henderson, Daviess, Eandock, McLean, Ohio, Muhlenberg, Butler, Todd, Logan, Breckinridge, ...)	Diocese of Owensboro (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 30,725 600,000 5.1% 54 10 64 480 10 438 57 ap1951

1966 45,879 638,739 7.2% 70 7 77 595 11 583 69 ap1967

1970 48,823 638,539 7.6% 69 14 83 588 27 323 71 ap1971

1976 49,800 690,720 7.2% 83 19 102 488 47 403 51 ap1977

1980 50,527 695,000 7.3% 76 18 94 537 30 360 17 ap1981

1990 53,936 786,000 6.9% 78 18 96 561 19 283 78 ap1991

1999 51,702 778,235 6.6% 83 13 96 538 5 229 79 ap2000

2000 50,187 778,235 6.4% 72 16 88 570 21 221 79 ap2001

2001 51,235 778,235 6.6% 81 20 101 507 24 226 79 ap2002

2002 52,688 836,162 6.3% 78 22 100 526 26 214 79 ap2003

2003 52,047 837,046 6.2% 78 28 106 491 32 203 79 ap2004

2004 51,847 836,162 6.2% 74 20 94 551 25 198 79 ap2005

2013 50,100 881,305 5.7% 80 24 104 481 24 25 175 79 ap2014

2016 50,673 892,252 5.7% 71 29 100 506 24 29 162 79 ap2017

2019 51,780 911,780 5.7% 72 24 96 539 39 24 121 78 ap2020

2021 52,300 921,170 5.7% 74 37 111 471 43 37 117 78 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1950	30,725	600,000	5.1%	54	10	64	480		10	438	57	ap1951
1966	45,879	638,739	7.2%	70	7	77	595		11	583	69	ap1967
1970	48,823	638,539	7.6%	69	14	83	588		27	323	71	ap1971
1976	49,800	690,720	7.2%	83	19	102	488		47	403	51	ap1977
1980	50,527	695,000	7.3%	76	18	94	537		30	360	17	ap1981
1990	53,936	786,000	6.9%	78	18	96	561		19	283	78	ap1991
1999	51,702	778,235	6.6%	83	13	96	538		5	229	79	ap2000
2000	50,187	778,235	6.4%	72	16	88	570		21	221	79	ap2001
2001	51,235	778,235	6.6%	81	20	101	507		24	226	79	ap2002
2002	52,688	836,162	6.3%	78	22	100	526		26	214	79	ap2003
2003	52,047	837,046	6.2%	78	28	106	491		32	203	79	ap2004
2004	51,847	836,162	6.2%	74	20	94	551		25	198	79	ap2005
2013	50,100	881,305	5.7%	80	24	104	481	24	25	175	79	ap2014
2016	50,673	892,252	5.7%	71	29	100	506	24	29	162	79	ap2017
2019	51,780	911,780	5.7%	72	24	96	539	39	24	121	78	ap2020
2021	52,300	921,170	5.7%	74	37	111	471	43	37	117	78	ap2022