Roseau (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Kendrick John Forbes, Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 30 April 1850
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Castries
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Dominica
Region: Antilles (West Indies)
Square Kilometers: 750 (289 Square Miles)
Description: Comprises the Commonwealth of Dominica, W.I.
Official Web Site: http://www.dioceseofroseau.org/
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, Turkey Lane, P.O. Box 790, Roseau, Dominica, W.I.
Telephone: (767)448-2837; 448-8717
Fax: 448-3404

Past and Present Ordinaries

Michael Monaghan † (30 Apr 1850 Appointed - 14 Jul 1855 Died)
Désiré-Michel Vesque † (19 Aug 1856 Appointed - 10 Jul 1858 Died)
René-Marie-Charles Poirier, C.I.M. † (12 Nov 1858 Appointed - 23 Apr 1878 Died)
Michael Naughten † (2 Sep 1879 Appointed - 4 Jul 1900 Died)
Philip Schelfhaut, C.Ss.R. † (22 Jan 1902 Appointed - 22 May 1921 Died)
Jaak Moris, C.Ss.R. † (4 Mar 1922 Appointed - 4 Jun 1957 Died)
Arnold Boghaert, C.Ss.R. † (4 Jun 1957 Succeeded - 29 Nov 1993 Died)
Edward Joseph Gilbert, C.Ss.R. (1 Jul 1994 Appointed - 13 Mar 2001 Appointed, Archbishop of Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago)
Gabriel Malzaire (10 Jul 2002 Appointed - 11 Feb 2022 Appointed, Archbishop of Castries, Saint Lucia)
Kendrick John Forbes (2 May 2024 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
30 April 1850	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Trinidad	Diocese of Roseau (erected)
21 November 1924	Territory Lost	Diocese of Puerto Rico (Porto Rico) Diocese of Roseau (Virgin Islands)	Diocese of San Juan de Puerto Rico
16 January 1971	Territory Lost	Diocese of Roseau (Leeward Islands: Antigua, Barbuda, Saint Kitts, Nevis, Anguilla, Montserrat, Redonda, and Sombrero)	Diocese of Saint John’s (erected)
18 November 1974	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Roseau (from Port of Spain)

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

1948 57,133 135,375 42.2% 32 32 1,785 8 48 16 ap1951

1966 69,000 182,000 37.9% 3 36 39 1,769 18 61 22 ap1967

1970 65,000 210,000 31.0% 3 36 39 1,666 47 61 22 ap1971

1976 70,000 78,000 89.7% 3 3 23,333 41 16 ap1977

1980 65,000 75,000 86.7% 1 23 24 2,708 1 28 31 16 ap1981

1999 59,707 75,393 79.2% 6 21 27 2,211 26 26 15 ap2000

2000 59,707 75,393 79.2% 6 24 30 1,990 27 30 15 ap2001

2001 59,707 75,393 79.2% 6 23 29 2,058 31 27 15 ap2002

2002 59,707 75,393 79.2% 6 22 28 2,132 30 23 15 ap2003

2003 59,707 75,393 79.2% 6 23 29 2,058 30 22 15 ap2004

2004 42,174 73,772 57.2% 6 22 28 1,506 29 22 15 ap2005

2010 42,174 68,635 61.4% 11 15 26 1,622 24 14 14 ap2011

2014 42,540 69,400 61.3% 15 12 27 1,575 2 23 11 15 ap2015*

2017 42,483 69,319 61.3% 10 12 22 1,931 3 17 14 15 ap2018

2020 41,959 69,414 60.4% 11 8 19 2,208 3 12 9 15 ap2021

2022 41,577 69,000 60.3% 13 9 22 1,889 3 11 9 15 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1948	57,133	135,375	42.2%		32	32	1,785		8	48	16	ap1951
1966	69,000	182,000	37.9%	3	36	39	1,769		18	61	22	ap1967
1970	65,000	210,000	31.0%	3	36	39	1,666		47	61	22	ap1971
1976	70,000	78,000	89.7%	3		3	23,333			41	16	ap1977
1980	65,000	75,000	86.7%	1	23	24	2,708	1	28	31	16	ap1981
1999	59,707	75,393	79.2%	6	21	27	2,211		26	26	15	ap2000
2000	59,707	75,393	79.2%	6	24	30	1,990		27	30	15	ap2001
2001	59,707	75,393	79.2%	6	23	29	2,058		31	27	15	ap2002
2002	59,707	75,393	79.2%	6	22	28	2,132		30	23	15	ap2003
2003	59,707	75,393	79.2%	6	23	29	2,058		30	22	15	ap2004
2004	42,174	73,772	57.2%	6	22	28	1,506		29	22	15	ap2005
2010	42,174	68,635	61.4%	11	15	26	1,622		24	14	14	ap2011
2014	42,540	69,400	61.3%	15	12	27	1,575	2	23	11	15	ap2015*
2017	42,483	69,319	61.3%	10	12	22	1,931	3	17	14	15	ap2018
2020	41,959	69,414	60.4%	11	8	19	2,208	3	12	9	15	ap2021
2022	41,577	69,000	60.3%	13	9	22	1,889	3	11	9	15	ap2023

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Kendrick John Forbes (Bishop: 2 May 2024 - )
Edward Joseph Gilbert, C.Ss.R. (Bishop: 1 Jul 1994 to 13 Mar 2001)
Gabriel Malzaire (Bishop: 10 Jul 2002 to 11 Feb 2022; Apostolic Administrator: 11 Feb 2022 to 25 Jul 2024)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

George Henry Bennett †
Arnold Boghaert, C.Ss.R. † (Coadjutor Bishop: 9 Nov 1956; Bishop: 4 Jun 1957 to 29 Nov 1993)
Joseph Oliver Bowers, S.V.D. †
Charles Warren Currier †
Antoon Demets, C.Ss.R. † (Coadjutor Bishop: 13 Jun 1946 to 30 Oct 1954)
Kelvin Edward Felix † (Priest: 8 Apr 1956 to 17 Jul 1981)
Michael Monaghan † (Bishop: 30 Apr 1850 to 14 Jul 1855)
Jaak Moris, C.Ss.R. † (Bishop: 4 Mar 1922 to 4 Jun 1957)
Michael Naughten † (Bishop: 2 Sep 1879 to 4 Jul 1900)
René-Marie-Charles Poirier, C.I.M. † (Bishop: 12 Nov 1858 to 23 Apr 1878)
Philip Schelfhaut, C.Ss.R. † (Bishop: 22 Jan 1902 to 22 May 1921)
Désiré-Michel Vesque † (Bishop: 19 Aug 1856 to 10 Jul 1858)

Source(s)

Series Episcoporum Ecclesiae Catholicae, Volume 1, Page 168
Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 67, Page 161, and Page 162

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Diocese of Roseau

Dioecesis Rosensis