Bathurst (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Michael Joseph McKenna, Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 20 June 1865
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Sydney
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Australia
Square Kilometers: 103,560 (40,000 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: https://bathurst.catholic.org.au
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, 118 Keppel St., Bathhurst, N.S.W. 2795, Australia
Telephone: (02)6334.6400

Past and Present Ordinaries

Matthew Quinn † (23 Jun 1865 Appointed - 16 Jan 1885 Died)
Joseph Patrick Byrne † (5 May 1885 Appointed - 12 Jan 1901 Died)
John Mary Dunne † (4 Jun 1901 Appointed - 22 Aug 1919 Died)
Michael O’Farrell, C.M. † (16 Jun 1920 Appointed - 3 Apr 1928 Died)
John Francis Norton † (3 Apr 1928 Succeeded - 20 Jun 1963 Died)
Albert Reuben Edward Thomas † (29 Sep 1963 Appointed - 12 Apr 1983 Retired)
Patrick Dougherty † (1 Sep 1983 Appointed - 11 Nov 2008 Retired)
Michael Joseph McKenna (15 Apr 2009 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
20 June 1865	Erected	Archdiocese of Sydney	Diocese of Bathurst (erected)
10 May 1887	Territory Lost	Diocese of Armidale Diocese of Bathurst Diocese of Goulburn	Diocese of Wilcannia (erected)
28 July 1917	Territory Lost	Diocese of Bathurst (Fortes, Condobolin, Parkes, Peak Hill, Narromine, and Warren) Diocese of Wilcannia	Diocese of Wilcannia-Forbes
5 May 1950	Territory Added		Diocese of Bathurst (Boundries adjusted) Archdiocese of Sydney (Boundries adjusted)
11 February 1956	Territory Added	Archdiocese of Canberra (and Goulburn) (Koorawatha)	Diocese of Bathurst
29 October 1962	Territory Added	Archdiocese of Sydney (Parish of Lithgow)	Diocese of Bathurst
17 December 1976	Territory Added	Archdiocese of Canberra (and Goulburn) (Waugoola)	Diocese of Bathurst

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

1949 32,260 127,374 25.3% 60 12 72 448 30 345 21 ap1951

1954 36,573 130,647 28.0% 61 13 74 494 19 314 22 ap1960

1965 50,145 177,329 28.3% 61 12 73 686 28 414 32 ap1967

1968 46,011 184,045 25.0% 59 12 71 648 31 367 32 ap1971

1980 59,700 202,000 29.6% 40 9 49 1,218 17 257 26 ap1981

1990 55,628 185,798 29.9% 43 5 48 1,158 17 180 25 ap1991

1999 63,370 197,526 32.1% 38 3 41 1,545 11 116 22 ap2000

2000 64,859 198,163 32.7% 38 38 1,706 4 120 22 ap2001

2001 64,936 207,795 31.3% 36 4 40 1,623 5 110 22 ap2002

2002 66,185 273,346 24.2% 36 4 40 1,654 5 110 21 ap2003

2003 64,720 202,658 31.9% 35 4 39 1,659 5 106 21 ap2004

2004 67,728 203,621 33.3% 34 4 38 1,782 5 101 21 ap2005

2006 48,342 172,982 27.9% 31 4 35 1,381 5 93 21 ap2007

2012 67,400 225,000 30.0% 29 7 36 1,872 8 96 19 ap2013

2015 70,200 228,800 30.7% 22 8 30 2,340 9 80 19 ap2016

2018 65,485 232,817 28.1% 21 8 29 2,258 4 8 65 17 ap2019

2020 65,681 232,701 28.2% 23 7 30 2,189 4 7 60 17 ap2021

2022 66,660 236,190 28.2% 23 7 30 2,222 4 7 55 17 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1949	32,260	127,374	25.3%	60	12	72	448		30	345	21	ap1951
1954	36,573	130,647	28.0%	61	13	74	494		19	314	22	ap1960
1965	50,145	177,329	28.3%	61	12	73	686		28	414	32	ap1967
1968	46,011	184,045	25.0%	59	12	71	648		31	367	32	ap1971
1980	59,700	202,000	29.6%	40	9	49	1,218		17	257	26	ap1981
1990	55,628	185,798	29.9%	43	5	48	1,158		17	180	25	ap1991
1999	63,370	197,526	32.1%	38	3	41	1,545		11	116	22	ap2000
2000	64,859	198,163	32.7%	38		38	1,706		4	120	22	ap2001
2001	64,936	207,795	31.3%	36	4	40	1,623		5	110	22	ap2002
2002	66,185	273,346	24.2%	36	4	40	1,654		5	110	21	ap2003
2003	64,720	202,658	31.9%	35	4	39	1,659		5	106	21	ap2004
2004	67,728	203,621	33.3%	34	4	38	1,782		5	101	21	ap2005
2006	48,342	172,982	27.9%	31	4	35	1,381		5	93	21	ap2007
2012	67,400	225,000	30.0%	29	7	36	1,872		8	96	19	ap2013
2015	70,200	228,800	30.7%	22	8	30	2,340		9	80	19	ap2016
2018	65,485	232,817	28.1%	21	8	29	2,258	4	8	65	17	ap2019
2020	65,681	232,701	28.2%	23	7	30	2,189	4	7	60	17	ap2021
2022	66,660	236,190	28.2%	23	7	30	2,222	4	7	55	17	ap2023