Birmingham (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Steven John Raica, Bishop
Robert Joseph Baker, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Split: 28 June 1969
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Mobile
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
State: Alabama
Country: United States of America
Square Kilometers: 72,728 (28,091 Square Miles)
Description: Bibb, Blount, Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee, Chilton, Clay, Clebourne, Colbert, Coosa, Cullman, DeKalb, Etowah, Fayette, Franklin, Greene, Hale, Jackson, Jefferson, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marengo, Marion, Marshall, Morgan, Perry, Pickens, Randolph, St. Clair, Shelby, Sumter, Talladega, Tallapoosa, Tuscaloosa, Walker, and Winston Counties.
Conference Region: V (AL, KY, LA, MS, TN)
Catholic Directory Abbreviation: BIR
Official Web Site: http://www.bhmdiocese.org/
Mailing Address: 2121 3rd Ave. North, Birmingham, AL 35203; P.O. Box 12047, Birmingham, AL 35202-2047, USA
Telephone: (205)838-8322
Fax: 836-1910

Past and Present Ordinaries

Joseph Gregory Vath † (29 Sep 1969 Appointed - 14 Jul 1987 Died)
Raymond James Boland † (2 Feb 1988 Appointed - 22 Jun 1993 Appointed, Bishop of Kansas City-Saint Joseph, Missouri)
David Edward Foley † (22 Mar 1994 Appointed - 10 May 2005 Retired)
Robert Joseph Baker (14 Aug 2007 Appointed - 25 Mar 2020 Retired)
Steven John Raica (25 Mar 2020 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
28 June 1969	Split	Diocese of Mobile-Birmingham	Diocese of Birmingham Diocese of Mobile
29 July 1980	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Birmingham (from New Orleans)

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

1970 39,828 2,134,396 1.9% 68 95 163 244 107 258 54 ap1971

1976 47,545 2,143,875 2.2% 61 74 135 352 12 97 207 59 ap1977

1980 53,403 2,230,000 2.4% 57 65 122 437 17 79 191 55 ap1981

1990 62,387 2,470,800 2.5% 54 29 83 751 21 42 220 75 ap1991

1999 71,958 2,644,644 2.7% 69 45 114 631 28 34 170 54 ap2000

2000 76,941 2,735,546 2.8% 49 44 93 827 28 73 163 56 ap2001

2001 90,590 2,769,842 3.3% 59 41 100 905 48 79 143 57 ap2002

2002 91,922 2,806,397 3.3% 57 12 69 1,332 44 44 121 57 ap2003

2003 88,515 2,819,062 3.1% 74 33 107 827 45 59 124 57 ap2004

2004 74,777 2,735,546 2.7% 68 12 80 934 41 34 129 59 ap2005

2006 98,600 2,845,000 3.5% 84 12 96 1,027 56 28 154 55 ap2007

2012 103,900 2,995,000 3.5% 79 23 102 1,018 51 46 125 54 ap2013

2015 94,673 3,046,764 3.1% 69 21 90 1,051 69 42 83 77 ap2016

2018 104,125 3,072,933 3.4% 74 25 99 1,051 64 64 117 78 ap2019

2020 105,150 3,082,581 3.4% 82 21 103 1,020 87 49 98 78 ap2021

2022 113,432 3,178,570 3.6% 88 31 119 953 76 54 98 66 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1970	39,828	2,134,396	1.9%	68	95	163	244		107	258	54	ap1971
1976	47,545	2,143,875	2.2%	61	74	135	352	12	97	207	59	ap1977
1980	53,403	2,230,000	2.4%	57	65	122	437	17	79	191	55	ap1981
1990	62,387	2,470,800	2.5%	54	29	83	751	21	42	220	75	ap1991
1999	71,958	2,644,644	2.7%	69	45	114	631	28	34	170	54	ap2000
2000	76,941	2,735,546	2.8%	49	44	93	827	28	73	163	56	ap2001
2001	90,590	2,769,842	3.3%	59	41	100	905	48	79	143	57	ap2002
2002	91,922	2,806,397	3.3%	57	12	69	1,332	44	44	121	57	ap2003
2003	88,515	2,819,062	3.1%	74	33	107	827	45	59	124	57	ap2004
2004	74,777	2,735,546	2.7%	68	12	80	934	41	34	129	59	ap2005
2006	98,600	2,845,000	3.5%	84	12	96	1,027	56	28	154	55	ap2007
2012	103,900	2,995,000	3.5%	79	23	102	1,018	51	46	125	54	ap2013
2015	94,673	3,046,764	3.1%	69	21	90	1,051	69	42	83	77	ap2016
2018	104,125	3,072,933	3.4%	74	25	99	1,051	64	64	117	78	ap2019
2020	105,150	3,082,581	3.4%	82	21	103	1,020	87	49	98	78	ap2021
2022	113,432	3,178,570	3.6%	88	31	119	953	76	54	98	66	ap2023