Diocese of Geraldton

Past and Present Ordinaries

• William Bernard Kelly † (21 Mar 1898 Appointed - 26 Dec 1921 Died)
• Richard Ryan, C.M. † (30 Jan 1923 Appointed - 10 Mar 1926 Appointed, Bishop of Sale)
• James Patrick O’Collins † (11 Feb 1930 Appointed - 23 Dec 1941 Appointed, Bishop of Ballarat)
• Alfred Joseph Gummer † (24 Feb 1942 Appointed - 5 Apr 1962 Died)
• Francis Xavier Thomas † (18 Jun 1962 Appointed - 13 Jul 1981 Retired)
• William Joseph Foley † (13 Jul 1981 Appointed - 26 Oct 1983 Appointed, Archbishop of Perth)
• Barry James Hickey (22 Mar 1984 Appointed - 23 Jul 1991 Appointed, Archbishop of Perth)
• Justin Joseph Bianchini (25 Mar 1992 Appointed - 15 May 2017 Retired)
• Michael Henry Morrissey (15 May 2017 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Statistics

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1950	8,000	25,000	32.0%	15	2	17	470		18	126	14	ap1951
1966	11,683	46,000	25.4%	16	1	17	687		24	120	14	ap1967
1970	11,800	52,000	22.7%	20	2	22	536		30	108	15	ap1971
1980	20,376	78,900	25.8%	21	1	22	926		17	67	18	ao1981
1990	26,600	116,900	22.8%	15	12	27	985		23	53	20	ap1991
1999	26,638	115,144	23.1%	12	15	27	986		27	49	15	ap2000
2000	26,638	115,144	23.1%	12	14	26	1,024		24	43	15	ap2001
2001	26,638	115,144	23.1%	12	12	24	1,109	2	22	43	12	ap2002
2002	26,638	115,144	23.1%	13	12	25	1,065		22	42	12	ap2003
2003	26,638	115,144	23.1%	11	9	20	1,331		19	41	12	ap2004
2004	27,135	114,662	23.7%	10	9	19	1,428		20	40	12	ap2005
2006	27,135	114,662	23.7%	11	8	19	1,428		19	36	12	ap2007
2013	29,317	126,536	23.2%	11	6	17	1,724		10	26	16	ap2014
2016	29,768	132,813	22.4%	12	8	20	1,488		11	18	16	ap2017
2019	28,000	128,120	21.9%	11	6	17	1,647		6	17	16	ap2020
2021	27,596	126,105	21.9%	14	3	17	1,623		3	11	16	ap2022

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

• Justin Joseph Bianchini (Bishop: 25 Mar 1992 to 15 May 2017)
• Barry James Hickey (Bishop: 22 Mar 1984 to 23 Jul 1991)
• Michael Henry Morrissey (Priest: 31 Jan 1981; Bishop: 15 May 2017 - )

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Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

• William Joseph Foley † (Bishop: 13 Jul 1981 to 26 Oct 1983)
• Bryan Gallagher † (Priest: 22 Dec 1934 to 13 Mar 1952)
• Alfred Joseph Gummer † (Bishop: 24 Feb 1942 to 5 Apr 1962)
• William Bernard Kelly † (Bishop: 21 Mar 1898 to 26 Dec 1921)
• James Patrick O’Collins † (Bishop: 11 Feb 1930 to 23 Dec 1941)
• Richard Ryan, C.M. † (Bishop: 30 Jan 1923 to 10 Mar 1926)
• Francis Xavier Thomas † (Bishop: 18 Jun 1962 to 13 Jul 1981)