Thunder Bay (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Vacant
Frederick Joseph Colli, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Name Changed: 26 February 1970
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Toronto
Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Province: Ontario
Country: Canada
Square Kilometers: 220,000 (84,975 Square Miles)
Conference Region: Ontario
Catholic Directory Abbreviation: TB
Official Web Site: https://www.dotb.ca
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, 1222 Reaume Street, P.O. Box 10400, Thunder Bay, ON P7B 6T8, Canada
Telephone: (807)343-9313
Fax: 343-9114

Historical Details

Diocese of Fort William
- Latin Name: Arcis Gulielmi
- Erected: 29 April 1952
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Toronto
- Province: Ontario
- Country: Canada

Past and Present Ordinaries

Edward Quentin Jennings † (14 May 1952 Appointed - 18 Sep 1969 Retired)
Norman Joseph Gallagher † (16 Apr 1970 Appointed - 28 Dec 1975 Died)
John Aloysius O’Mara † (24 May 1976 Appointed - 2 Feb 1994 Appointed, Bishop of Saint Catharines, Ontario)
Frederick Bernard Henry † (24 Mar 1995 Appointed - 19 Jan 1998 Appointed, Bishop of Calgary, Alberta)
Frederick Joseph Colli (2 Feb 1999 Appointed - 17 Jun 2024 Retired)

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Diocese of Fort William
29 April 1952	Erected	Diocese of Sault Sainte Marie Archdiocese of Saint-Boniface (Ontano)	Diocese of Fort William (erected)
Diocese of Thunder Bay
26 February 1970	Name Changed	Diocese of Fort William	Diocese of Thunder Bay
18 March 2017	Territory Added	Diocese of Sault Sainte Marie (St. Mary of Ormensi (Pie Mobert and Manitouwadge))	Diocese of Thunder Bay
15 July 2021	Territory Added	Archdiocese of Keewatin-Le Pas (Saint Bernadette in Sandy Lake, Ontario)	Diocese of Thunder Bay

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

Diocese of Fort William

1966 52,000 200,000 26.0% 28 41 69 753 44 133 34 ap1967

Diocese of Thunder Bay

1970 54,780 200,000 27.4% 29 45 74 740 49 141 39 ap1971

1976 55,000 200,000 27.5% 25 38 63 873 1 44 85 38 ap1977

1980 63,100 217,700 29.0% 25 42 67 941 48 68 41 ap1981

1990 72,800 222,500 32.7% 29 33 62 1,174 12 35 41 41 ap1991

1999 71,000 240,000 29.6% 31 16 47 1,510 19 18 49 42 ap2000

2000 71,000 240,000 29.6% 30 14 44 1,613 32 16 32 42 ap2001

2001 71,000 240,000 29.6% 31 15 46 1,543 31 17 28 42 ap2002

2002 71,000 240,000 29.6% 30 13 43 1,651 32 13 19 42 ap2003

2003 71,000 240,000 29.6% 32 14 46 1,543 29 14 21 42 ap2004

2004 73,780 240,000 30.7% 33 14 47 1,569 29 14 20 42 ap2005

2010 77,800 251,000 31.0% 26 13 39 1,994 35 13 12 43 ap2011

2014 81,400 262,600 31.0% 37 9 46 1,769 36 9 7 43 ap2015

2017 83,620 272,610 30.7% 30 6 36 2,322 33 6 8 45 ap2018

2020 86,900 283,300 30.7% 30 30 2,896 32 3 46 ap2021

2022 89,000 290,142 30.7% 28 28 3,178 31 49 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Diocese of Fort William
1966	52,000	200,000	26.0%	28	41	69	753		44	133	34	ap1967
Diocese of Thunder Bay
1970	54,780	200,000	27.4%	29	45	74	740		49	141	39	ap1971
1976	55,000	200,000	27.5%	25	38	63	873	1	44	85	38	ap1977
1980	63,100	217,700	29.0%	25	42	67	941		48	68	41	ap1981
1990	72,800	222,500	32.7%	29	33	62	1,174	12	35	41	41	ap1991
1999	71,000	240,000	29.6%	31	16	47	1,510	19	18	49	42	ap2000
2000	71,000	240,000	29.6%	30	14	44	1,613	32	16	32	42	ap2001
2001	71,000	240,000	29.6%	31	15	46	1,543	31	17	28	42	ap2002
2002	71,000	240,000	29.6%	30	13	43	1,651	32	13	19	42	ap2003
2003	71,000	240,000	29.6%	32	14	46	1,543	29	14	21	42	ap2004
2004	73,780	240,000	30.7%	33	14	47	1,569	29	14	20	42	ap2005
2010	77,800	251,000	31.0%	26	13	39	1,994	35	13	12	43	ap2011
2014	81,400	262,600	31.0%	37	9	46	1,769	36	9	7	43	ap2015
2017	83,620	272,610	30.7%	30	6	36	2,322	33	6	8	45	ap2018
2020	86,900	283,300	30.7%	30		30	2,896	32		3	46	ap2021
2022	89,000	290,142	30.7%	28		28	3,178	31			49	ap2023

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Frederick Joseph Colli (Bishop: 2 Feb 1999 to 17 Jun 2024)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Norman Joseph Gallagher † (Bishop: 16 Apr 1970 to 28 Dec 1975)
Frederick Bernard Henry † (Bishop: 24 Mar 1995 to 19 Jan 1998)
Edward Quentin Jennings † (Bishop: 14 May 1952 to 18 Sep 1969)
John Aloysius O’Mara † (Bishop: 24 May 1976 to 2 Feb 1994)

Source(s)

Diocese of Fort William
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 44, Page 708, to Page 710
Diocese of Thunder Bay
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 62, Page 178
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 109, Page 676

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Diocese of Thunder Bay

Dioecesis Sinus Tonitralis