Toowoomba (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Kenneth Michael Howell, Bishop
Robert Michael McGuckin, Bishop Emeritus
William Martin Morris, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 28 May 1929
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Brisbane
Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Australia
Square Kilometers: 487,000 (188,103 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: https://www.twb.catholic.org.au
Mailing Address: Bishop's Office, 73 Margaret Street, P.O. Box 756, Toowoomba, QLD 4350, Australia
Telephone: (07)4632.4277

Past and Present Ordinaries

James Byrne † (28 May 1929 Appointed - 11 Feb 1938 Died)
Joseph Basil Roper † (13 Jul 1938 Appointed - 14 Oct 1952 Resigned)
William Joseph Brennan † (7 Aug 1953 Appointed - 11 Sep 1975 Died)
Edward Francis Kelly, M.S.C. † (19 Dec 1975 Appointed - 20 Nov 1992 Retired)
William Martin Morris (20 Nov 1992 Appointed - 2 May 2011 Removed)
Robert Michael McGuckin (14 May 2012 Appointed - 24 May 2023 Retired)
Kenneth Michael Howell (24 May 2023 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
28 May 1929	Erected	Archdiocese of Brisbane (Southern part of Queensland, south of the twenty-fifth degree of south latitude and west of the Auburn and great Dividing Ranges)	Diocese of Toowoomba (erected)
5 May 1950	Territory Added		Archdiocese of Brisbane (Boundries adjusted) Diocese of Toowoomba (Boundries adjusted)

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

1950 32,000 125,000 25.6% 54 15 69 463 27 195 27 ap1951

1964 47,900 162,493 29.5% 71 23 94 509 61 237 37 ap1967

1968 48,200 194,000 24.8% 66 18 84 573 54 228 37 ap1971

1980 54,271 206,655 26.3% 66 11 77 704 37 167 38 ap1981

1990 59,953 218,447 27.4% 55 16 71 844 36 96 35 ap1991

1999 59,458 222,417 26.7% 46 11 57 1,043 21 68 35 ap2000

2000 61,272 232,601 26.3% 46 9 55 1,114 18 56 35 ap2001

2001 61,573 230,716 26.7% 45 10 55 1,119 19 64 35 ap2002

2002 61,209 232,979 26.3% 42 10 52 1,177 16 56 35 ap2003

2003 62,852 239,095 26.3% 41 8 49 1,282 16 58 35 ap2004

2004 65,912 232,900 28.3% 42 8 50 1,318 15 58 35 ap2005

2010 76,000 272,000 27.9% 38 7 45 1,688 9 52 35 ap2011

2014 67,500 264,800 25.5% 35 5 40 1,687 5 47 35 ap2015

2017 70,400 276,700 25.4% 31 10 41 1,717 11 30 37 ap2018

2020 67,300 280,600 24.0% 28 9 37 1,818 9 23 37 ap2021

2022 69,260 288,800 24.0% 27 10 37 1,871 10 20 37 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1950	32,000	125,000	25.6%	54	15	69	463	27	195	27	ap1951
1964	47,900	162,493	29.5%	71	23	94	509	61	237	37	ap1967
1968	48,200	194,000	24.8%	66	18	84	573	54	228	37	ap1971
1980	54,271	206,655	26.3%	66	11	77	704	37	167	38	ap1981
1990	59,953	218,447	27.4%	55	16	71	844	36	96	35	ap1991
1999	59,458	222,417	26.7%	46	11	57	1,043	21	68	35	ap2000
2000	61,272	232,601	26.3%	46	9	55	1,114	18	56	35	ap2001
2001	61,573	230,716	26.7%	45	10	55	1,119	19	64	35	ap2002
2002	61,209	232,979	26.3%	42	10	52	1,177	16	56	35	ap2003
2003	62,852	239,095	26.3%	41	8	49	1,282	16	58	35	ap2004
2004	65,912	232,900	28.3%	42	8	50	1,318	15	58	35	ap2005
2010	76,000	272,000	27.9%	38	7	45	1,688	9	52	35	ap2011
2014	67,500	264,800	25.5%	35	5	40	1,687	5	47	35	ap2015
2017	70,400	276,700	25.4%	31	10	41	1,717	11	30	37	ap2018
2020	67,300	280,600	24.0%	28	9	37	1,818	9	23	37	ap2021
2022	69,260	288,800	24.0%	27	10	37	1,871	10	20	37	ap2023