The Roman Catholic Diocese of Nelson () (erected 22 February 1936) is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Vancouver.
Diocesan demographics
The diocese contains 31 parishes. Serving or retired in the diocese are 28 diocesan priests, 7 religious priests ministering to 75,000 Catholics. It also has 13 religious sisters and supports 7 Catholic schools. (As of March 2011) This diocese covers two time zones with the East Kootenay and Columbia Valley on Mountain Time and the rest on Pacific time.
History
In the late 1830s French Canadians in the Oregon Territory petitioned the Quebec bishops to have missionary priests sent beyond the Rocky Mountains. In response to this plea, Fathers François-Norbert Blanchet and Modeste Demers were sent West to a remote part of the Quebec diocese referred to as New Caledonia by the Hudson’s Bay Company. While at Boat Encampment on the Columbia River (Mica Dam area), Blanchet and Demers celebrated Mass on October 10, 1838 the first Mass celebrated in what later became the Diocese of Nelson.
During the years of westward expansion and settlement, the spiritual needs of the region presently administered by the Diocese of Nelson came under the jurisdiction of various bishoprics: • Vicariate Apostolic of the Oregon Territory, 1843-1846 • Diocese of Vancouver Island, 1846-1863 • Vicariate Apostolic of British Columbia, 1863-1890 • Diocese of New Westminster, 1890-1908 • Archdiocese of Vancouver, 1908-1936
On February 22, 1936, Pope Pius XI erected the Diocese of Nelson to cover the Kootenay and Okanagan regions of southeastern British Columbia.
Bishops
Ordinaries
Martin Michael Johnson (1936–1954), appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Vancouver, British Columbia Thomas Joseph McCarthy (1955–1958), appointed Bishop of Saint Catharines, Ontario Wilfrid Emmett Doyle (1958–1989) Peter Joseph Mallon (1989–1995), appointed Archbishop of Regina, Saskatchewan Eugene Cooney (1996–2007) John Corriveau (2007–2018) Gregory John Bittman (2018-present)
Other priest of this diocese who became bishop
Bartolomeus Van Roijen, appointed Bishop of Corner Brook and Labrador, Newfoundland in 2019
Churches
Castlegar
St. Rita's
Cranbrook
St. Mary's
Christ the Servant
Creston
Holy Cross
Fernie
Holy Family
Fruitvale
St. Rita's
Golden
Sacred Heart
Grand Forks
Sacred Heart
Invermere
Canadian Martyrs
Kelowna
Immaculate Conception Church
St. Pius X
Corpus Christi
St. Charles Garnier
Keremeos
Our Lady of Lourdes
Kimberley
Sacred Heart
Nakusp
Our Lady of Lourdes
Nelson
Mary Immaculate Cathedral
Oliver
Christ the King
Osoyoos
St. Anne's
Penticton
St. Ann's
St. John Vianney's
Princeton
St. Peter's
Revelstoke
St. Francis of Assisi
Rossland
Sacred Heart
Sparwood
St. Michael's
Summerland
Holy Child
Trail
Our Lady of Perpetual Help
St. Anthony / St. Francis Xavier
Westbank
Our Lady of Lourdes
Winfield
St. Edward's
Education
Catholic high schools
Catholic elementary schools
Religious institutes
Religious institutes of men
Order of St. Augustine
Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate
Order of Friars Minor, Capuchin
Order of the Friars Minor
MSTU Order
Order of St. Basil
Religious institutes of women
Sisters of the Atonement (SA) Sisters of Charity of Halifax (SC) Sisters of Charity of St. Louis (SCSL) Daughters of Providence (FDLP) Congregation of Notre Dame (CND)
Notes
The diocese publishes the Catholic Mountain Star newspaper.