Roman Catholic Diocese of Montego Bay

Diocese of Montego Bay
Dioecesis Sinus Sereni
Location
Country Jamaica
Ecclesiastical province Province of Kingston in Jamaica
Metropolitan Charles Henry Dufour
Coordinates 18°28′02″N 77°53′44″W / 18.4673°N 77.8956°W / 18.4673; -77.8956Coordinates: 18°28′02″N 77°53′44″W / 18.4673°N 77.8956°W / 18.4673; -77.8956
Statistics
Area 3,878 km2 (1,497 sq mi)
Population
- Total
- Catholics		 (as of 2004)
822,100
14,926 (1.8%)
Parishes 15
Information
Denomination Roman Catholic
Rite Latin Rite
Established 14 September 1967 (49 years ago)
Cathedral Blessed Sacrament Cathedral
Current leadership
Pope Francis
Bishop Burchell McPherson
Map
Website
mobaydiocese.tripod.com

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Montego Bay is a diocese of the Roman Catholic Church. Formerly a member of the Diocese of Kingston, it is now a suffragan see of the Metropolitan See of the Archdiocese of Kingston, located on the northwest part of the island of Jamaica. It was erected on September 14, 1967 by Pope Paul VI.[1]

The diocese of Montego Bay is made up of five civic parishes: St. James in Montego Bay, Trewlany in Falmouth, St. Ann in St. Ann's Bay, Westmoreland in Savannah-la-Mar, and Hanover in Lucea.

Of the three Roman Catholic dioceses in Jamaica, the diocese of Montego Bay is the largest in land area spanning 1,500 sq. miles. The population of non-Catholics and Catholics totals 723,200. The number of Catholics is 13,200, approximately 2% of the population.[1]

Ordinaries

Pope Paul VI selected Edgerton Roland Clarke as the first bishop of Montego Bay. Clarke was born in 1929 and was consecrated a bishop upon the inauguration of the diocese of Montego Bay. He served in Montego Bay from 1967 until his election as Archbishop of the archdiocese of Kingston in 1994.[2]

Pope John Paul II elected Charles H. Dufour as the next bishop of the diocese, where he has been serving since 1996. Dufour was born in Kingston on April 15, 1940. He was ordained a priest in August 1970, and then went on to be appointed bishop and consecrated on Feb. 10, 1996 at the Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in Montego Bay.[2] He was appointed Archbishop of Kingston on April 15, 2011.

Pope Francis appointed Burchell Alexander McPherson of the Archdiocese of Kingston the third Bishop of Montego Bay on April 11, 2013. He was consecrated and installed at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral, Montego Bay on June 8, 2013.

Parishes

Not every parish in the Montego Bay Diocese is able to have a full-time priest available. Many parishes rely on missionary priests to aid in the celebration of Mass and the sacraments. The list of parishes includes the name of the full-time pastor if available.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "The Roman Catholic Diocese of Montego Bay". Retrieved 26 July 2012.
  2. 1 2 "The Hierarchy of the Catholic Church". Retrieved 26 July 2012.
  3. ↑ "Blessed Sacrament Cathedral (Montego Bay)". Retrieved 26 July 2012.
  4. ↑ "Mary, Gate of Heaven (Negril)". Retrieved 26 July 2012.
  5. ↑ "Holy Name (Bamboo)". Retrieved 26 July 2012.
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