Diocese of Helena Dioecesis Helenensis | |
|---|---|
) Cathedral of Saint Helena | |
) | |
| Location | |
| Country |  United States |
| Territory |  Lewis and Clark, Teton, Flathead, Lincoln, Missoula, Sanders, Powell, Granite, Ravalli, Deer Lodge, Silver Bow, Jefferson, Broadwater, Gallatin, Madison, Lake, and Beaverhead Counties plus parts of Meagher, Musselshell, and Toole Counties in Montana |
| Ecclesiastical province | Portland |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 51,922 sq mi (134,480 km2) |
| Population - Total - Catholics (including non-members) | (as of 2016) 595,114 44,413[1] (7.5%) |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Catholic |
| Sui iuris church | Latin Church |
| Rite | Roman Rite |
| Established | March 7, 1884 |
| Cathedral | Cathedral of Saint Helena |
| Patron saint | St. Helena |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Francis |
| Bishop | Austin Anthony Vetter |
| Map | |
) | |
| Website | |
| diocesehelena.org | |
The Diocese of Helena (Latin: Dioecesis Helenensis) is the Catholic diocese for western Montana with its cathedral located in Helena, the state capital. The diocese was erected from the year-old Vicarate of Montana on March 7, 1884, while Montana was still a territory. The diocese is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Portland (Oregon), which province encompasses Oregon, Idaho, and Montana.
History
)
Before becoming a diocese, this was the Vicariate of Montana (covering the whole territory and then state of Montana).[2] For its first twenty years, the diocese served all of Montana. In 1904 the new Diocese of Great Falls (later renamed the Diocese of Great Falls-Billings) was formed to serve eastern Montana.[1]
The seat of the diocese is in the Cathedral of St. Helena in the state capital of Helena. It was completed in 1914.
Sexual abuse settlement and bankruptcy
On January 31, 2014, the Diocese of Helena filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as part of a $15 million settlement intended to go to 362 victims of sex abuse by clergy in the Diocese.[3][4][5] The settlement, which was approved in 2015,[6] covers Catholic churches in all or part of counties in western Montana.[4][5][7][6]
Bishops
Apostolic Vicar of Montana
- Jean-Baptiste Brondel (1883–1884)
- Augustin Ravoux, S.J. (appointed in 1868), incapacitated so did not assume office
Bishops of Helena
- Jean-Baptiste Brondel (1884–1903)
- John Patrick Carroll (1904–1925)
- George Joseph Finnigan (1927–1932)
- Ralph Leo Hayes (1933–1935), appointed Rector of the Pontifical North American College and Titular Bishop and later Bishop of Davenport
- Joseph Michael Gilmore (1935–1962)
- Raymond Gerhardt Hunthausen (1962–1975), appointed Archbishop of Seattle
- Elden Francis Curtiss (1976–1993), appointed Archbishop of Omaha
- Alexander Joseph Brunett (1994–1997), appointed Archbishop of Seattle
- Robert C. Morlino (1999–2003), appointed Bishop of Madison
- George Leo Thomas (2004–2018), appointed Bishop of Las Vegas
- Austin Anthony Vetter (2019–present)
High schools
- Butte Central Catholic High School, Butte
- Loyola Sacred Heart High School, Missoula
) |
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See also
- Catholic Church by country
- Catholic Church in the United States
- Ecclesiastical Province of Portland in Oregon
- Global organisation of the Catholic Church
- List of Roman Catholic archdioceses (by country and continent)
- List of Roman Catholic dioceses (alphabetical) (including archdioceses)
- List of Roman Catholic dioceses (structured view) (including archdioceses)
- List of the Catholic dioceses of the United States
Notes
- ^ a b "Helena (Latin (or Roman) Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved Jun 22, 2020.
- ^ Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). . Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
- ^ "Diocese Moves Toward Settlement in Abuse Claims |". Retrieved Jun 22, 2020.
- ^ a b Johnson, Charles S. "Diocese of Helena bankruptcy: $33.6M in liabilities more than twice its assets". missoulian.com. Retrieved Jun 22, 2020.
- ^ a b BROUWER, DEREK. "Helena Catholic Diocese faces tough decisions as it negotiates bankruptcy". The Billings Gazette. Retrieved Jun 22, 2020.
- ^ a b Corrigan, Tom (Mar 4, 2015). "Helena, Montana Roman Catholic Diocese Settles Abuse Claims". Retrieved Jun 22, 2020 – via www.wsj.com.
- ^ DEEDY, ALEXANDER. "Diocese names priests, sisters, staff accused of sexual abuse". Helena Independent Record. Retrieved Jun 22, 2020.
External links