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

Other priest of this diocese who became bishop

Churches

Castlegar Cranbrook Creston Fernie Fruitvale Golden Grand Forks Invermere Kelowna Keremeos Kimberley Nakusp Nelson Oliver Osoyoos Penticton Princeton Revelstoke Rossland Sparwood Summerland Trail West Kelowna Winfield

Education

Catholic high schools

Catholic elementary schools

Religious institutes

Religious institutes of men

Religious institutes of women