Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Nassau
Encyclopedia
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Nassau is an archdiocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church
in the Caribbean
. The diocese encompasses the islands of the former British dependency of the Bahamas. The Archdiocese is the Metropolitan responsible for the suffragan diocese of Hamilton in Bermuda
and the Mission sui iuris
of Turks and Caicos
, and is a member of the Antilles Episcopal Conference
.
The diocese was originally erected as the Prefecture Apostolic of the Bahama in March 1929, and was subsequently elevated to the Vicariate Apostolic of the Bahama Islands in January 1941, and then to a full diocese, as the diocese of Nassau in June 1960. On June 22, 1999, the diocese was again elevated as the new Archdiocese of Nassau.
As of 2004, the diocese contains 30 parishes, 15 active diocesan priests, 14 religious priests, and 48,000 Catholics. It also has 28 Women Religious, 14 Religious Brothers, and 13 permanent deacons.
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
in the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
. The diocese encompasses the islands of the former British dependency of the Bahamas. The Archdiocese is the Metropolitan responsible for the suffragan diocese of Hamilton in Bermuda
Roman Catholic Diocese of Hamilton in Bermuda
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Hamilton in Bermuda is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in North America. The diocese comprises the entirety of the dependency of Bermuda...
and the Mission sui iuris
Mission sui iuris
A mission sui iuris, or in Latin missio sui iuris, also known as an independent mission, is a rare type of Roman Catholic missionary pseudo-diocesan jurisdiction in an area with very few Catholics, often desolate or remote....
of Turks and Caicos
Roman Catholic Mission Sui Iuris of Turks and Caicos
The Roman Catholic Mission Sui Iuris of Turks and Caicos is a mission sui iuris of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in the Caribbean. The mission encompasses the entirety of the British dependency of Turks and Caicos...
, and is a member of the Antilles Episcopal Conference
Antilles Episcopal Conference
The Antilles Episcopal Conference is a Roman Catholic episcopal conference. Its members are bishops and archbishops from current and former British, Dutch, and French colonies and dependencies in the Caribbean , Central America, and northern South America. The conference's membership includes five...
.
The diocese was originally erected as the Prefecture Apostolic of the Bahama in March 1929, and was subsequently elevated to the Vicariate Apostolic of the Bahama Islands in January 1941, and then to a full diocese, as the diocese of Nassau in June 1960. On June 22, 1999, the diocese was again elevated as the new Archdiocese of Nassau.
As of 2004, the diocese contains 30 parishes, 15 active diocesan priests, 14 religious priests, and 48,000 Catholics. It also has 28 Women Religious, 14 Religious Brothers, and 13 permanent deacons.
Ordinaries
- John Bernard KevenhoersterJohn Bernard KevenhoersterJohn Bernard Kevenhoerster, O.S.B. was a German-born prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as the first Prefect Apostolic and Vicar Apostolic of the Bahama Islands.-Biography:...
O.S.B. (1931–1949) - Paul Leonard HagartyPaul Leonard HagartyPaul Leonard Hagarty, O.S.B. was an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He was the first Bishop of Nassau , having previously served as Vicar Apostolic of the Bahama Islands .-Biography:...
O.S.B. (1950–1981) - Lawrence Aloysius BurkeLawrence Aloysius BurkeLawrence Aloysius Burke S.J. was the 4th Roman Catholic Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kingston in Jamaica. He also served previously as the 1st Archbishop of the newly created Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Nassau beginning in 1999.Born in Kingston, Jamaica, he was ordained as a...
(1981–2004) - Patrick Christopher Pinder (2004–present)