Roman Catholic Diocese of Kalamazoo
Encyclopedia
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Kalamazoo is a Diocese
of the Roman Catholic Church
in the southwestern portion of the State of Michigan
that encompasses Allegan
, Van Buren
, Berrien
, Cass
, Saint Joseph, Kalamazoo
, Branch
, Calhoun
, and Barry
Counties. The Diocese consists of 46 parish
es 13 mission
s, 44 priest
s, and 23 deacon
s. The Diocese operates 3 Catholic high schools and 21 elementary schools, serving more than 5,000 students throughout the same.
Originally the territory comprising the Diocese was governed by the Archdiocese of Detroit and later the Diocese of Grand Rapids.
There have been 4 bishops who have served the Diocese:
The Diocese of Kalamazoo was founded on July 21, 1971. The motherchurch is St. Augustine Cathedral
in downtown Kalamazoo.
Until its closure in 1991 the Diocese of Kalamazoo hosted Nazareth College
.
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
of the Roman Catholic Church
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 southwestern portion of the State of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
that encompasses Allegan
Allegan County, Michigan
-Interstates:* I-196* I-196 Business Loop serves the city of Holland.-US highways:* US-31* US-131-Michigan State Trunklines:* M-40* M-89* M-179* M-222-Allegan County Intercounty Highways:* A-2* A-37* A-42* A-45-Demographics:...
, Van Buren
Van Buren County, Michigan
-Parks, preserves, natural areas:* Dunes Parkway, an 84 acre preserve of dunes in Covert Township* Jeptha Lake Fen Preserve, a 49 acre preserve in Columbia Township...
, Berrien
Berrien County, Michigan
Berrien County is a county located in the extreme southwest of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is included in the Niles-Benton Harbor, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 156,813. The county seat is St. Joseph....
, Cass
Cass County, Michigan
Cass County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the population was 51,104. It is part of the South Bend–Mishawaka, IN-MI, Metropolitan Statistical Area which has a total population of 316,663 and is sometimes considered part of Greater Michiana...
, Saint Joseph, Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo County, Michigan
-Air Service:*The Kalamazoo & Battle Creek Metro Area is served by Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport.-Interstates:* I-94* I-94 Business Loop-US highways:* US-131* BUS US 131-Michigan State Trunklines:* M-43* M-89* M-96...
, Branch
Branch County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the 2000 census, there were 45,787 people, 16,349 households, and 11,575 families residing in the county. The population density was 90 people per square mile . There were 19,822 housing units at an average density of 39 per square mile...
, Calhoun
Calhoun County, Michigan
-Interstates:* I-69* I-94* I-194* I-94 Business Loop serves the city of Albion.* I-94 Business Loop serves the city of Battle Creek.* I-94 Business Loop serves the city of Marshall.-Michigan State Trunklines:* M-37* M-60* M-66* M-78* M-89* M-96* M-99...
, and Barry
Barry County, Michigan
-Highways:* M-37* M-43* M-50* M-66* M-78* M-79* M-89* M-179-Demographics:As of the 2000 census, there were 56,755 people, 21,035 households, and 15,986 families residing in the county. The population density was 102 people per square mile . There were 23,876 housing units at an average density of...
Counties. The Diocese consists of 46 parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
es 13 mission
Mission (Christian)
Christian missionary activities often involve sending individuals and groups , to foreign countries and to places in their own homeland. This has frequently involved not only evangelization , but also humanitarian work, especially among the poor and disadvantaged...
s, 44 priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
s, and 23 deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
s. The Diocese operates 3 Catholic high schools and 21 elementary schools, serving more than 5,000 students throughout the same.
Originally the territory comprising the Diocese was governed by the Archdiocese of Detroit and later the Diocese of Grand Rapids.
There have been 4 bishops who have served the Diocese:
- Paul Vincent DonovanPaul Vincent DonovanPaul Vincent Donovan was a bishop of the Catholic Church in the United States. He served as the first bishop of the Diocese of Kalamazoo in the state of Michigan from 1971-1994.-Biography:...
, (1971 - 1994) - Alfred John MarkiewiczAlfred John MarkiewiczAlfred John Markiewicz was the second Roman Catholic bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kalamazoo, Michigan....
, (1995 - 1997) - James Albert MurrayJames Albert MurrayJames Albert Murray is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Kalamazoo from 1998 to 2009.-Biography:...
, (1998 - 2009) - Paul J. BradleyPaul J. BradleyPaul Joseph Bradley is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the fourth and current Bishop of Kalamazoo.-Early life and ministry:...
, (2009 - present)
The Diocese of Kalamazoo was founded on July 21, 1971. The motherchurch is St. Augustine Cathedral
Cathedral of Saint Augustine in Kalamazoo
St. Augustine Cathedral is the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Church in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and the seat of the Bishop of the Diocese of Kalamazoo....
in downtown Kalamazoo.
Until its closure in 1991 the Diocese of Kalamazoo hosted Nazareth College
Nazareth College (Michigan)
Nazareth College was a Catholic college in Kalamazoo, Michigan that operated from 1924 until 1992.-Origins:Nazareth Academy opened in 1897 and based on the charter that was issued, it provided for the future extension of the school to the collegiate level. On May 7, 1913, Monsignor O’Brien...
.
High schools
- Hackett Catholic Central High SchoolHackett Catholic Central High SchoolHackett Catholic Central High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kalamazoo.-History:...
, Kalamazoo - Lake Michigan Catholic High SchoolLake Michigan Catholic High SchoolLake Michigan Catholic High School is a parochial, Roman Catholic high school in St. Joseph, Michigan. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kalamazoo....
, St. Joseph - St. Philip Catholic Central High SchoolSt. Philip Catholic Central High SchoolSt. Philip Catholic Central High School, located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kalamazoo is a Roman Catholic high school in Battle Creek, Michigan. Enrollment is around 138.-The Curriculum:...
, Battle Creek