Metropolitan Archdiocese of Castries, Saint Lucia 🇱🇨

Continent: Central America

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Metropolitan Archdiocese Metr. Archdiocese

Name: Castries / Castrien(sis) (Latin)

Suffragan Sees: Kingstown, Roseau, Saint George’s in Grenada, Saint John’s–Basseterre

Neighbouring Dioceses: Fort-de-France–Saint-Pierre (↑), Bridgetown (↘), Kingstown (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Website:

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1956.02.20: Established as Diocese of Castries / Castrien(sis) (Latin) (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Port of Spain and without ecclesiastical province)
1974.11.18: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Castries / Castrien(sis) (Latin) (with suffragan sees Roseau, Saint George’s in Grenada and Saint John’s and lost territory to Metropolitan Archdiocese of Port of Spain)
1989.10.23: Gained suffragan see Kingstown
2011.07.08: Lost suffragan see Kingstown
2015.12.22: Gained suffragan see Kingstown

Papal Visits

Pope John Paul II (1986.07)

Present Prelates

Metropolitan Archbishop (2022.02.11 – ...):

Archbishop Gabriel Malzaire (68)

Apostolic Administrator of Saint George’s in Grenada (Grenada)

Monsignors (4)

Ordinaries

Metropolitan Archbishops of Castries (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Gabriel Malzaire (68)
(2022.02.11 – ...)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Castries (Saint Lucia)
Apostolic Administrator of Saint George’s in Grenada (Grenada)

All I want is to know Jesus Christ

Born:	1957.10.04 (Mons Repos, Saint Lucia)
Ordained Priest:	1985.07.28
Consecrated Bishop:	2002.10.04

Priest of Castries (Saint Lucia) (1985.07.28 – 2002.07.10)

Bishop of Roseau (Dominica) (2002.07.10 – 2022.02.11)

Apostolic Administrator of Saint John’s–Basseterre (Antigua and Barbuda) (2007.10.12 – 2011.11.19)

President of Antilles Episcopal Conference (2017.05.04 – 2023.04.28)

Apostolic Administrator of Roseau (Dominica) (2022.02.11 – 2024.05.02)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Castries (Saint Lucia) (2022.02.11 – ...)

Apostolic Administrator of Saint George’s in Grenada (Grenada) (2026.06.09 – ...)

Archbishop Robert Rivas, O.P. (80)
(2008.02.15 – 2022.02.11)

Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Castries (Saint Lucia)

Via vertias vita

Born:	1946.06.07 (Arima, Trinidad and Tobago)
Ordained Priest:	1971.06.17
Consecrated Bishop:	1990.01.22

Bishop of Kingstown (Saint Vincent and Grenadines) (1989.10.23 – 2007.07.19)

Apostolic Administrator of Bridgetown (Barbados) (2005.05.31 – 2011.07.08)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Castries (Saint Lucia) (2007.07.19 – 2008.02.15)

Apostolic Administrator of Kingstown (Saint Vincent and Grenadines) (2007.07.19 – 2011.07.08)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Castries (Saint Lucia) (2008.02.15 – 2022.02.11)

Archbishop Kelvin Edward Felix (later Cardinal)
(1981.07.17 – 2008.02.15)

Ut omnes unum sint

Born:	1933.02.15 (Roseau, Dominica)
Ordained Priest:	1956.04.08
Consecrated Bishop:	1981.10.05
Created Cardinal:	2014.02.22
Died:	2024.05.30 (Castries, Saint Lucia † 91)

Priest of Roseau (Dominica) (1956.04.08 – 1981.07.17)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Castries (Saint Lucia) (1981.07.17 – 2008.02.15)

President of Antilles Episcopal Conference (1991 – 1997)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Maria della Salute a Primavalle (2014.02.22 [2014.05.31] – 2024.05.30)

Bishop Richard Lester Guilly, S.J.
(Apostolic Administrator 1979.05.10 – 1981.11.05)

Bishop Richard Lester Guilly, S.J.
(Apostolic Administrator sede plena 1977.12.08 – 1979.05.10)

Archbishop Patrick Webster, O.S.B.
(1974.11.18 – 1979.05.10)

Born:	1924.04.24 (Castries, Saint Lucia)
Ordained Priest:	1957.06.30
Consecrated Bishop:	1969.08.31
Died:	1989.07.24 († 65)

Titular Bishop of Otočac (1969.06.26 – 1970.03.07)

Auxiliary Bishop of Saint George’s in Grenada (Grenada) (1969.06.26 – 1970.03.07)

Apostolic Administrator of Saint George’s in Grenada (Grenada) (1969.08.05 – 1970.03.07)

Apostolic Administrator of Bridgetown–Kingstown (Barbados) (1970.03.07 – 1970.10.19)

Bishop of Saint George’s in Grenada (Grenada) (1970.03.07 – 1974.11.18)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Castries (Saint Lucia) (1974.11.18 – 1979.05.10)

Bishops of Castries (Roman Rite)

Bishop Charles Alphonse Gachet, F.M.I.
(1957.01.14 – 1974.11.18)

Born:	1911.07.11 (Bazoges-en-Pareds, France)
Ordained Priest:	1936.10.04
Consecrated Bishop:	1957.05.05
Died:	1984.11.13 (Montaigu, France † 73)

Bishop of Castries (Saint Lucia) (1957.01.14 – 1974.11.18)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Archbishop: Archbishop Robert Rivas, O.P. (80) (2007.07.19 – 2008.02.15)

Special Churches

Cathedral, Minor Basilica: Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Castries, Castries
National Shrine: National Shrine of St. Lucy, Micoud, Micoud

Churches by City (23)

Fort-de-France–Saint-Pierre (↑), Bridgetown (↘), Kingstown (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 617 km²

Population: 124,735 Catholics (69.2% of 180,321 total)

Pastoral Centres: 22 parishes, 2 missions

Personnel: 25 priests (12 diocesan, 13 religious), 26 deacons, 57 religious (23 brothers, 34 sisters)