Diocese of Nelson, Canada 🇨🇦

Continent: North America

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Nelson / Nelsonen(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Vancouver

Neighbouring Dioceses: Vancouver (←), Kamloops (↖), Edmonton (↑), Calgary (↗), Helena (↘), Boise City (↓), Spokane (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Website:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Immaculate Conception (December 8)

Cathedral Dedication Anniversary: July 26 (1936)

Liturgical Calendar 📅

History

1936.02.22: Established as Diocese of Nelson / Nelsonen(sis) (Latin) (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Vancouver and became suffragan of Vancouver)

Contact Info

Address: 3665 Benvoulin Road, Kelowna, BC V1W 4M7, Canada

Phone: +1 (250) 448-2725

Present Prelates

Bishop (2018.02.13 – ...):

Bishop Gregory John Matthew Bittman (65)

Monsignors (7)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Nelson (Roman Rite)

Bishop Gregory John Matthew Bittman (65)
(2018.02.13 – ...)

Bishop of Nelson (Canada)

Christus Jesus spes nostra

Born:	1961.03.05 (Edmonton, AB, Canada)
Ordained Priest:	1996.08.15
Consecrated Bishop:	2012.09.03

Priest of Edmonton (Canada) (1996.08.15 – 2012.07.14)

Titular Bishop of Caltadria (2012.07.14 – 2018.02.13)

Auxiliary Bishop of Edmonton (Canada) (2012.07.14 – 2018.02.13)

Bishop of Nelson (Canada) (2018.02.13 – ...)

Bishop John Dennis Corriveau, O.F.M. Cap. (84)
(2007.11.30 – 2018.02.13)

Bishop emeritus of Nelson (Canada)

Pacificans per sanguinem crucis ejus

Born:	1941.07.27 (Zurich, ON, Canada)
Ordained Priest:	1965.10.23
Consecrated Bishop:	2008.01.30

Minister General of Order of Friars Minor Capuchin (Capuchin Franciscans) (1994 – 2006.09.04)

Bishop of Nelson (Canada) (2007.11.30 – 2018.02.13)

Bishop Eugene Jerome Cooney (94)
(1996.03.15 – 2007.11.30)

Bishop emeritus of Nelson (Canada)

Born:	1931.12.20 (Medicine Hat, AB, Canada)
Ordained Priest:	1960.06.04
Consecrated Bishop:	1996.06.11

Priest of Calgary (Canada) (1960.06.04 – 1996.03.15)

Bishop of Nelson (Canada) (1996.03.15 – 2007.11.30)

Bishop Peter Joseph Mallon (later Archbishop)
(1989.11.06 – 1995.06.09)

Born:	1929.12.05 (Prince Rupert, BC, Canada)
Ordained Priest:	1956.05.27
Consecrated Bishop:	1990.02.02
Died:	2007.02.03 († 77)

Bishop of Nelson (Canada) (1989.11.06 – 1995.06.09)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Regina (Canada) (1995.06.09 – 2005.03.30)

Bishop Wilfrid Emmett Doyle
(1958.11.09 – 1989.11.06)

Born:	1913.02.18 (Calgary, AB, Canada)
Ordained Priest:	1938.06.05
Consecrated Bishop:	1958.12.03
Died:	2003.09.14 (Kelowna, BC, Canada † 90)

Priest of Edmonton (Canada) (1938.06.05 – 1958.11.09)

Bishop of Nelson (Canada) (1958.11.09 – 1989.11.06)

Bishop Thomas Joseph McCarthy
(1955.05.05 – 1958.11.09)

Illuminabit te Christus

Born:	1905.10.04 (Goderich, ON, Canada)
Ordained Priest:	1929.05.25
Consecrated Bishop:	1955.08.01
Died:	1986.11.15 († 81)

Bishop of Nelson (Canada) (1955.05.05 – 1958.11.09)

Bishop of Saint Catharines (Canada) (1958.11.09 – 1978.07.07)

Bishop Martin Michael Johnson (later Archbishop)
(1936.07.18 – 1954.11.27)

Da nobis pacem

Born:	1899.03.18 (Toronto, ON, Canada)
Ordained Priest:	1924.06.14
Consecrated Bishop:	1936.09.29
Died:	1975.01.29 († 75)

Bishop of Nelson (Canada) (1936.07.18 – 1954.11.27)

Titular Archbishop of Cius (1954.11.27 – 1964.03.11)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Vancouver (Canada) (1954.11.27 – 1964.03.11)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Vancouver (Canada) (1964.03.11 – 1969.01.08)

Titular Archbishop of Civitate (1969.01.08 – 1970.11.23)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Cathedral of Mary Immaculate, Nelson, British Columbia
Jubilee Churches in the Holy Year 2025

Churches by City (55)

Vancouver (←), Kamloops (↖), Edmonton (↑), Calgary (↗), Helena (↘), Boise City (↓), Spokane (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 144,000 km²

Population: 107,000 Catholics (23.9% of 447,400 total)

Pastoral Centres: 53 parishes, 1 mission

Personnel: 28 priests (diocesan), 3 deacons, 7 religious (3 brothers, 4 sisters), 2 seminarians