Diocese of Parramatta
Dioecesis Parramattensis
| |
|---|---|
St Patrick's Cathedral, Parramatta;
consecrated in 1837; devastated by fire in 1996; rededicated in 2003 | |
| Location | |
| Country | Australia |
| Territory | Western suburbsofSydney, New South Wales and Blue Mountains |
| Metropolitan | Archdiocese of Sydney |
| Coordinates | 33°48′29″S 151°00′16″E / 33.80806°S 151.00444°E / -33.80806; 151.00444 |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 4,289 km2 (1,656 sq mi) |
| Population - Total - Catholics | (as of 2004) 924,621 330,000 ( 33.2%) |
| Parishes | 47 |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Sui iuris church | Latin Church |
| Rite | Roman Rite |
| Established | 8 April 1986 |
| Cathedral | St Patrick's Cathedral |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Francis |
| Bishop | Vincent Long Van Nguyen OFM Conv |
| Metropolitan Archbishop | Anthony Fisher OP |
| Vicar General | Fernando Montano |
| Map | |
 | |
| Website | |
| parracatholic.org | |
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Parramatta is a suffragan Latin Church diocese of the Archdiocese of Sydney, established in 1986.
The diocese has responsibility for the western suburbs of Sydney and the Blue Mountains, in New South Wales.
St Patrick's Cathedral, Parramatta is the seat of the Catholic Bishop of Parramatta. On 5 May 2016, Pope Francis appointed Vincent Long Van Nguyen, OFM Conv to be its fourth bishop.[1] His installation took place on 16 June 2016.
The diocese is located in one of the fastest-growing areas of New South Wales. The diocese is west of Sydney and reaches from Dundas Valley, west to Katoomba, south to Luddenham and north to Richmond. The diocese was established 8 April 1986 from the western part of the Archdiocese of Sydney.[2] and by 2004 served 307,392 parishioners out of a total population of 924,621.[citation needed]
The following prelates have served as Bishop of Parramatta:[3]
| Order | Name | Date enthroned | Reign ended | Term of office | Reason for term end |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bede Vincent Heather | 8 April 1986 | 10 July 1997 | 11 years, 93 days | Resigned; Bishop Emeritus of Parramatta. Resides on the Central Coast. |
| 2 | Kevin Michael Manning | 10 July 1997 | 8 January 2010 | 12 years, 182 days | Retired; Bishop Emeritus of Parramatta. |
| 3 | Anthony Fisher, OP | 8 January 2010 | 12 November 2014 | 4 years, 253 days | Appointed Archbishop of Sydney |
| 4 | Vincent Long Van Nguyen, OFM Conv | 16 June 2016 | 8 years, 37 days |
With origins of the first Mass occurring on the present day site of the cathedral going back to 1803, St Patrick's was extensively rebuilt after a 1996 fire devastated the original church established in 1854. A tower was built on the original St Patrick's Church, which was consecrated in 1880 and blessed in 1883. A cast bronze bell was installed in the tower in 1904. As the needs of the parish grew, a new church was built on the site in 1936, incorporating the existing tower and spire. When the Diocese of Parramatta was established in 1986, St Patrick's Church was designated as St Patrick's Cathedral. The fire of 1996 completely devastated the cathedral, leaving only the bell tower and sandstone walls. A completely new cathedral was rebuilt adjacent to the historic fire ravaged site. Designed in consultation with Romaldo Giurgola, the new cathedral, completed in 2003, has won the Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Buildings from the Australian Institute of Architects.[4][5][6][7]
There are 47 parishes and one parochial district located in Diocese of Parramatta within five deaneries.[8]
Central Deanery
Blue Mountains Deanery
|
Northern Deanery
Eastern Deanery
|
Western Deanery
Undefined
|
|
New South Wales portal|
| |
|---|---|
| Province of Sydney |
|
| Province of Melbourne |
|
| Province of Brisbane |
|
| Province of Perth |
|
| Province of Adelaide |
|
| Immediately subject to the Holy See (exempt)/Patriarch |
|
| |
