The Roman Catholic Diocese of Nelson () (erected 22 February 1936) is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Vancouver.

Diocesan demographics The diocese contains 31 parishes. Serving or retired in the diocese are 28 diocesan priests and 7 religious priests ministering to 75,000 Catholics. it also has 13 religious sisters and supports 7 Catholic schools. This diocese covers two time zones with the East Kootenay and Columbia Valley on Mountain Time and the rest on Pacific Time.

History In the late 1830s French Canadians in the Oregon Territory petitioned the Quebec bishops to have missionary priests sent beyond the Rocky Mountains. In response to this plea, Fathers François-Norbert Blanchet and Modeste Demers were sent West to a remote part of the Quebec diocese referred to as New Caledonia by the Hudson's Bay Company. While at Boat Encampment on the Columbia River (Mica Dam area), Blanchet and Demers celebrated Mass on October 10, 1838, the first Mass celebrated in what later became the Diocese of Nelson.

During the years of westward expansion and settlement, the spiritual needs of the region presently administered by the Diocese of Nelson came under the jurisdiction of various bishoprics: Vicariate Apostolic of the Oregon Territory, 1843–1846 Diocese of Vancouver Island, 1846–1863 Vicariate Apostolic of British Columbia, 1863–1890 Diocese of New Westminster, 1890–1908 Archdiocese of Vancouver, 1908–1936

On February 22, 1936, Pope Pius XI erected the Diocese of Nelson to cover the Kootenay and Okanagan regions of southeastern British Columbia.

Bishops Ordinaries Martin Michael Johnson (1936–1954), appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Vancouver, British Columbia Thomas Joseph McCarthy (1955–1958), appointed Bishop of Saint Catharines, Ontario Wilfrid Emmett Doyle (1958–1989) Peter Joseph Mallon (1989–1995), appointed Archbishop of Regina, Saskatchewan Eugene Cooney (1996–2007) John Corriveau (2007–2018) Gregory John Bittman (2018–present)

Other priest of this diocese who became bishop Bartolomeus Van Roijen, appointed Bishop of Corner Brook and Labrador, Newfoundland in 2019

Churches

Castlegar St. Rita's

Cranbrook St. Mary's Christ the Servant

Creston Holy Cross

Fernie Holy Family

Fruitvale St. Rita's

Golden Sacred Heart

Grand Forks Sacred Heart

Invermere Canadian Martyrs

Kelowna Immaculate Conception Church St. Pius X Corpus Christi St. Charles Garnier

Keremeos Our Lady of Lourdes

Kimberley Sacred Heart

Nakusp Our Lady of Lourdes

Nelson

Oliver Christ the King

Osoyoos St. Anne's

Penticton St. Ann's St. John Vianney's

Princeton St. Peter's

Revelstoke St. Francis of Assisi

Rossland Sacred Heart

Sparwood St. Michael's

Summerland Holy Child

Trail Our Lady of Perpetual Help St. Anthony / St. Francis Xavier

West Kelowna Our Lady of Lourdes

Winfield St. Edward's

Education

Catholic high schools

School City Est. Website Enrollment Immaculata Regional High School Kelowna 1960 https://www.immaculatakelowna.ca ~350 (co-ed)

Catholic elementary schools School City Est. Website Holy Cross Penticton http://www.holyc.com/ Our Lady of Lourdes West Kelowna https://www.olol-bc.com/ St. Joseph Nelson http://www.stjosephnelson.ca/ St. Mary's Cranbrook http://www.stmarysschool.ca/ St. Joseph Kelowna 1938 http://www.stjosephkelowna.ca/ St. Michael's Catholic Trail http://www.smces.ca/index.html

Religious institutes

Religious institutes of men Order of St. Augustine Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate Order of Friars Minor, Capuchin Order of the Friars Minor MSTU Order Order of St. Basil

Religious institutes of women Sisters of the Atonement (SA) Sisters of Charity of Halifax (SC) Sisters of Charity of St. Louis (SCSL) Daughters of Providence (FDLP) Congregation of Notre Dame (CND)

Notes The diocese publishes the Catholic Mountain Star newspaper.

References

External links

The Catholic Mountain Star