Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Diocese of CalgaryDiœcesis Calgariensis |
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St Mary's Cathedral
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Coat of arms
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| Location | |
| Country |  Canada |
| Ecclesiastical province | Edmonton |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 110,500 km2 (42,700 sq mi) |
| Population - Total - Catholics |
1,208,121 546,400 (45.2%) |
| Parishes | 67 |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Catholic |
| Sui iuris church | Latin Church |
| Rite | Roman Rite |
| Established | 30 November 1912 |
| Cathedral | St. Mary's Cathedral |
| Secular priests | 131 |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Francis |
| Bishop | William McGrattan |
| Metropolitan Archbishop | Sede vacante |
| Map | |
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The Diocese of Calgary is a special area within the Catholic Church in Alberta, Canada. It is like a large church district. This diocese is part of a bigger group led by the Archdiocese of Edmonton.
The main church for the Diocese of Calgary is St. Mary's Cathedral. It is located in Calgary, Alberta. The leader of the diocese is called a bishop. Currently, Bishop William McGrattan guides the Diocese of Calgary.
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History of the Diocese
The Diocese of Calgary was officially started on November 30, 1912. Before this, the area was part of another church district called the Diocese of Saint Albert. When the Calgary Diocese was created, it became its own separate territory.
Who Leads the Diocese?
The leader of a diocese is called a bishop. Bishops help guide the Catholic community in their area. They oversee the churches and priests.
Current Bishop
- William McGrattan became the Bishop of Calgary on January 4, 2017. He was previously a bishop in other parts of Canada.
What the Diocese Covers
The Diocese of Calgary covers a large area in southern Alberta. This includes the city of Calgary and many towns and rural areas around it. It also reaches into the lower parts of the Alberta's Rockies region.
How Many People and Churches?
As of 2014, the diocese served about 538,000 Catholics. This was about 45.5% of the total population in the area. The diocese covers about 110,500 square kilometers.
There are many churches and missions in the diocese. A "parish" is a local church community. A "mission" is a smaller church or outreach location. In 2014, there were 69 parishes. There were also 158 priests working in the diocese.
Churches in Calgary
Calgary itself has many Catholic churches. Some of these churches serve specific language groups. For example, there are churches for Polish, German, Spanish, Italian, Chinese, Hungarian, French, Croatian, Korean, and Vietnamese communities.
- St. Mary's Cathedral is the main church.
- Other churches include Sacred Heart, St. Francis of Assisi, and Holy Name.
- The University of Calgary Catholic Community serves students at the university.
Churches Outside Calgary
The diocese also includes many churches in towns and rural areas across southern Alberta. These include places like Airdrie, Banff, Lethbridge, and Medicine Hat.
- In Canmore, there is a church called Our Lady of the Rockies. In 2017, Bishop McGrattan announced plans to make this church a special place for devotion to the Virgin Mary.
See also
In Spanish: Diócesis de Calgary para niños
- List of Catholic dioceses in Canada
