Suffragan diocese La Rochelle, France
Diocese of La Rochelle
Rupellen(sis)
Latin Church
The Diocese of La Rochelle and Saintes is a Latin rite diocese covering the Charente-Maritime department in western France; La Rochelle was erected on 4 May 1648 and united with the title of Saintes on 22 January 1852. It is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Poitiers. Its seat is La Rochelle Cathedral (St. Louis), with Saintes Cathedral as co-cathedral. Bishop Georges Colomb has been assisted by Coadjutor Bishop Pierre-Antoine Bozo since August 2025.
On the map
Every see on one map: browse the dioceses. Churches with recorded hours: find Mass times.
- Established
- 1648
- Catholics
- 400,000
- Priests
- 81
- Territory
- 6,863 km²
Parishes and churches
42 listed churches in our records. Open a parish for Mass times, confession, directions and sources where recorded.
- Secteur Pastoral de La Rochelle SudTown not recorded · CathedralView parish
- Secteur pastoral de Saintes Rive DroiteTown not recorded · CathedralView parish
- Ensemble Pastoral de l'Ile de RéTown not recordedView parish
- Paroisse d'OléronTown not recordedView parish
- Paroisse de la Petite ChampagneTown not recordedView parish
- Paroisse de la Presqu'île d'ArvertTown not recordedView parish
- Paroisse de RochefortTown not recordedView parish
- Paroisse de Saint Pierre et Paroisse de MiquelonTown not recordedView parish
- Paroisse du Christ SauveurTown not recordedView parish
- Paroisse du Pays de MathaTown not recordedView parish
- Paroisse J-Baptiste Souzy et ses CompagnonsTown not recordedView parish
- Paroisse Notre-Dame de l'EstuaireTown not recordedView parish
- Paroisse Notre-Dame de SaintongeTown not recordedView parish
- Paroisse Notre-Dame des MaraisTown not recordedView parish
- Paroisse Royan - Côte de BeautéTown not recordedView parish
- Paroisse Saint AgnantTown not recordedView parish
- Paroisse Saint AigulinTown not recordedView parish
- Paroisse Saint Antoine de la Lande en SaintongeTown not recordedView parish
- Paroisse Saint VincentTown not recordedView parish
- Paroisse Saint Vincent de Paul en AunisTown not recordedView parish
- Paroisse Saint-Jean-BaptisteTown not recordedView parish
- Paroisse Saint-Pierre de MontendreTown not recordedView parish
- Paroisse Sainte-Marie en SaintongeTown not recordedView parish
- Paroisse St Bernard en AunisTown not recordedView parish
- Paroisse St Eutrope en Pays JonzacaisTown not recordedView parish
- Paroisse St GabrielTown not recordedView parish
- Paroisse St Hilaire de Villefranche - BrizambourgTown not recordedView parish
- Paroisse St Hilaire en Pays RoyannaisTown not recordedView parish
- Paroisse St Joseph en Pays SurgérienTown not recordedView parish
- Paroisse St Martin de MirambeauTown not recordedView parish
This is our recorded coverage, not an official diocesan parish count. Confirm service times with the parish before travelling.
The bishop
- Bishop
- Georges Colomb
- Born
- 15 June 1953
- Birthplace
- Saint-Anthème
- Institute
- SOCIETÀ PER LE MISSIONI ESTERE DI PARIGI
Explore the ministry of the bishop.
The cathedral
La Rochelle Cathedral stands in La Rochelle, the church that holds the cathedra from which this see takes its name.
Its co-cathedral is Saintes Cathedral.
On what a cathedral is, see the cathedral; every see church on earth is gathered at the cathedrals.
History
The département of Charente-Maritime, together with the French overseas collectivity of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, forms the territory of the Diocese of La Rochelle and Saintes (Latin: Dioecesis Rupellensis et Santonensis; French: Diocèse de La Rochelle et Saintes), a Latin Church diocese of the Catholic Church in France. Its bishop is a suffragan of the Archbishop of Poitiers. The episcopal seat is La Rochelle Cathedral, with Saintes Cathedral serving as a co-cathedral. As of 2021 the diocese had one priest for every 4,081 Catholics.
This see in the wire
Stories that name this see
The wire's resolver matched this see in the text of each story.
Filed by the see itself
Published on the see's own news feed. A diocese reports on the whole Church, so these are often about somewhere else.
- Pope Leo XIV to visit France
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Pope Leo XIV to visit UNESCO
Pope Leo XIV is visiting the UNESCO headquarters in Paris on September 25 during his apostolic journey to France. UNESCO Deputy Director-General Åsa Regnér told Vatican News that the visit is timely and strategic given the Pope's global position. Regnér noted that the visit highlights how multilateral institutions can continue to assist in building peace.
- Pope Leo XIV opens public registration for France visit
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Diocese of La Rochelle offers formation course
The Diocese of La Rochelle is offering a diocesan formation course for adults to help them deepen their faith and gain tools for Church service. The program, organized by the Diocesan Service for Christian Adult Formation, will take place in Jonzac on November 7 and December 5, 2026, as well as January 9, February 6, March 6, April 3, and May 1, 2027. The course is designed for various members of the Church, including parish volunteers, pastoral team members, catechists, sacristans, and those preparing for sacraments or celebrating funerals. It also welcomes altar server leaders, secretaries, greeters, florists, catechumens, and neophytes. Participants will meet from 9h to 16h30. Morning sessions cover catechetical topics such as the Word of God, the sacraments, and morality, while afternoon sessions consist of practical workshops on Christian life. The cost for the year is 50€.
- Pope Leo XIV visits France
21 stories in the wire either name this see or come from its own feed. Read the wire.