Catholic Intelligence

Diocese of Palmerston North

Palmerstonaquilonian(us)

Latin rite diocese covering the Manawatu-Whanganui and surrounding regions of New Zealand, seated in Palmerston North. Erected on 6 March 1980, it is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Wellington and its seat is the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit.

The see

Rank
Suffragan diocese
Tradition
Latin Church
Erected
6 March 1980
Latin
Palmerstonaquilonian(us)
Annuario code
001002526

The see in figures

Catholics
68,160
Population
526,735
Catholic share
12.9%

of the people living within its bounds

Priests
26
Catholics per priest
2,622
Extent
36,200 km²
Catholics per km²
1.9

Figures as recorded in the register, from the Annuario Pontificio and the see's own published statements. Shares and ratios are computed from the two figures shown beside them.

The bishop

Bishop
John Adams
Born
18 November 1963
Birthplace
Christchurch

A see whose chair stands empty is recorded as vacant rather than filled with a guess. On what a bishop is, see the bishop.

The cathedral

Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, Palmerston North stands in Palmerston North, the church that holds the cathedra from which this see takes its name.

On what a cathedral is, see the cathedral; every see church on earth is gathered at the cathedrals.

The province of Wellington

A suffragan of Wellington.

The sees of this province:

On how the Church is ordered into provinces, see the diocese.

History

Formed on 6 March 1980 when the Archdiocese of Wellington was divided, the Diocese of Palmerston North is a Latin Church diocese of the Catholic Church in New Zealand and a suffragan of that archdiocese. Its territory covers 36,200 km2 (14,000 sq mi); in 2023 it counted 68,160 Catholics out of a total population of 526,735, with 44 priests (26 diocesan, 18 religious priests), 2 permanent deacons, and 76 religious (male and female). The Cathedral of the Holy Spirit serves as its cathedral.

What is kept by invitation

The record above is published because it is public: what this see is, when it was erected, who holds its chair, and where it stands among its neighbours.

The working record is not. The chancery's address, telephone and email, the clergy of the see, and the hours of Mass, confession and adoration in the parishes within it are kept for members, and a person reads every request.

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Sources

The see's own website · Wikipedia

This record is compiled from the published statements of the see and the references of the Holy See, among them the Annuario Pontificio. On the method, see the keeping of the record. Whoever finds an error is asked, in charity, to write: [email protected].