Diocese of Groningen-Leeuwarden

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The Diocese of Groningen-Leeuwarden is a diocese of the Catholic Church in the northern Netherlands. It encompasses the provinces of Groningen, Friesland and Drenthe, as well as the Noordoostpolder, a part of the province of Flevoland.

The diocese was erected on 16 July 1955 as the Diocese of Groningen. Its current name was created on 4 February 2006.

There are some 110,000 Catholics (or 6.2 % of the total population)living in the diocese, making it the smallest Dutch diocese in population, even while it is the largest in area, covering an area of some 9,205 square kilometers (3,555 square miles). As per the most recent data available (refer KASKI see link below), the number of churchgoers in 2005 was 12,435 or 0.7 % of the total population.

The last bishop was Mgr. Willem Jacobus Eijk, ordained on 6 November 1999, who now serves as apostolic administrator until a new bishop is appointed. The episcopal seat is the cathedral of Saint Joseph located in the city of Groningen.

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