Roman Catholic Diocese of Hamilton

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The Diocese of Hamilton was created on February 29, 1856 by a division of the Archdiocese of Toronto. The Diocese comprises the counties and regions of Brant, Bruce, Grey, Halton, Waterloo, Wellington, Wentworth, as well as four Townships in the County of Dufferin, all located in the Ontario.

The Diocese of Hamilton started off as a Catholic Missionary in Upper Canada (Ontario). It was officially made a diocese in 1856, with a cathedral on the opposite side of modern Hamilton, Ontario as the seat of the diocese.

There are 6 Deaneries which have 123 Parishes in their Geographical Grouping. There are 7 Catholic School Boards in the Diocese, as well as 1 Catholic University and 3 University Catholic Campus Ministry and Chaplaincy.

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[edit] History

The Diocese of Hamilton (Hamiltonensis), is a suffragan of Toronto. It comprises the counties of Haldimand, Brant, Wentworth, Halton, Waterloo, Wellington, Grey and Bruce, and has 43 secular and 18 religious priests ministering to 55,000 people with 42 churches, 24 chapels and 20 stations. This diocese was erected out of Toronto by papal Bull, February 17, 1856. 1

[edit] Bishops

The first bishop of the Diocese was Right Rev. John Farrell, a native of Ireland, consecrated May 11, 1856. He introduced Catholic schools, built St. Mary's Cathedral, and helped to establish the academies of the Ladies of Loretto in Hamilton and Guelph. he also encouraged the founding of St. Jerome's College by the Fathers of the Resurrection, and confided the Owen Sound Missions to the Basilian Fathers.

Farrell died on September 26, 1873, and was succeeded by the Right Rev. P. F. Crinnon, also born in Ireland and consecrated April 19, 1873. He built St. Patrick's Church in Hamilton, Ontario, established the House of Providence, Dundas, and secured a site for Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.

Crinnon died on November 25, 1882 and was succeeded by the Right Rev. James Joseph Carbery. Bishop Carbery was consecrated on November 11, 1883, and held an important diocesan synod. He died in Ireland in December 1887.

Rt. Rev. T. J. Dowling, D.D., bishop of Peterborough, was installed Bishop of Hamilton in May 1889. Since then, 14 new parishes had been established, 28 priests ordained, as well as 22 new churches, schools and presbyteries erected. Catholic hospitals at Hamilton and Guelph, and the new House of Providence at Dundas were also established in his time.

During Dowlings time, there was 42 priests in the diocese of Canadian by birth, 4 Irish, 4 are from the United States, 4 French, 3 German, 2 Polish and 2 Italian. Candidates for the priesthood study in St. Jerome's College in Berlin, Ontario (now called Kitchener, Ontario) and Grand Seminary in Montreal, Quebec. The diocese had 9 parishes for German-speaking people and one Indian parish. There was also chapels for Poles and Italians.

From 1924 until 1937, Bishop John T. McNally guided the Diocese. In mid-1937, Bishop Joseph F. Ryan took over and guided the diocese for 36 years. During this time, there was large growth and expansion of churches and catholic schools. He retired in 1973 and was replaced by Bishop Paul F. Reding who served as bishop for 10 years before his death in 1983. The current bishop is Bishop Anthony F. Tonnos appointed to that role in 1984.

Bishop Tonnos was born in Port Colborne, Ontario, in 1935. After graduating from high school in Port Colborne, he moved to Toronto in the mid-1950s, where he graduated from the Faculty of Arts at the University of Toronto. He decided to pursue a career in the church and received a degree in Sacred Theology at the University of St. Michael's College.

After completing additional studies in Rome, he returned to Canada after earning his specialist's designation in Canon Law.

Bishop Tonnos was ordained a priest in the city of St. Catherines, Ontario, in 1961. He had many appointments and honours in his career prior to being installed as Bishop of Hamilton.

Tonnos was ordained a bishop in 1983 in St. Catharines. He was appointed Bishop of Hamilton in 1984 after the death of Bishop Paul F. Reding.

Bishop Tonnos is well-known by Hamilton area Catholics for his sense of humour, his devotion to teenage parishioners who receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, and the awards he hands out to altar servers who have shown excellence and dedication to their ministry in the local parishes.

The diocese's home cathedral is Christ the King Cathedral in Hamilton. The bishop presiding over the diocese is Bishop Anthony Tonnos, along with Auxiliary Bishops Matthew Ustrzycki and Gerard Bergie.

[edit] Catholic School History

There are 51 Catholic separate schools under the Sisters of St. Joseph in Hamilton, the Sisters of Loretto in Toronto, and the Sisters of Notre Dame in Milwaukee, with 6000 pupils by 1889.

The Government of Canada accords Catholic schools the same rights as to public schools during this period. The taxes paid by Catholics go to support Catholic schools only. Teachers, whether religious or lay, must qualify exactly like public school teachers. Higher education of young women is provided for in the academies of the Ladies of Loretto at Hamilton and Guelph.

St. Jerome's College, in charge of the Resurrectionist Fathers. Connected with the college is also the American novitiate for candidates before going to Rome to complete their studies.

[edit] Parishes

There are 123 Parishes within the Diocese of Hamilton.

Number of Churches in Brackets

[edit] Current affairs

The Diocese of Hamilton celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2006, with the Most Reverend Bishop Anthony Tonnos celebrating mass at the seat of the diocese in that honour. Special signs, marks and posters were commissioned for many of the diocese's churches, schools and buildings.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links