| Diocese of Parramatta Dioecesis Parramattensis |
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St Patrick's Cathedral, Parramatta; consecrated in 1837; devastated by fire in 1996; rededicated in 2003 |
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| Location | |
| Country | Australia |
| Territory | Western suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales |
| Metropolitan | Archdiocese of Sydney |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 4,289 km2 (1,656 sq mi) |
| Population - Total - Catholics |
(as of 2004) 924,621 307,392 ( 33.2%) |
| Parishes | 47 |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Rite | Latin Rite |
| Established | 8 April 1986 |
| Cathedral | St Patrick's Cathedral |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Benedict XVI |
| Bishop | Anthony Fisher, O.P. |
| Metropolitan Archbishop | George Cardinal Pell |
| Emeritus Bishops | Bede Vincent Heather Kevin Michael Manning |
| Website | |
| Catholic Diocese of Parramatta | |
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Parramatta is a suffragan Latin rite diocese of the Archdiocese of Sydney, established in 1986, covering the western suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
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The Diocese is located in one of the fastest growing areas of New South Wales, Australia. The diocese is west of Sydney and reaches from Dundas Valley, west to Katoomba, south to Luddenham, and North to Richmond. The Diocese was established 8 April 1986 and by 2004 served 307,392 parishioners out of a total population of 924,621.
The following individuals have been elected as Roman Catholic Bishop of Parramatta:[1]
| Order | Name | Date enthroned | Reign ended | Term of office | Reason for term end |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bede Heather | 8 Aprril 1986 | 10 July 1997 | 11 years, 93 days | Retired and appointed Bishop Emeritus of Parramatta |
| 2 | Kevin Manning | 10 July 1997 | 8 January 2010 | 12 years, 182 days | Retired and appointed Bishop Emeritus of Parramatta |
| 3 | Anthony Fisher, O.P. | 8 January 2010 | present | 2 years, 52 days | n/a |
With origins of the first mass occurring on the present day site of the Cathedral going back to 1803, St Patrick's was extensively re-built after a 1996 fire devastated the original church, established in 1854. A tower was built on the original St Patrick's Church, that was consecrated in 1880 and blessed in 1883. A cast broze bell was installed in the tower in 1904. As the needs of the parish grew, a new church was built on the site in 1936, incorporating the existing tower and spire (pictured above). When the Diocese of Parramatta was established in 1986, St Patrick's Church was designated as St Patrick's Cathedral. The fire of 1996 completely devastated the Cathedral, leaving only the bell tower and sandstone walls. A completely new cathedral was rebuilt adjacent to the historic fire ravaged site. Designed in consultation with Romaldo Giurgola, the new cathedral that was completed in 2003 has won the Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Buildings from the Australian Institute of Architects.[2][3][4][5]
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