Roman Catholic Diocese of Casale Monferrato
| Diocese of Casale Monferrato Dioecesis Casalensis | |
|---|---|
 Casale Monferrato Cathedral | |
| Location | |
| Country | Italy |
| Ecclesiastical province | Vercelli |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 970 km2 (370 sq mi) |
| Population - Total - Catholics |
(as of 2006) 103,900 101,500 (97.7%) |
| Parishes | 115 |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Catholic Church |
| Rite | Roman Rite |
| Established | 18 April 1474 |
| Cathedral | Cattedrale di S. Evasio e S. Lorenzo |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Francis |
| Bishop | Alceste Catella |
| Map | |
 | |
| Website | |
| www.webdiocesi.chiesacattolica.it | |
The Diocese of Casale Monferrato (Latin: Dioecesis Casalensis) is a Roman catholic diocese in northwest Italy, a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Vercelli which forms part of the ecclesiastical region of Piedmont. The diocese, which adheres to the Roman Rite, was established on 18 April 1474; in 2004 it had a population of 103,500 of whom 101,200 were baptised. Alceste Catella has been bishop of the diocese since 15 May 2008.
History
Casale Monferrato, the ancient Bodincomagus, is a city in the province of Alessandria, Piedmont (Italy), on the River Po, and has been a stronghold since the time of the Lombards. Liutprand, King of the Lombards enlarged it, and Emperor Otto II made it the chief town of a marquisate, giving it to the sons of Aleran, Duke of Saxony; later it was inherited by Emperor Michael VIII, Palaeologus, who sent thither his son Theodore. In 1533, the dynasty of the Palaeologi being extinct, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor gave it to the House of Gonzaga. From 1681 to 1706 it was in the hands of the French, from whom, in 1713, it passed to the House of Savoy. Casale was created a see in 1474 by Sixtus IV; previously it belonged to the Diocese of Asti. Its first bishop was Bernardino de Tebaldeschi; his successor was Gian Giorgio Paleologo (1517), who also governed the marquisate for his nephew, a minor. Among its noteworthy bishops were: the Dominican Benedetto Erba (1570), most zealous for the Christian instruction of children and the introduction of the Tridentine reforms, in which good work he was associated with St. Charles Borromeo; he was also the founder of the monti di pietà; Giulio Careta (1614), who imitated other contemporary bishops and founded an oratory for priests, and when the pest was ravaging Casale (1630) himself nursed the sick; Scipione Pasquali (1645), author of a history of the campaign of Charles Emmanuel of Savoy against Montferrat. Among the churches of Casale are the cathedral, one of the finest monuments of Lombard architecture, and that of Sant’Ilario (Hilary of Poitiers).[1]
Bishops of the diocese
- Bernardino de Tebaldeschi (1574 – ?)
- Gian Giorgio Paleologo (1517 - ?)
- …
- Benedetto Erba (1570 - ?)
- …
- Giulio Careta (1614 – ?)
- …
- Scipione Pasquali (1645 – ?)
- …
- Teresio Maria Carlo Vittorio Ferrero della Marmora (27 June 1796 - 18 May 1803 resigned)
- Jean-Chrysostome de Villaret (23 December 1805 - 3 October 1814 retired)
- Francesco Alciati (1 October 1817 – 26 October 1828 died in office)
- …
- Luigi Nazari di Calabiana (12 April 1847 – 27 March 1867 made archbishop of Milan)
- Pietro Maria Ferrè (27 March 1867 – 4 November 1886 died in office)
- Edoardo Pulciano (14 March 1887 - 11 July 1892 made bishop of Novara)
- Paolo Maria Barone (11 June 1892 – 1903 resigned)
- Ludovico Gavotti (22 June 1903 - 22 January 1915 made archbishop of Genoa)
- Albino Pella (2 April 1915 - 17 May 1940 died in office)
- Giuseppe Angrisani (1 July 1940 - 1 March 1971 retired)
- Carlo Cavalla (1 March 1971 - 3 June 1995 retired)
- Germano Zaccheo (3 June 1995 – 20 November 2007 died in office)
- Alceste Catella (since 15 May 2008)
Parishes
Map of the Diocese
The diocese, which covers an area of 970 km², is divided into 115 parishes.[2] The majority, like Casale itself, are in the Province of Alessandria, while the rest are divided between the provinces of Asti and Turin. A list of parishes by province and commune follows; locations (villages or neighbourhoods) within a commune are shown in brackets.
Province of Alessandria
- Alfiano Natta
- S. Antonio Abate (Sanico)
- S. Eusebio (Cardona)
- S. Marziano. The antiquity of the parish is uncertain, but it became a pieve of the Diocese of Asti between 836 and 886. It passed to Casale between 1474 and 1577, returned to Asti in 1805 and passed again finally to Casale in 1817.[3]
- Altavilla Monferrato
- S. Giulio. The parish existed under this dedication from time immemorial. Later dedications were to S. Michele and to S. Maria degli Angeli, returning to S. Giulio (albeit in a new parish church) in 1630. Until the creation of the Diocese of Casale this formed part of the Diocese of Vercelli.[4]
- S. Defendente (Franchini). The parish was created 20 October 1821.[5]
- Balzola
- Assunzione di Maria Vergine. This appears on a mid-tenth-century list of the pievi of the Diocese of Vercelli, and may well date back to times of Saint Eusebius. It was among the original parishes of the Diocese of Casale, although it returned to Vercelli’s jurisdiction for the years 1805–1817.[6]
- Borgo San Martino
- Santi Quirico e Giulitta. This parish is thought to have been part of the Diocese of Pavia from the Early Middle Ages until 1805 when it passed to the Diocese of Alessandria; the following year it passed to that of Casale.[7]
- Bozzole
- Visitazione di Maria Vergine
- Cabella Ligure
- SS. Nome di Maria (Guazzolo)
- Camagna Monferrato
- S. Eusebio
- Camino
- S. Lorenzo
- S. Pietro Apostolo (Castel San Pietro)
- Casale Monferrato
- Addolorata. A parish, located in the Borgo Ala quarter to the east of the old city walls, founded in 1802 as SS. Crocifisso e B.V. Addolorata. The church had been built in the previous century for the lay confraternity of SS. Crocifisso e B.V. Addolorata, founded in 1614 and the custodians of the ‘Entierro’, a Good Friday devotional tradition. Designed by Francesco Ottavio Magnocavalli, the church contains wooden statues of the crucifixion and of the Addolorata (Our Lady of Sorrows) by the sculptor Felice Cassini. The parish’s name was changed to Addolorata in 1987.
- Assunzione di Maria Vergine (Oltreponte). The parish church, located in a suburb of Casale to the north of the Po which developed after the Second World War, was built in 1959.[8]
- Castello. A former parish (still extant in the 1830s) served by Nostra Donna della Concezione: a small church founded in 1623 and used by the castle’s garrison.[9]
- Cuore Immacolato di Maria
- Sacro Cuore di Gesù
- S. Clemente (Rolasco)
- S. Domenico
- Sant’Evasio
- S. Germano (San Germano). The collegiate church of San Germano was parished in 1578. It was rebuilt in 1780 on a new site, and on a larger scale, to a design by Magnocavalli.[9]
- S. Giacomo Apostolo (Terranova)
- S. Giovanni Battista (Casale Popolo)
- Sant’Ilario, parish erected in 1520.[10]
- Patrocinio di S. Giuseppe (Roncaglia)
- S. Maria degli Angeli (Santa Maria del Tempio)
- Natività di Maria Santissima (Grangia di Gazzo). Of unknown antiquity, but certainly created before it passed from the diocese of Vercelli to that of Casale in 1574, the parish was united with that of Terranova in 1872.[11]
- Santi Maria e Carlo
- Santo Stefano. The parish was erected a little before 1500.[12]
- Spirito Santo
- Castelletto Merli
- S. Eusebio
- Castelletto Monferrato
- S. Siro
- Cella Monte
- Santi Quirico e Giulitta
- Cereseto Monferrato
- S. Pietro Apostolo
- Cerrina Monferrato
- Natività di Maria Vergine (Montalero)
- S. Candido (Montaldo)
- Santi Nazario e Celso
- Coniolo
- Assunzione di Maria Vergine
- Conzano
- S. Lucia
- S. Maurizio (San Maurizio)
- Cuccaro Monferrato
- Assunzione di Maria Vergine
- Frassinello Monferrato
- Assunzione di Maria Vergine
- Frassineto Po
- S. Ambrogio
- Fubine
- Assunzione di Maria Vergine
- Gabiano
- S. Carpoforo (Cantavenna)
- S. Pietro Apostolo
- Santi Aurelio e Eusebio (Varengo)
- Giarole
- S. Pietro Apostolo
- Lu
- S. Valerio
- Mirabello Monferrato
- S. Vincenzo
- Mombello Monferrato
- S. Bononio Abate (Pozzengo)
- Santi Pietro e Anna
- Santo Spirito (Casalino)
- Moncestino
- Assunzione di Maria Vergine
- Morano sul Po
- S. Giovanni Battista
- Murisengo
- Natività di Maria Vergine (Sorina)
- S. Antonio Abate
- S. Candido (S. Candido)
- Occimiano
- S. Valerio
- Odalengo Grande
- S. Quirico
- Odalengo Piccolo
- Santi Maria e Pietro Apostolo
- Olivola
- S. Pietro Apostolo
- Ottiglio
- Santi Eusebio e Germano
- Ozzano Monferrato
- S. Salvatore
- Pomaro Monferrato
- S. Sabina
- Pontestura
- S. Agata
- Natività di Maria Vergine (Quarti)
- Ponzano Monferrato
- S. Antonio Abate (Salabue)
- S. Giovanni Battista
- Rosignano Monferrato
- S. Giacomo Apostolo (Stevani)
- S. Martino (San Martino)
- S. Vittore Martire
- Sala Monferrato
- Natività di Maria Vergine
- San Giorgio Monferrato
- S. Giorgio
- San Salvatore Monferrato
- S. Anna (Fosseto)
- Santi Martino e Siro
- Serralunga di Crea
- Madonna di Crea
- Solonghello
- Santi Andrea e Eusebio
- Terruggia
- S. Martino
- Ticineto
- Assunzione di Maria Vergine
- Treville
- S. Ambrogio
- Valenza
- S. Agata (Villabella)
- Valmacca
- Natività di Maria Vergine
- Vignale Monferrato
- S. Bartolomeo
- Villadeati
- S. Giorgio (Zanco)
- Santi Remigio e Grato
- Villamiroglio
- S. Stefano (Vallegioliti)
- Santi Filippo e Michele
- Villanova Monferrato
- S. Emiliano
Province of Asti
- Calliano
- S. Desiderio (S. Desiderio)
- SS. Nome di Maria
- Casorzo
- S. Vincenzo
- Cocconato
- S. Maria della Consolazione
- Cortiglione
- S. Eusebio
- Grana
- Assunzione di Maria Vergine
- Grazzano Badoglio
- Santi Vittore e Corona
- Moncalvo
- S. Antonio di Padova
- Montemagno
- Santi Martino e Stefano
- Montiglio Monferrato
- S. Anna (Sant’Anna)
- Santi Antonio e Giacomo (Carboneri)
- S. Lorenzo
- S. Maria (Scandeluzza)
- S. Vittore (Colcavagno)
- Moransengo
- Santi Agata e Vitale
- Penango
- S. Grato
- S. Vittore (Cioccaro)
- Robella
- S. Giacomo
- Tonco
- Santi Maria e Giuseppe
- Tonengo
- Concezione Immacolata di Maria Vergine
Province of Turin
- Brozolo
- S. Giorgio
- Brusasco
- S. Pietro Apostolo
- S. Pietro Apostolo (Marcorengo)
- Cavagnolo
- Santi Eusebio e Secondo
- Monteu da Po
- S. Giovanni Battista
- Rivalba
- S. Rocco
- Verrua Savoia
- S. Giovanni Battista
- Santi Sebastiano e Giacomo (Sulpiano)
Statistics
At the end of 2006 the diocese had a population of 103,900 of whom 97.7% had been baptised as Catholics.[13]
| Year | Population | Priests | Deacons | Religious | Parishes | ||||||
| baptised | total | % | number | secular | regular | baptised per priest |
men | women | |||
| 1949 | 138,268 | 138,358 | 99.9 | 385 | 256 | 129 | 359 | 140 | 670 | 146 | |
| 1959 | 133,482 | 349 | 241 | 108 | 382 | 180 | 635 | 146 | |||
| 1970 | 128,750 | 129,000 | 99.8 | 266 | 188 | 78 | 484 | 108 | 505 | 147 | |
| 1980 | 118,300 | 119,000 | 99.4 | 191 | 148 | 43 | 619 | 1 | 55 | 332 | 148 |
| 1990 | 107,000 | 109,217 | 98.0 | 165 | 124 | 41 | 648 | 8 | 49 | 230 | 115 |
| 1999 | 102,500 | 104,900 | 97.7 | 135 | 106 | 29 | 759 | 8 | 33 | 165 | 115 |
| 2000 | 102,500 | 105,100 | 97.5 | 132 | 103 | 29 | 776 | 9 | 35 | 159 | 115 |
| 2001 | 102,450 | 105,080 | 97.5 | 128 | 100 | 28 | 800 | 12 | 34 | 163 | 115 |
| 2002 | 101,700 | 104,058 | 97.7 | 126 | 96 | 30 | 807 | 13 | 34 | 160 | 115 |
| 2003 | 101,700 | 104,000 | 97.8 | 127 | 98 | 29 | 800 | 13 | 33 | 150 | 115 |
| 2004 | 101,200 | 103,500 | 97.8 | 129 | 100 | 29 | 784 | 12 | 33 | 145 | 115 |
| 2006 | 101,500 | 103,900 | 97.7 | 125 | 97 | 28 | 812 | 13 | 32 | 149 | 115 |
References
- This article was based in part on its it:Diocesi di Casale Monferrato counterpart in the Italian Wikipedia as retrieved on 3 October 2007.
U. Benigni (1913). "Casale Monferatto". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
Footnotes
- ↑ History section taken originally from the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia article on Casale Monferrato which is unfortunately strewn with errors.
- ↑ "Diocesi di Casale Monferrato: Parrocchie". Diocesi di Casale Monferrato.
- ↑ ‘Alfiano Natta’, MonferratoArte. A databank established by the Associazione Casalese Arte e Storia as an amplified version of C. Aletto, Chiese extraurbane della Diocesi di Casale Monferrato: repertorio storico-biografico degli edifici di culto (San Salvatore Monferrato: 2006).
- ↑ ‘Altavilla Monferrato’, MonferratoArte. A databank established by the Associazione Casalese Arte e Storia as an amplified version of C. Aletto, Chiese extraurbane della Diocesi di Casale Monferrato: repertorio storico-biografico degli edifici di culto (San Salvatore Monferrato: 2006).
- ↑ ‘Franchini’, MonferratoArte. A databank established by the Associazione Casalese Arte e Storia as an amplified version of C. Aletto, Chiese extraurbane della Diocesi di Casale Monferrato: repertorio storico-biografico degli edifici di culto (San Salvatore Monferrato: 2006).
- ↑ ‘Balzola’, MonferratoArte. A databank established by the Associazione Casalese Arte e Storia as an amplified version of C. Aletto, Chiese extraurbane della Diocesi di Casale Monferrato: repertorio storico-biografico degli edifici di culto (San Salvatore Monferrato: 2006).
- ↑ ‘Borgo San Martino’, MonferratoArte. A databank established by the Associazione Casalese Arte e Storia as an amplified version of C. Aletto, Chiese extraurbane della Diocesi di Casale Monferrato: repertorio storico-biografico degli edifici di culto (San Salvatore Monferrato: 2006).
- ↑ Grignolio, Idro (1983), Casale Monferrato, Casale Monferrato: Media Editrice / Pro Loco Casale, p. 343.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Casalis, Goffredo, ed. (1836), "Casale", Dizionario geografico storico-statistico-commerciale degli stati di s. m. il re di Sardegna, Vol III, Torino, p. 673.
- ↑ Casalis, Goffredo, ed. (1836), "Casale", Dizionario geografico storico-statistico-commerciale degli stati di s. m. il re di Sardegna, Vol III, Torino, p. 672.
- ↑ ‘Terranova’, MonferratoArte. A databank established by the Associazione Casalese Arte e Storia as an amplified version of C. Aletto, Chiese extraurbane della Diocesi di Casale Monferrato: repertorio storico-biografico degli edifici di culto (San Salvatore Monferrato: 2006).
- ↑ Casalis, Goffredo, ed. (1836), "Casale", Dizionario geografico storico-statistico-commerciale degli stati di s. m. il re di Sardegna, Vol III, Torino, p. 671.
- ↑
- Annuario pontificio for the years up to 2007 as reported by www.catholic-hierarchy.org on the page
External links
- "Diocesi di CASALE MONFERRATO - Chiesa Cattolica Italiana" (in Italian). Official site of the Diocese of Casale Monferrato
- La Vita Casalese (Italian) Weekly newspaper with web supplement offering news and comment on the Diocese of Casale Monferrato, published by Editrice Fondazione Sant'Evasio - Casale Monf. (AL)
- MonferratoArte (Italian) A historical and bibliographical directory of artists active in the extra-urban churches of the Diocese of Casale Monferrato.
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