Roman Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids
Diocese of Grand Rapids Dioecesis Grandcataractensis | |
---|---|
Grand Rapids Diocese Coat of arms | |
Location | |
Country | United States |
Territory | Counties of Ottawa, Kent, Ionia, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, Montcalm, Mecosta, Lake, Mason, and Osceola |
Ecclesiastical province | Detroit |
Statistics | |
Area | 6,795 sq mi (17,600 km2) |
Population - Total - Catholics |
(as of 2006) 1,308,000 166,000 [1] (12.7%) |
Parishes | 82 |
Schools | 29 |
Information | |
Denomination | Roman Catholic |
Rite | Roman Rite |
Established | May 19, 1882 (134 years ago) |
Cathedral | Cathedral of Saint Andrew |
Patron saint | St. Andrew |
Secular priests | 110 |
Current leadership | |
Pope | Francis |
Bishop | David J. Walkowiak |
Metropolitan Archbishop | Allen Henry Vigneron |
Vicar General | William H. Duncan |
Map | |
Website | |
www.dioceseofgrandrapids.org |
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids (Latin: Dioecesis Grandcataractensis) is a diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in western Michigan, in the United States. It comprises 102 churches in 11 counties in West Michigan. It is a suffragan see to the Archdiocese of Detroit. The mother church of the diocese is the Cathedral of Saint Andrew. On April 18, 2013, Pope Francis accepted Bishop Walter A. Hurley's resignation and appointed the Rev. David J. Walkowiak to be the twelfth Bishop of Grand Rapids.
History
The diocese was created on May 19, 1882 by Pope Leo XIII. Its territory was taken from the Diocese of Detroit. It lost territory in 1938 when the Diocese of Saginaw was established and again on December 19, 1970 when both the Diocese of Gaylord and the Diocese of Kalamazoo were created.[1][2] St. Adalbert Church in Grand Rapids was raised to a minor basilica in 1979.[3]
Bishops
- Henry Richter (1883–1916)
- Michael J. Gallagher (1916–1918)
- Edward D. Kelly (1919–1926)
- Joseph G. Pinten (1926–1940)
- Joseph C. Plagens 1941–1943)
- Francis J. Haas (1943–1953)
- Allen James Babcock (1954–1970)
- Joseph M. Breitenbeck (1969–1989)
- Robert John Rose (1989–2003)
- Kevin Michael Britt (2003–2004)
- Walter A. Hurley (2005–2013)
- David J. Walkowiak (2013–present)
Auxiliary bishops
- Charles Salatka (1962-1968)
- Joseph Crescent McKinney (1968-2001)
High schools
- Catholic Central High School, Grand Rapids
- Muskegon Catholic Central High School, Muskegon
- St. Patrick High School, Portland
- West Catholic High School, Grand Rapids
- Sacred Heart Academy Classical High School, Grand Rapids
See also
- Catholic Church by country
- Catholic Church hierarchy
- List of the Catholic dioceses of the United States
Today, the Diocese of Grand Rapids encompasses the Catholic community in eleven counties in the mid-western part of Michigan’s lower peninsula. This water image further underscores the defining presence of Lake Michigan, the western boundary of the Diocese of Grand Rapids, and in religious terms, the defining presence of Christ: “Jesus stood up and exclaimed, ‘Let anyone who thirsts come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as scripture says: ‘Rivers of living water will flow from within him.’.” (John 7:37-38) Emblazoned over the watery background of the Coat of Arms of the Diocese of Grand Rapids is a red (Gules) Cross Moline, the arms of which peel off into two curls at the end. The word “moline” comes from the French moulin or “mill” since this cross resembles the curved extremities of a millrynd, the iron which supports an upper millstone. The agrarian roots of this cross shape suggest the wheat of the Holy Eucharist, the source and summit of the Christian community. While interpretations of the Cross Moline vary, some heraldic experts say that this particular Cross symbolizes the mutual convergence of human society – thus adding to its Eucharistic meaning. “As this broken bread was scattered upon the hills, and was gathered together and made one, so let thy Church be gathered together into thy kingdom from the ends of the earth.” (Didache Apostolorum c.110 AD). In the context of the Diocese of Grand Rapids, the shape of the Cross Moline also has an extended symbolic meaning, which is an “anchor” firmly set in the water. The anchor is an image of Jesus Christ, the security of the soul, and a sign of hope in troubled waters: “...we who have taken refuge might be strongly encouraged to hold fast to the hope that lies before us. This we have as an anchor of the soul, sure and firm ....” (Hebrews 6:18-19) |
References
- 1 2 "Diocese of Grand Rapids". Catholic-Hierarchy. Retrieved 2013-06-06.
- ↑ "Diocese of Grand Rapids". Giga Catholic. Retrieved 2013-06-06.
- ↑ "Basilica of St. Adalbert". GCatholic. Retrieved 2014-05-28.
External links
Wikisource has the text of a 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia article about Diocese of Grand Rapids. |
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids Official Site
- Catholic Hierarchy: Diocese of Grand Rapids
- WOOD TV8: Hurley named Bishop of Grand Rapids
Coordinates: 42°57′28.8″N 85°40′02″W / 42.958000°N 85.66722°W