The Diocese of Derry (Latin: Dioecesis Derriena; Irish: Deoise Dhoire) is a Latin Church diocese of the Catholic Church which straddles the international frontier between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. It is in the ecclesiastical province of Armagh. The diocese was established in the year 1158.[1] The diocese consists of almost fifty parishes and some number of religious congregations have houses in various parts of the diocese.
Diocese of Derry Dioecesis Derriena Deoise Dhoire | |
|---|---|
 St Eugene's Cathedral viewed from the walls of Derry | |
| Location | |
| Country | Northern Ireland Republic of Ireland |
| Territory | Most of County Londonderry, some parishes in counties Tyrone and Antrim and County Donegal |
| Ecclesiastical province | Province of Armagh |
| Metropolitan | Archdiocese of Armagh |
| Coordinates | 54°59′42″N 7°19′34″W / 54.995°N 7.326°W |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 965 sq mi (2,500 km2) |
| Population - Total - Catholics | (as of 2019) 336,741 252,347 (74.9%) |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Catholic |
| Sui iuris church | Latin Church |
| Rite | Roman Rite |
| Cathedral | St Eugene's Cathedral, Derry |
| Patron saint | St Eugene and St Columba |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Francis |
| Bishop | Donal McKeown |
| Metropolitan Archbishop | Eamon Martin |
| Vicar General | Paul McCafferty & Monsignor Andy Dolan |
| Map | |
 | |
| Website | |
| derrydiocese.org | |
The Cathedral Church of the diocese is St Eugene's Cathedral. Nearby is St Columba's Church, Long Tower.
Schools in the Diocese
editSchools in the diocese include: St Columb's College, Thornhill College, St Joseph's Boys' School, Lumen Christi College.
Adult Faith Development
editAs part of their adult faith development, the diocese runs the Diploma in Pastoral Theology validated by St. Patrick's College, Maynooth,[2] from the Drumalis Retreat Centre.[3]
The Derry Diocese Catechetical Centre in conjunction with St Mary's University, Twickenham offer a Masters in Catholic School Leadership.[4]
Geography
editDerry contains most of County Londonderry, some parishes in counties Tyrone and Antrim and the Inishowen peninsula in County Donegal, and the parish of Lifford (Clonleigh) in East Donegal. As well as the city of Derry, the main towns are Buncrana, Coleraine, Lifford, Limavady, Maghera, Omagh and Strabane.
Bishops
editThe following is a basic list of the post-Reformation Roman Catholic bishops and vicars apostolic.[5][6]
- Réamonn Ó Gallchobhair (also known as Redmond O'Gallagher) (1569–1601)
- position vacant (1601–1622)
- Luke Rochford, vicar apostolic (appointed 1622)
- Terence Kelly, vicar apostolic (1629–1668)
- Eugene Conwell, vicar apostolic (appointed 1671)
- Bernard O'Cahan, vicar apostolic (1684–1711)
- Fergus Laurence Lea (1694–c. 1696)
- position vacant (1711–1720)
- Terence Donnelly (1720–unknown)
- Neil Conway (1727–1738)
- Michael O'Reilly (prelate) (1739–1749)
- John Brullaghhaun (1749–1750)
- Patrick Bradley, O.P. (1751–1752)
- John MacColgan (1752–1765)
- Phillip MacDevitt (1766–1797)
- Charles O'Donnell (1797–1824)
- Peter MacLaughlin (1824–1840)
- John MacLaughlin (1840–1864)
- Francis Kelly (1864–1889)
- John Keys O'Doherty (1889–1907)
- Charles MacHugh (1907–1926)
- Bernard O'Kane (1926–1939)
- Neil Farren (1939–1973)
- Edward Daly (1974–1993)
- Séamus Hegarty (1994–2011)
- position vacant (2011–2014)
- Donal McKeown (2014–present)
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Diocese of Derry". GCatholic.org.
- ^ Diploma in Pastoral Theology Derry Diocese.
- ^ Drumalis Retreat Centre run by the Sisters of the Cross and Passion - Official Website
- ^ Masters in Catholic School Leadership Derry Diocese Catechetical Centre.
- ^ Fryde, E. B.; Greenway, D. E.; Porter, S.; Roy, I. (1986). Handbook of British Chronology (3rd ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 422–423. ISBN 0-521-56350-X.
- ^ "Diocese of Derry". Catholic Hierarchy. Retrieved 19 June 2009.
External links
edit- Diocese of Derry – official website
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