Diocese of Hamilton, Ontario

The Diocese of Hamilton is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in Canada. It is a suffragan diocese in the ecclesiastical province of the metropolitan Archdiocese in Toronto.
The cathedral is the Cathedral Basilica of Christ the King, dedicated to Christ the King in 1933, in Hamilton, Ontario. There is a former cathedral, St. Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, also in Hamilton and a minor basilica, Our Lady Immaculate, in Guelph, Ontario.

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History

It was established on 29 February 1856 by Pope Pius IX as the Diocese of Hamilton, on territory split off from the Archdiocese of Toronto, which became its Metropolitan. On 22 November 1958, it lost territory to establish the Diocese of Saint Catharines. The Diocese of Hamilton celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2006, with Anthony Tonnos celebrating Mass at the seat of the diocese. Special signs, marks and posters were commissioned for many of the diocese's churches, schools and buildings.

Bishops

Episcopal ordinaries

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. The CRC had been formed in 1836 in Paris. Many of its members were Polish emigres who left their native country in a time of political turmoil.
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.
James Joseph Carbery, Dominican Order also born in Ireland, consecrated on November 11, 1883, and held an important diocesan synod.
T. J. Dowling, D.D., first Canadian incumbent, previously Bishop of Peterborough . Since his May 1889 installment, 14 new parishes had been established, 28 priests ordained, and 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 Dowling's time, there were 42 priests in the diocese of Canadian by birth. Four were from Ireland, four from the United States, four from France, three from Germany, two from Poland and two from Italy. Candidates for the priesthood studied at St. Jerome's College in Berlin, Ontario and Grand Seminary in Montreal, Quebec. The diocese had nine parishes for German-speaking people and one Indian parish. There were also chapels for Poles and Italians.
John Thomas McNally, previously Bishop of Calgary ; later Metropolitan Archbishop of Halifax .
Joseph F. Ryan, died 1990. His term brought much growth and expansion of churches and Catholic schools.
Paul F. Reding succeeding as previous Auxiliary Bishop of Hamilton and Titular Bishop of Liberalia
*Auxiliary Bishop James Hector MacDonald, Titular Bishop of Gibba ; next Bishop of Charlottetown, Metropolitan Archbishop of Saint John’s
Anthony F. Tonnos, succeeding as previous Auxiliary Bishop of Hamilton and Titular Bishop of Nationa
*Auxiliary Bishop Matthew Francis Ustrzycki, Titular Bishop of Nationa
* Auxiliary bishop Gerard Bergie, Titular Bishop of Tabæ ; next Bishop of Saint Catharines
Douglas Crosby, also vice-president of Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, President of Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops ; previously Bishop of the Bishop of Labrador City–Schefferville, Bishop of Saint George’s, Bishop of Corner Brook and Labrador
*Auxiliary bishop Daniel Joseph Miehm, Titular Bishop of Gor ; next Bishop of Peterborough .
Joseph Dabrowski

Auxiliary bishops

Paul Francis Reding, appointed Bishop here
James Hector MacDonald, appointed Bishop of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
Anthony Frederick Tonnos, appointed Bishop here
Matthew Francis Ustrzycki
Gerard Paul Bergie, appointed Bishop of Saint Catharines, Ontario
Daniel Joseph Miehm, appointed Bishop of Peterborough, Ontario
Wayne Lawrence Lobsinger, appointed Bishop of Gemellae in Numidia

Other priests of this diocese who became bishops

Joseph Anthony O'Sullivan, appointed Bishop of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island in 1931
Joseph Lawrence Wilhelm, appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Calgary, Alberta in 1963
John Michael Sherlock, appointed Auxiliary Bishop of London, Ontario in 1974
Thomas Christopher Collins, appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Saint Paul in Alberta in 1997; elevated to the rank of Cardinal in 2012
Peter Joseph Hundt, appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Toronto, Ontario in 2006

Statistics and extent

, it pastorally served 626,723 Catholics on 16,824 km² in 124 parishes and 1 mission with 228 priests, 35 deacons, 269 lay religious and 15 seminarians.
The Diocese of Hamilton comprises the counties and regions of Brant, Bruce, Grey, Halton, Hamilton, Waterloo, Wellington, as well as four Townships in the County of Dufferin, all located in Ontario. The Diocese of Hamilton had begun as a Catholic Mission in Upper Canada.
There are 6 deaneries which have 126 parishes in their geographical grouping. There are 7 Catholic school boards in the diocese, 1 Catholic university and 3 university Catholic campus ministries. It has 142 secular and 98 religious priests ministering to 620,518 people in 126 parishes.

Catholic schools

The Government of Ontario accords Catholic schools the same rights as public schools. The taxes paid by Catholics go to support Catholic schools only. Teachers, whether religious or lay, must be qualified to teach according to the same regulations as those governing public school teachers.
Here are the institutions, within the jurisdiction of the Diocese:

Cemeteries

Holy Sepulchre Catholic Cemetery
Gates of Heaven Catholic Cemetery
Our Lady of Angels Catholic Cemetery
Resurrection Catholic Cemetery
Marymount Catholic Cemetery
Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery
Holy Redeemer Catholic Cemetery
Holy Family Catholic Cemetery