Lentorama 2012: Know Your Diocese


Day 35: Diocese of Veracruz


See, here's what I don't get. This diocese was formed in 1962, and pretty much from the start has served a population that's over 90 percent Catholic, now numbering about two million people. Compare that with some of the diocese we've previously covered, that have had less than a thousand members. I know it's not just a numbers game, but the disparity can be a bit glaring.

Lentorama 2012: Know Your Diocese


Day 34: Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown


I had no real reason for choosing this diocese. Just searched on Altoona for some reason, and there it was. Johnstown was added to the name in the 1950s, for reasons I can't figure out (Johnstown doesn't appear to have been the seat of a diocese in its own right). Both cities have cathedrals, which I guess makes sense if they're both in the name of the diocese. Not much else to say other than that one of their bishops left to become the bishop of Scranton. Seems like a lateral move.

Lentorama 2012: Know Your Diocese

Day 33: Diocese of Bayeux and Lisieux

Both Bayeux and Lisieux have long histories as seats of religious power. Bayeux has been the home of a bishop  since the first century (the first eight bishops of Bayeux all became saints), while Lisieux hosted a bishop starting  in the 6th century. Move ahead 1200 years or so, and you'll find that the diocese of Lisieux was suppressed during the French Revolution, while Bayeux survived thanks to its status as the most senior see in Normandy (and with no small help from hosting at least one Constitutional Bishop). After the revolution, Lisieux would not regain its status, and was merged with Bayeux in 1802.

The diocese covers the department of Calvados, which could make for some very interesting sacramental wine.

Lentorama 2012: Know Your Diocese


Day 32: Diocese of Buffalo


Formed in 1847, the diocese originally covered the western third of New York. But before the century was out, the new Diocese of Rochester would claim several of the counties that made up the eastern part of the Buffalo diocese, which to me is an early warning for Buffalo's decline in the 20th century.

Unlike most diocesan websites, it's difficult to find a history of the Buffalo see on their website. The one thing that is prominently displayed is a link to the website championing the sainthood of Father Nelson Baker, whose charitable work in the Buffalo area was impressive. No word on any miracles, though.

Lentorama 2012: Know Your Diocese


Day 31: Archdiocese of Tokyo


There aren't a lot of Catholics in Tokyo (something like 0.5% of the population), not surprising given the 300 years or so where the faith was outlawed. For those living in Tokyo, though, they have the option of attending services in the striking St. Mary's Cathedral. It's not going to be to everyone's taste - there are aspects I'm not particularly wild about - but as churches built after 1950 tend to be either dull or hideous, it's a winner.

Lentorama 2012: Know Your Diocese


Day 30: Diocese of Oran


Not surprising that there is some sort of Catholic hierarchy in Algeria, given the long history with the French, but not surprisingly things are in a bit of a decline since independence. Not sure if it makes sense to have an entire diocese for 400 people (and it's worth wondering if it's still 400 if that's been the quoted figure since 1999). but given the long history of the church there I suppose it's understandable. Though not always easy - in 1996, Bishop Pierre Lucien Claverie was killed during Algeria's civil war, probably by Islamic extremists but possibly by the sitting government (at least that's how it reads to me based on websites Google translated from French, you can imagine what reading that was like).

Lentorama 2012: Know Your Diocese


Day 29: Archdiocese of San Antonio


Nothing particularly interesting in the usual stuff, but noteworthy in that it has parishes that are also part of the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. Even if you're not religious, they're pretty cool on historical and architectural grounds, and are worth a visit if you're in San Antonio. You can always squeeze in the Riverwalk later.

Lentorama 2012: Know Your Diocese


Day 28: Diocese of Toowoomba


You could probably guess by the name that this is in Australia, created in 1929 and covering southwest Queensland. I'd only picked this because of the name, but it turns out there's a bit of recent scandal to provide some color. William Morris was made bishop in 1992, and not long afterwards was the target of reports of unorthodoxy, which he helped fan by circulating a letter in 1996 calling for discussion of ordaining married men as priests. He was called to Rome to discuss this, but never went, citing pastoral reasons for not making the trip. 


After what amounted to an inspection in 2007 and several years of wrangling with various Vatican types (and a 2009 audience with the Pope), Morris did the "you can't fire me, I quit" thing in 2011, though the papal nuncio to Australia said the next day that Morris had been removed. He was made "bishop emeritus," a sure-fire sign that he'd been put out to pasture. There's been an ongoing war of words between Morris and the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, and to date there's not been a new bishop named. Rome may want to get on that. 

Lentorama 2012: Know Your Diocese


Day 27: Diocese of Manchester


This diocese covers all of New Hampshire, and was formed in 1884 after originally being part of the diocese of Portland. One of its bishops, George Guertin, lent his name to a high school in Nashua which I only know about through their debate team. Wound up debating against them quite a bit my novice year, and they were pretty good. Just not as good as they thought they were, based on how insufferable they could be personally. I can only hope the current crop display less jackasstic tendencies.

Lentorama 2012: Know Your Diocese


Day 26: Archdiocese of Montreal


I chose this not so much for its history - as you'd expect, it was formed in colonial times and was mostly staffed by Frenchmen until suitable Quebecois could take over - but for a story.

I wound up visiting Montreal in 1998 with friends, and we stopped in to take a look at the Basilica of Notre Dame, which is pretty impressive and worth a look if you're into that sort of thing or just need to get out of the sun. Anyway, the tour guide was talking about how most of the sacraments take place in one of the chapels, while the basilica itself is reserved for state occasions and the like. To demonstrate this, she named the one person who was important enough to get married in the basilica in recent times: Celine Dion.

I can't remember if we held our laughter until we left or not. I'd like to think we did.

Lentorama 2012: Know Your Diocese


Day 25: Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA


Something I have learned through this year's Lentorama is that the military in a number of countries have their own military diocese or archdiocese. The American one dates back to 1917, when an ordinate (an organization whose members fall into a specific category, such as those serving in the military) was formed. For most of its existence it was a position held by the Archbishop of New York, but was cleaved off into its own archdiocese in 1986.

In addition to the military, the archdiocese also covers all Americans in government service abroad and all the employees and patients of the Veterans Health Administration. Interestingly, the priests of the archdiocese are not formally attached to it, but are still considered part of the diocese or order they were in at the time they started service with the military/government.

One question their website doesn't appear to answer - are there camouflage vestments? Googling the phrase "camouflage vestment" did turn up Catholic priests wearing camo garb (not full vestments but things like a camo stole). From what I can tell as long as the camo color matches whatever the appropriate color is for the mass the pattern doesn't matter.

Lentorama 2012: Know Your Diocese


Day 24: Diocese of Saint Thomas


There could be worse gigs than being the bishop of St. Thomas, which covers the US Virgin Islands. Besides the weather, your boss is the archbishop of Washington (this is the only diocese that reports to DC), who is unlikely to pop in for an unannounced visit.

There do seem to be a couple of drawbacks, though. The official website is straight out of 1996, which I assume has something to do with Internet connectivity in the Caribbean. The other is that the bishop seems to celebrate a lot of masses in random spaces like rec centers and parking lots. Looks like this partially may be to issues with the cathedral, which is being renovated, but it may just be that these spaces are best when the weather is (a) nice or (b)post-hurricane.

Even with the drawbacks, the bishop looks like he's enjoying himself.

Lentorama 2012: Know Your Diocese


Day 23: Archdiocese of Tuam


Covering a wide swath of western Ireland, it includes Ballyhaunis, the town my great grandfather left to come to  America.

The archdiocese traces its roots to a diocese which tradition holds was founded by a St. Jarlath in the 6th century. There's not much of bio on him, but it appears he may either be the son of the founder of Tuam or a bishop of Armagh. Or both conflated over time. In any case, he's said to have arrived at Tuam when, on the advice of St. Brendan, he rode in a chariot until its rear axles broke, a sign that he was to stay put in that location.

Tuan is home to two of the more popular pilgrimage sites in Ireland, Knock Shrine and Croagh Patrick. The former was the site of an apparition in the 1870s, but became internationally famous a century later when the monsignor in charge of the shrine made some major improvements and got the government to build an airport. John Paul II visited in 1979, which helped raise the profile, too. The latter site is a large hill where St. Patrick was believed to have fasted for 40 days before building a church. It's also apparently home to potentially profitable deposits of gold and quartz, but for now no mining.

Lentorama 2012: Know Your Diocese


Day 22: Diocese of Rapid City


Given its current name in 1930, it was founded in 1902 as the Diocese of Lead which, then as now, covers the western part of South Dakota. But what I really want to know is why the Diocese of Lead? There is a town called Lead in South Dakota, along the border with Wyoming, and it was the sort of mining town that Catholics loved to set up shop in, but there's nothing out there on the diocese website or the town's website to suggest a link. But it makes as much sense as anything.

Lentorama 2012: Know Your Diocese


Day 21: Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Santa María del Patrocinio en Buenos Aires


OK, I'm probably going to screw this up, so bear with me and comment on any factual errors I may make. 


There are a number of Eastern-rite Catholic churches who are in communion with Rome. They operate independently, but recognize the Pope's special status as Bishop of Rome. They're different from the Roman/Latin Rite churches that dominate the Catholic world in some matters of theology and practice, but aren't part of the Orthodox churches that are not in communion.


One of these churches is the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, which is apparently the largest of the Eastern Rite churches in full communion. While it has a small footprint in Ukraine, it's grown internationally as Ukrainians dispersed in the face of the various world wars and domination/persecution by the Soviet Union.


Which explains how an eparchy (the Eastern term for a diocese) wound up in Buenos Aires, a location you don't quite think of when you think about Ukranians as one does from time to time. 

Lentorama 2012: Know Your Diocese

Day 20: Diocese of Moosonee

You want to find a good way to operate under the radar as a diocese? Share a name with an Anglican diocese of the same name in a predominantly Protestant country. This diocese, which covers a chunk of Ontario, has just over 6,000 Catholics in it, and has almost no web presence. The best I could do is a Facebook page that mimics most of the same information found in Wikipedia, which borrows heavily from a site that lists vital information for all Catholic diocese.

On the plus side, the Catholic website gives a phone number and tells us that the diocese's Catholic Directory abbreviation is "Moo." I am willing to bet there are more cows than Catholics in this diocese. Most of them are probably Anglicans, too.

Lentorama 2012: Know Your Diocese


Day 19: Diocese of Brooklyn


Not surprisingly, this diocese was formed when Brooklyn was a separate city from New York, forming in 1853. It includes Queens and used to include Long Island, which later split off into its own diocese.

The diocese is home to the only seminary high school in the country, Cathedral Prep. Its best known student was one that didn't graduate: Vince Lombardi. I imagine they wanted less cursing in the sermons.

Checking the diocese website, I was saddened to see no Hipster Ministry (it's also not clear if they're using artisinally baked wafers using genetically unmodified wheat). But I did notice that they're tying to get one of their own, Monsignor Bernard Quinn, canonized. He did some impressive work, volunteering as a chaplain in World War I, and then working to support African-American Catholics in Brooklyn, but I've not seen any discussion of miracles, which are pretty much required. Good luck.

Lentorama 2012: Know Your Diocese


Day 18: Diocese of Salt Lake City


While not in the same league as having a diocese in Iran or Russia, you'd have to think running the show in Salt Lake City would be challenging given the demographics in Utah. In some ways Catholics have always been outsiders in the region, as the first church was built to minister primarily to soldiers, miners, and railroad workers. Still true today, as the diocese has seen its numbers grow in recent years thanks to Hispanic immigration, but it's still a very small group compared to Mormons.

From what I can tell, the relationship is generally cordial on an official level, but more challenging on a personal level. That kind of jibes with the lone data point of anecdotal evidence I have. Many years ago I was an RA in the same area of campus with a woman from Salt Lake who was Catholic. She noted that things were fine when her family first moved there, but a distance developed (especially with neighborhood kids who were Mormon) as it became clear that her family wouldn't be seen at services. There was never any ugliness, and from what she said everyone got along in the neighborhood, but it was a separation point. Nothing to dissimilar from what happens in other areas where one faith is dominant, I'd think, and thankfully peaceful.

Lentorama 2012: Know Your Diocese


Day 17: Archdiocese of Ispahan


This diocese was founded in 1629 by Italian missionaries to Isfahan, then the capital of the Safavid Empire. It got bumped up to an archdiocese in 1910. It serves roughly 10,000 Catholics in Iran, which must be a pretty tough gig. Even better, the cathedral is located in Tehran. Christians in Iran are apparently a protected religious minority, but I doubt there'll be much of an Easter parade there.

Lentorama 2012: Know Your Diocese


Day 16: Diocese of Djibouti


This diocese was created in 1955 from an apostolic prefecture created in 1914. Not quite sure of the circumstances, given that there are only about 7,000 Catholics in Djibouti. I suppose France had something to do with it, as most of the Catholics in Djibouti are expats or other non-Djiboutians.

There's not much out there on the diocese, not surprisingly. I pretty much chose it for this exercise because I like the name Djibouti.  It's fun to say.

Lentorama 2012: Know Your Diocese

Day 15: Diocese of El Paso

Part of the Diocese of Mexico when it was formed in 1530, it became part of an American-based diocese after the Mexican-American War. The city of El Paso didn't have a dedicated Catholic church until 1881; up to then most folks went to church across the border in Juarez.

The arrival of the railroad and refugees trying to avoid the Mexican Civil War resulted in a population boom for El Paso and the establishment of several new parishes. Pope Pius X established the El Paso diocese in 1914, taking parts from Dallas, San Antonio and Tucson. For all of the Hispanic influences, the cathedral is named for St. Patrick as the largest donation for the building came from Irish immigrants working the local mines. That's changed recently, as all of the bishops since 1978 are of Hispanic descent, and the diocese has been very active in issues related to undocumented immigrants and relief efforts in Central America.

While originally covering parts of west Texas and southern New Mexico, the latter territory was broken off in 1982 to form the Diocese of Las Cruces. 

My original interest in picking this diocese: its coat of arms has an anchor on it, which I thought was odd as El Paso isn't exactly coastal. It winds up that an anchor was part of Piux X's personal coat of arms, and El Paso put one on their coat of arms to honor him.

Lentorama 2012: Know Your Diocese

Day 14: Diocese of Pyongyang

Started as a Prefecture Apostolic in 1927, the last bishop to serve in residence was Francis Hong Yong-ho, who was imprisoned in 1949 and later disappeared. Seeing which was the wind was blowing with the North Koreans, the diocese has been run by an apostolic administrator from Seoul since its inception in 1962. Yong-ho is still considered its bishop, however, as a testament to him and the persecution of Catholics (and pretty much any religious personnel) in North Korea.

Which does lead to certain practical questions, mostly around how many Catholics there could be in North Korea and how the hierarch operates, if at all.

Lentorama 2012: Know Your Diocese


Day 13: Archdiocese of Alba Iulia


Located in Romania but serving mostly ethnic Hungarians, I admit I chose this one because it was originally the Diocese of Transylvania, which seems like a fitting choice for the 13th day of this exercise. That original diocese was formed in 1009 by Stephen I of Hungary, and didn't change to its current name until the 1930s.

I just kind of like the idea that Vlad the Impaler liked going to mass so he could have more blood.

Lentorama 2012: Know Your Diocese


Day 12: Diocese of Palm Beach


Formed in 1984, this diocese has had a short, turbulent history thanks to two of its former bishops. One, Joseph Symons, admitted to molesting five boys while he was a parish priest and resigned. His successor, Anthony O'Connell, would later admit to molesting two students while running a preparatory seminary in Missouri.

It was at this point that Sean O'Malley was made bishop, moving from the clean up job he had in Fall River to this one. He would serve for less than a year before being moved to Boston to replace Bernard Law, who left him a pretty big mess to clean up as well. Replacing O'Malley was the current bishop, Gerald Barbarito, who in what I hope is an unrelated move has a picture of himself as a child on his biography page.

Lentorama 2012: Know Your Diocese


Day 11: Diocese of Yamoussoukro


Located in the capital of Cote D'Ivoire, this diocese is best known as the home of the "minor" Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, one of the largest churches in the world (possibly the second-largest, depending if you measure by volume or area). Its minor status reflects that it is not the seat of the bishop, who uses the smaller, but quite suitable, Cathedral of St. Augustine.

Based on St. Peter's, its construction was the brain child of former president Félix Houphouët-Boigny, who apparently wanted it to be a memorial to him in his hometown, which he made the nation's capital. in 1983. 

Lentorama 2012: Know Your Diocese


Day 10: Diocese of Transfiguration at Novosibirsk


At 700,000 square miles in area and with only 500,000 Catholics, this may be the least densely populated diocese of all. It didn't get full diocese status until 2002, but has been a part of the Catholic hierarchy in Russia since 1921.

The current bishop, Joseph Werth, is an interesting guy. Born in what is now Kazakhstan, he was trained in secret by Jesuits in Lithuania, and was ordained in 1984. His work in the Asian region of the USSR was seen as successful, and there's some thought he was made a cardinal in secret (in pectore) by Pope John Paul II, probably to protect him from problems with the Russian government (and the Russian Orthodox church, with which the Vatican has had problematic relations since, well, the Great Schism).

That may also explain why all the diocese names in Russia have some sort of name in addition to the location (for example, the archdiocese is called Mother of God at Moscow).

Lentorama 2012: Know Your Diocese


Day 9: Archdiocese of Algiers


Founded as a diocese in 1838 and elevated to an archdiocese in 1866, it does claim a history dating back to the second century AD even though the French were the ones to get the hierarchy going.

There is a page on their website that talks about living as Catholics in a country where Islam is dominant, and not surprisingly it takes a fairly low-key tone, stressing brotherhood and acceptance. Probably a good idea given the numbers.