Roman Catholic Diocese of Great Falls–Billings

Diocese of Great Falls–Billings Dioecesis Magnocataractensis–Billingensis
Location
Country	United States
Territory	Big Horn, Blaine, Carbon, Cascade, Chouteau, Custer, Dawson, Fallon, Fergus, Hill, Musselshell, Park, Rosebud, Sheridan, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Valley, Wibaux and Yellowstone counties in Eastern Montana
Ecclesiastical province	Province of Portland
Population - Catholics	51,629[1] (13.2%)
Information
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Rite	Roman Rite
Established	May 18, 1904
Cathedral	St. Ann's Cathedral (Great Falls)
Co-cathedral	St. Patrick's Co-Cathedral (Billings)
Patron saint	St. Matthias the Apostle St. Pius X
Current leadership
Pope	Francis
Bishop	Michael William Warfel Bishop of Great Falls–Billings
Metropolitan Archbishop	Alexander King Sample
Emeritus Bishops	Anthony Michael Milone
Map
Website
diocesegfb.org

St. Patrick's Co-Cathedral, Billings, MT

The Diocese of Great Falls–Billings (Latin: Dioecesis Magnocataractensis–Billingensis) is the Catholic diocese of eastern Montana, established in 1904.

Pope Pius X erected the "Diocese of Great Falls" on May 18, 1904, by dividing the Diocese of Helena, which previously comprised the entire state.^[1][2]

History

For its first 76 years, it was called the "Diocese of Great Falls" (Latin: Dioecesis Great-Ormensis).^[1] Bishop Thomas J. Murphy changed the name of the diocese on February 14, 1980, adding "Billings" (and also changing the way that "Great Falls" was translated into Latin).^[3]

The diocese has two cathedrals: St Ann's Cathedral in Great Falls, which was dedicated on December 15, 1907; and St Patrick's Co-Cathedral in Billings, which was dedicated on March 1, 1908.

The co-patrons of the diocese are:

• Saint Matthias, whose feast day is May 14, from the patron saint of the first bishop
• Saint Pius X, whose feast day is August 21, since this saint, while pope, erected the diocese

Bishops

The past bishops of the diocese and their tenures of service:^[4]

1. Mathias Clement Lenihan (1904–1930), originally from Dubuque, Iowa.
2. Edwin Vincent O'Hara (1930–1939), from Portland, Oregon.
3. William Joseph Condon (1939–1967), from Spokane, Washington.
4. Eldon Bernard Schuster (1967–1977), from Great Falls, Montana.
5. Thomas Joseph Murphy (1978–1987), from Chicago, Illinois.
6. Anthony Michael Milone (1987–2006), from Omaha, Nebraska.
7. Michael William Warfel (2007–present), from Elkhart, Indiana.

High schools

• Billings Central Catholic High School - Billings
• Great Falls Central Catholic High School - Great Falls
• St. Labre Indian Catholic High School - Ashland

See also

• Catholic Church by country
• Catholic Church in the United States
• Ecclesiastical Province of Portland in Oregon
• Global organisation of the Catholic Church
• List of Roman Catholic archdioceses (by country and continent)
• List of Roman Catholic dioceses (alphabetical) (including archdioceses)
• List of Roman Catholic dioceses (structured view) (including archdioceses)
• List of the Catholic dioceses of the United States

References

1. "Diocese of Great Falls-Billings". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
2. "Diocese of Montana Split into two". Dioceseofgfb.org. Retrieved 2014-04-26.
3. "Diocese Renamed". Dioceseofgfb.org. Retrieved 2014-04-26.
4. "Bishops from 1883 to the Present". Dioceseofgfb.org. Retrieved 2014-04-26.

External links

• Roman Catholic Diocese of Great Falls–Billings Official Site
• St. Ann's Cathedral - Great Falls - website
• St. Patrick's Cathedral - Billings - website
• Billings Catholic Schools - website
• Great Falls Central High School - official site

Arms

Arms of Roman Catholic Diocese of Great Falls–Billings

Notes This version of the Arms was adopted when the Diocese of Great Falls became a dual See City diocese, Adopted June 1980 Escutcheon The arms of the diocese are composed of a main section that occupies the bottom two-thirds of the shield. This section of the shield is divided into four vertical sections, known as pales, of alternating blue and silver (white). These four sections are in the traditional heraldic colors of water and have straight edges. On these four pales are three crosses that are counterchanged, divided and colored opposite their background. The upper one-third of the shield, known as a chief, is silver (white) on which is displayed a red demi-sun. An esutchen, a small shield placed within the larger design,is in the center. This smaller shield is divided into two halves, across the middle. The upper portion is gold (yellow) on which is placed a green trefoil, a three-petal flower, which is the heraldic representation of the shamrock. The lower portion is also gold and on this field is placed a blue pile; a V-shaped charge. Symbolism The arms of the diocese are composed of a main section that occupies the bottom two-thirds of the shield. This section of the shield is divided into four vertical sections, known as pales, of alternating blue and silver (white). These four sections are in the traditional heraldic colors of water and have straight edges to give the illusion of water falling rapidly from a great height and thus reflects the name of the prime See City of Great Falls. On these four pales are three crosses that are counterchanged, divided and colored opposite their background, to honor the Most Blessed Trinity. The upper one-third of the shield, known as a chief, is silver (white) on which is displayed a red demi-sun, to reflect the fact that the See City of Great Falls is located opposite the mouth of the Sun River. These have been the arms of the Diocese of Great Falls since it was erected on May 18, 1904. In June of 1980, the Diocese of Great Falls became a dual See City diocese, now known as the Diocese of Great Falls–Billings, reflecting the growth of this region of Montana. To commemorate this change in the status of the diocese, an esutchen, a small shield placed within the larger design, has been added to the former arms of the diocese. This smaller shield is divided into two halves, across the middle. The upper portion is gold (yellow) on which is placed a green trefoil, a three-petal flower, which is the heraldic representation of the shamrock, to honor Saint Patrick, titular of the Co-Cathedral in Billings. The lower portion is also gold and on this field is placed a blue pile; a V-shaped charge. If this section is looked at alone, the gold sides that are left by cutting out the blue pile, gives the illusion of the "rimrocks", the cliffs that surround the city of Billings. Previous versions The arms without an escutcheon have been the arms of the Diocese of Great Falls since it was erected on May 18, 1904, until June 1980, the Diocese of Great Falls became a dual See City diocese.

Coordinates: 47°30′13″N 111°17′10.67″W / 47.50361°N 111.2862972°W