Roman Catholic Diocese of Helena

Diocese of Helena Dioecesis Helenensis
Location
Country	United States
Territory	Lewis and Clark, Teton, Flathead, Lincoln, Missoula, Sanders, Powell, Granite, Ravalli, Deer Lodge, Silver Bow, Jefferson, Broadwater, Gallatin, Madison, Lake, and Beaverhead Counties plus parts of Meagher, Musselshell, and Toole Counties in Montana
Ecclesiastical province	Province of Portland
Statistics
Area	51,922 sq mi (134,480 km^2)
Population - Total - Catholics	(as of 2013) 565,000 55,800[1] (9.9%)
Information
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Rite	Roman Rite
Established	March 7, 1884
Cathedral	Cathedral of Saint Helena
Patron saint	St. Helena
Current leadership
Pope	Francis
Bishop	George Leo Thomas Bishop of Helena
Metropolitan Archbishop	Alexander King Sample
Map
Website
diocesehelena.org

The Diocese of Helena (Latin: Dioecesis Helenensis) is the Catholic diocese for western Montana with its cathedral located in Helena, the state capital. The diocese was erected from the year-old Vicarate of Montana on March 7, 1884, while Montana was still a territory. The diocese is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Portland, which encompasses Oregon, Idaho, and Montana.

History

Before becoming a diocese, this was the Vicariate of Montana (covering the whole territory and then state of Montana).^[2] For its first twenty years, the diocese served all of Montana. In 1904 the new Diocese of Great Falls was formed to serve eastern Montana.^[3]

The seat of the diocese is in the Cathedral of St. Helena in the state capital of Helena. It was completed in 1914.

Ordinaries

The bishops of the Diocese of Helena and their years of service:

1. Jean-Baptiste Brondel - (1884–1903)
2. John Patrick Carroll - (1904–25)
3. George Joseph Finnigan - (1927–32)
4. Ralph Leo Hayes - (1933–35)
5. Joseph Michael Gilmore - (1935–62)
6. Raymond Gerhardt Hunthausen - (1962–75)
7. Elden Francis Curtiss - (1976–93)
8. Alexander Joseph Brunett - (1994–97)
9. Robert C. Morlino - (1999–2003)
10. George Leo Thomas - (2004–present)

High schools

• Butte Central Catholic High School, Butte
• Loyola Sacred Heart High School, Missoula

Cathedral of Saint Helena, Helena

Arms of Roman Catholic Diocese of Helena

Notes Arms was designed and adopted when the diocese was erected Adopted 1884 Escutcheon The diocesan arms consists of a field of alternating silver (white) and green chevrons. On this field are the conjoined cross and a crown. Symbolism The field of alternating silver (white) and green chevrons to portray the mountain peaks in the diocese. On this field are the conjoined cross and crown of Saint Helen, Empress and mother of Constantine, the Great. This traditional representation of Saint Helen is used to signify that she is the titular patroness of the See’s Cathedral-Church.

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

Notes

1. Catholic Hierarchy
2.  "Helena". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. 1913.

External links

• Roman Catholic Diocese of Helena Official Site

Coordinates: 46°35′45″N 112°01′37.3″W / 46.59583°N 112.027028°W