Broome (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Timothy John Norton, S.V.D., Bishop
Christopher Alan Saunders, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Elevated: 7 June 1966
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Perth
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Australia
Square Kilometers: 77,300 (29,857 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://www.broomediocese.org/
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, P.O. Box 76, 13 Barker St., Broome, W.A. 6725, Australia
Telephone: (08)91.921.060
Fax: 91.922.136

Historical Details

Vicariate Apostolic of Kimberley in Western Australia
- Latin Name: Kimberliensis in Australia Occidentali
- Erected: 10 May 1887
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Perth
- Country: Australia
Vicariate Apostolic of Kimberleys
- Latin Name: Kimberliensis
- Name Changed: 13 November 1959
- Vicariate
- Country: Australia

Past and Present Ordinaries

William Bernard Kelly † ( 1894 Appointed - 1909 Resigned)
John Creagh, C.Ss.R. † ( 1914 Appointed - 1922 Died)
Ernesto Coppo, S.D.B. † (1 Dec 1922 Appointed - 1928 Resigned)
Otto Raible, S.A.C. † (18 Jun 1935 Appointed - 12 Mar 1958 Resigned)
John Jobst, S.A.C. † (13 Jan 1959 Appointed - 3 Nov 1995 Retired)
Christopher Alan Saunders (3 Nov 1995 Appointed - 28 Aug 2021 Resigned)
Peter William Ingham † (10 Mar 2020 Appointed - 31 Dec 2020 Ceased)
Timothy John Norton, S.V.D. (14 Oct 2024 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Vicariate Apostolic of Kimberley in Western Australia
10 May 1887	Erected	Diocese of Perth	Vicariate Apostolic of Kimberley in Western Australia (erected)
4 May 1910	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Kimberley in Western Australia (Northwestern part)	Mission "Sui Iuris" of Drisdale River (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Kimberleys
13 November 1959	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Kimberley in Western Australia	Vicariate Apostolic of Kimberleys
24 October 1964	Territory Added	Diocese of Geraldton	Vicariate Apostolic of Kimberleys
Diocese of Broome
7 June 1966	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Kimberleys	Diocese of Broome
1980	Territory Added	Mission "Sui Iuris" of Kalumburu (suppressed)	Diocese of Broome

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Vicariate Apostolic of Kimberley in Western Australia

1949 1,090 9,000 12.1% 8 8 136 18 22 5 ap1951

Vicariate Apostolic of Kimberleys

Diocese of Broome

1966 2,900 12,000 24.2% 11 11 263 18 41 9 ap1967

1968 2,800 20,000 14.0% 1 10 11 254 17 45 8 ap1971

1980 5,730 17,944 31.9% 2 7 9 636 16 44 ap1981

1990 7,311 24,502 29.8% 4 8 12 609 24 42 10 ap1991

1999 9,016 33,537 26.9% 5 7 12 751 16 50 8 ap2000

2000 9,020 33,550 26.9% 6 7 13 693 16 51 8 ap2001

2001 9,020 33,550 26.9% 5 6 11 820 14 36 8 ap2002

2002 9,470 36,500 25.9% 5 6 11 860 15 51 8 ap2003

2003 9,351 33,705 27.7% 6 6 12 779 13 42 8 ap2004

2004 13,740 30,900 44.5% 6 5 11 1,249 12 39 8 ap2005

2006 13,402 35,001 38.3% 6 7 13 1,030 14 33 9 ap2007

2012 14,050 41,000 34.3% 7 3 10 1,405 9 18 9 ap2013

2015 14,800 43,100 34.3% 10 10 1,480 6 14 9 ap2016

2018 15,420 44,950 34.3% 11 2 13 1,186 4 8 9 ap2019

2020 15,900 46,350 34.3% 15 1 16 993 3 12 9 ap2021

2022 15,123 44,150 34.3% 9 3 12 1,260 5 7 8 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Vicariate Apostolic of Kimberley in Western Australia
1949	1,090	9,000	12.1%		8	8	136	18	22	5	ap1951
Vicariate Apostolic of Kimberleys
Diocese of Broome
1966	2,900	12,000	24.2%		11	11	263	18	41	9	ap1967
1968	2,800	20,000	14.0%	1	10	11	254	17	45	8	ap1971
1980	5,730	17,944	31.9%	2	7	9	636	16	44		ap1981
1990	7,311	24,502	29.8%	4	8	12	609	24	42	10	ap1991
1999	9,016	33,537	26.9%	5	7	12	751	16	50	8	ap2000
2000	9,020	33,550	26.9%	6	7	13	693	16	51	8	ap2001
2001	9,020	33,550	26.9%	5	6	11	820	14	36	8	ap2002
2002	9,470	36,500	25.9%	5	6	11	860	15	51	8	ap2003
2003	9,351	33,705	27.7%	6	6	12	779	13	42	8	ap2004
2004	13,740	30,900	44.5%	6	5	11	1,249	12	39	8	ap2005
2006	13,402	35,001	38.3%	6	7	13	1,030	14	33	9	ap2007
2012	14,050	41,000	34.3%	7	3	10	1,405	9	18	9	ap2013
2015	14,800	43,100	34.3%	10		10	1,480	6	14	9	ap2016
2018	15,420	44,950	34.3%	11	2	13	1,186	4	8	9	ap2019
2020	15,900	46,350	34.3%	15	1	16	993	3	12	9	ap2021
2022	15,123	44,150	34.3%	9	3	12	1,260	5	7	8	ap2023

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Ernesto Coppo, S.D.B. † (Vicar Apostolic: 1 Dec 1922 to 1928)
John Creagh, C.Ss.R. † (Vicar Apostolic: 1914 to 1922)
Peter William Ingham † (Apostolic Visitor (Visitator): 10 Mar 2020 to 31 Dec 2020)
John Jobst, S.A.C. † (Vicar Apostolic: 13 Jan 1959; Bishop: 7 Jun 1966 to 3 Nov 1995)
William Bernard Kelly † (Vicar Apostolic: 1894 to 1909)
Otto Raible, S.A.C. † (Apostolic Administrator: 18 Jan 1928; Vicar Apostolic: 18 Jun 1935 to 12 Mar 1958)
Fulgentius Antonio Torres, O.S.B. † (Apostolic Administrator: 5 May 1910 to 5 Oct 1914)

Source(s)

Vicariate Apostolic of Kimberleys
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 56, Page 1,035, and Page 1,036
Diocese of Broome
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 58, Page 868, and Page 869

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Diocese of Broome

Dioecesis Broomensis