Castries (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Gabriel Malzaire, Archbishop
Robert Rivas, O.P., Archbishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 18 November 1974
Metropolitan See
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Saint Lucia
Region: Antilles (West Indies)
Square Kilometers: 617 (238 Square Miles)
Description: All of Saint Lucia.
Official Web Site: http://www.archdioceseofcastries.org/
Mailing Address: Chancery Offices, Battery Road, Vigie, P.O. Box 267, Castries, Saint Lucia, W.I.
Telephone: (758)452-2416

Historical Details

Diocese of Castries
- Latin Name: Castriensis
- Erected: 20 February 1956
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Port of Spain
- Country: Saint Lucia
- Region: Antilles (West Indies)

Past and Present Ordinaries

Charles Alphonse H.J. Gachet, F.M.I. † (14 Jan 1957 Appointed - 18 Nov 1974 Resigned)
Patrick Webster, O.S.B. † (18 Nov 1974 Appointed - 10 May 1979 Resigned)
Kelvin Edward Felix † (17 Jul 1981 Appointed - 15 Feb 2008 Retired)
Robert Rivas, O.P. (15 Feb 2008 Succeeded - 11 Feb 2022 Retired)
Gabriel Malzaire (11 Feb 2022 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Diocese of Castries
20 February 1956	Erected	Archdiocese of Port of Spain (Island of St. Lucia)	Diocese of Castries (erected)
Archdiocese of Castries
18 November 1974	Elevated	Diocese of Castries	Archdiocese of Castries

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

Diocese of Castries

1959 84,721 92,089 92.0% 19 19 4,459 6 27 10 ap1960

1966 92,500 99,700 92.8% 1 26 27 3,425 5 31 18 ap1967

1970 97,000 107,570 90.2% 7 31 38 2,552 37 34 21 ap1971

Archdiocese of Castries

1976 96,280 110,000 87.5% 7 25 32 3,008 1 28 33 22 ap1977

1980 100,000 120,000 83.3% 5 22 27 3,703 1 23 27 22 ap1981

1990 120,990 142,324 85.0% 14 22 36 3,360 4 25 40 22 ap1991

1999 115,000 147,179 78.1% 17 14 31 3,709 8 17 44 23 ap2000

2000 115,000 147,179 78.1% 18 11 29 3,965 8 14 41 23 ap2001

2001 116,149 147,179 78.9% 16 13 29 4,005 8 19 42 22 ap2002

2002 100,243 157,775 63.5% 15 12 27 3,712 9 18 42 22 ap2003

2003 100,243 157,775 63.5% 14 13 27 3,712 9 19 47 22 ap2004

2004 100,243 157,775 63.5% 14 14 28 3,580 9 20 47 22 ap2005

2006 100,243 157,775 63.5% 18 13 31 3,233 13 20 35 22 ap2007

2013 102,307 165,313 61.9% 17 10 27 3,789 11 12 45 22 ap2014

2016 105,256 181,273 58.1% 12 11 23 4,576 11 12 40 22 ap2017

2019 126,317 180,454 70.0% 16 12 28 4,511 21 13 38 16 ap2020

2021 127,800 183,627 69.6% 16 13 29 4,406 24 19 36 22 ap2022

2023 124,735 180,321 69.2% 12 13 25 4,989 26 23 34 22 ap2024

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Diocese of Castries
1959	84,721	92,089	92.0%		19	19	4,459		6	27	10	ap1960
1966	92,500	99,700	92.8%	1	26	27	3,425		5	31	18	ap1967
1970	97,000	107,570	90.2%	7	31	38	2,552		37	34	21	ap1971
Archdiocese of Castries
1976	96,280	110,000	87.5%	7	25	32	3,008	1	28	33	22	ap1977
1980	100,000	120,000	83.3%	5	22	27	3,703	1	23	27	22	ap1981
1990	120,990	142,324	85.0%	14	22	36	3,360	4	25	40	22	ap1991
1999	115,000	147,179	78.1%	17	14	31	3,709	8	17	44	23	ap2000
2000	115,000	147,179	78.1%	18	11	29	3,965	8	14	41	23	ap2001
2001	116,149	147,179	78.9%	16	13	29	4,005	8	19	42	22	ap2002
2002	100,243	157,775	63.5%	15	12	27	3,712	9	18	42	22	ap2003
2003	100,243	157,775	63.5%	14	13	27	3,712	9	19	47	22	ap2004
2004	100,243	157,775	63.5%	14	14	28	3,580	9	20	47	22	ap2005
2006	100,243	157,775	63.5%	18	13	31	3,233	13	20	35	22	ap2007
2013	102,307	165,313	61.9%	17	10	27	3,789	11	12	45	22	ap2014
2016	105,256	181,273	58.1%	12	11	23	4,576	11	12	40	22	ap2017
2019	126,317	180,454	70.0%	16	12	28	4,511	21	13	38	16	ap2020
2021	127,800	183,627	69.6%	16	13	29	4,406	24	19	36	22	ap2022
2023	124,735	180,321	69.2%	12	13	25	4,989	26	23	34	22	ap2024

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Gabriel Malzaire (Priest: 28 Jul 1985 to 10 Jul 2002; Archbishop: 11 Feb 2022 - )
Robert Rivas, O.P. (Coadjutor Archbishop: 19 Jul 2007; Archbishop: 15 Feb 2008 to 11 Feb 2022)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Kelvin Edward Felix † (Archbishop: 17 Jul 1981 to 15 Feb 2008)
Charles Alphonse H.J. Gachet, F.M.I. † (Bishop: 14 Jan 1957 to 18 Nov 1974)
Richard Lester Guilly, S.J. † (Apostolic Administrator: 8 Dec 1977 to 5 Oct 1981)
Patrick Webster, O.S.B. † (Archbishop: 18 Nov 1974 to 10 May 1979)

Source(s)

Diocese of Castries
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 48, Page 488, to Page 490
Archdiocese of Castries
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 67, Page 161, and Page 162

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Archdiocese of Castries

Archidioecesis Castriensis