Kingston in Jamaica (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Kenneth David Oswin Richards, Archbishop
Edgerton Roland Clarke, Archbishop Emeritus
Charles Henry Dufour, Archbishop Emeritus
Donald James Reece, Archbishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 14 September 1967
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Jamaica
Region: Antilles (West Indies)
Square Kilometers: 1,262 (487 Square Miles)
Description: Saint Catherine, Saint Mary, Saint Andrew, Portland, and Saint Thomas
Official Web Site: https://www.kingstonarchdiocese.org/
Mailing Address: Archbishop's Residence, 21 Hopefield Avenue, Kingston 6, Jamaica, W.I.
Telephone: (876)927-9915; 978-6567
Fax: 927-4487

Historical Details

Vicariate Apostolic of Giamaica o Jamaica
- Latin Name: Jamaicae
- Erected: 10 January 1837
- Vicariate
- Country: Jamaica
- Region: Antilles (West Indies)
Diocese of Kingston
- Latin Name: Kingstoniensis
- Elevated: 29 February 1956
- Immediately Subject to the Holy See
- Country: Jamaica
- Region: Antilles (West Indies)
- Description: All of Jamaica

Past and Present Ordinaries

Benito Fernández, O.F.M. † (10 Jan 1837 Appointed - 27 Sep 1855 Died)
James Eustace Dupeyron, S.J. † (27 Sep 1855 Succeeded - 28 Jul 1872 Died)
Joseph Sidney Woollett, S.J. † ( 1871 Appointed - 1877 Resigned)
Thomas Porter, S.J. † (6 Sep 1877 Appointed - 29 Sep 1888 Died)
Charles Menzies Gordon, S.J. † (28 May 1889 Appointed - 11 Jan 1906 Resigned)
John Joseph Collins, S.J. † (12 Jun 1907 Appointed - 15 Jun 1918 Resigned)
William Francis O’Hare, S.J. † (2 Sep 1919 Appointed - 11 Oct 1926 Died)
Joseph Nicholas Dinand, S.J. † (12 Jul 1927 Appointed - 4 Oct 1929 Resigned)
Thomas Addis Emmet, S.J. † (3 Jul 1930 Appointed - 8 Apr 1949 Retired)
John Joseph McEleney, S.J. † (3 Feb 1950 Appointed - 1 Sep 1970 Retired)
Samuel Emmanuel Carter, S.J. † (1 Sep 1970 Appointed - 11 Nov 1994 Retired)
Edgerton Roland Clarke (11 Nov 1994 Appointed - 17 Feb 2004 Retired)
Lawrence Aloysius Burke, S.J. † (17 Feb 2004 Appointed - 12 Apr 2008 Retired)
Donald James Reece (12 Apr 2008 Succeeded - 15 Apr 2011 Retired)
Charles Henry Dufour (15 Apr 2011 Appointed - 29 Apr 2016 Retired)
Kenneth David Oswin Richards (29 Apr 2016 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Vicariate Apostolic of Giamaica o Jamaica
10 January 1837	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Trinidad	Vicariate Apostolic of Giamaica o Jamaica (erected)
10 June 1888	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Giamaica o Jamaica (Belize (British Honduras))	Prefecture Apostolic of British Honduras (erected)
Diocese of Kingston
29 February 1956	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Giamaica o Jamaica	Diocese of Kingston
14 September 1967	Territory Lost	Diocese of Kingston (Hanover, St. James, Westmoreland, St. Elizabeth, Trelawny, Manchester, and St. Anne)	Diocese of Montego Bay (erected)
Archdiocese of Kingston in Jamaica
14 September 1967	Elevated	Diocese of Kingston	Archdiocese of Kingston in Jamaica
8 September 1970	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Kingston in Jamaica (Turks and Caicos Islands)	Diocese of Nassau
15 April 1991	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Kingston in Jamaica Diocese of Montego Bay	Vicariate Apostolic of Mandeville (erected) (Manchester, Clarendon, and Saint Elizabeth (all in Middlesex))
14 July 2000	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Kingston in Jamaica	Mission "Sui Iuris" of Cayman Islands (erected)

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 Giamaica o Jamaica

1948 79,898 1,340,000 6.0% 2 61 63 1,268 31 176 ap1951

Diocese of Kingston

1966 139,508 1,827,000 7.6% 17 99 116 1,202 66 262 12 ap1967

Archdiocese of Kingston in Jamaica

1970 139,084 1,176,927 11.8% 15 75 90 1,545 92 208 27 ap1971

1976 152,420 1,209,819 12.6% 20 86 106 1,437 2 99 184 18 ap1977

1978 167,714 1,153,047 14.5% 22 64 86 1,950 2 73 148 29 ap1981

1990 93,398 1,379,847 6.8% 26 50 76 1,228 13 64 170 34 ap1991

1999 96,645 1,360,042 7.1% 24 34 58 1,666 17 88 129 33 ap2000

2000 96,645 1,360,042 7.1% 23 29 52 1,858 18 40 127 33 ap2001

2001 95,000 1,407,000 6.8% 23 29 52 1,826 16 70 123 32 ap2002

2002 92,000 1,407,000 6.5% 22 29 51 1,803 21 94 115 33 ap2003

2003 54,000 1,407,000 3.8% 25 28 53 1,018 20 142 118 32 ap2004

2004 56,000 1,400,000 4.0% 22 25 47 1,191 20 134 116 32 ap2005

2006 56,200 1,405,000 4.0% 30 27 57 985 19 174 113 32 ap2007

2013 58,400 1,460,000 4.0% 38 20 58 1,006 29 167 97 31 ap2014

2016 58,730 1,469,240 4.0% 25 26 51 1,151 35 193 90 31 ap2017

2019 58,400 1,472,000 4.0% 28 23 51 1,145 42 247 84 30 ap2020

2021 58,485 1,474,160 4.0% 28 30 58 1,008 40 76 93 32 ap2022

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 Giamaica o Jamaica
1948	79,898	1,340,000	6.0%	2	61	63	1,268		31	176		ap1951
Diocese of Kingston
1966	139,508	1,827,000	7.6%	17	99	116	1,202		66	262	12	ap1967
Archdiocese of Kingston in Jamaica
1970	139,084	1,176,927	11.8%	15	75	90	1,545		92	208	27	ap1971
1976	152,420	1,209,819	12.6%	20	86	106	1,437	2	99	184	18	ap1977
1978	167,714	1,153,047	14.5%	22	64	86	1,950	2	73	148	29	ap1981
1990	93,398	1,379,847	6.8%	26	50	76	1,228	13	64	170	34	ap1991
1999	96,645	1,360,042	7.1%	24	34	58	1,666	17	88	129	33	ap2000
2000	96,645	1,360,042	7.1%	23	29	52	1,858	18	40	127	33	ap2001
2001	95,000	1,407,000	6.8%	23	29	52	1,826	16	70	123	32	ap2002
2002	92,000	1,407,000	6.5%	22	29	51	1,803	21	94	115	33	ap2003
2003	54,000	1,407,000	3.8%	25	28	53	1,018	20	142	118	32	ap2004
2004	56,000	1,400,000	4.0%	22	25	47	1,191	20	134	116	32	ap2005
2006	56,200	1,405,000	4.0%	30	27	57	985	19	174	113	32	ap2007
2013	58,400	1,460,000	4.0%	38	20	58	1,006	29	167	97	31	ap2014
2016	58,730	1,469,240	4.0%	25	26	51	1,151	35	193	90	31	ap2017
2019	58,400	1,472,000	4.0%	28	23	51	1,145	42	247	84	30	ap2020
2021	58,485	1,474,160	4.0%	28	30	58	1,008	40	76	93	32	ap2022

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Lawrence Aloysius Burke, S.J. † (Archbishop: 17 Feb 2004 to 12 Apr 2008)
Samuel Emmanuel Carter, S.J. † (Auxiliary Bishop: 1 Feb 1966; Archbishop: 1 Sep 1970 to 11 Nov 1994)
John Joseph Collins, S.J. † (Apostolic Administrator: 9 Mar 1906; Vicar Apostolic: 12 Jun 1907 to 15 Jun 1918)
Anthony Hampden Dickson † (Priest: 11 Feb 1962 to 19 Oct 1970)
Joseph Nicholas Dinand, S.J. † (Vicar Apostolic: 12 Jul 1927 to 4 Oct 1929)
James Eustace Dupeyron, S.J. † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 11 Sep 1851; Vicar Apostolic: 27 Sep 1855 to 28 Jul 1872)
Thomas Addis Emmet, S.J. † (Vicar Apostolic: 3 Jul 1930 to 8 Apr 1949)
Benito Fernández, O.F.M. † (Vicar Apostolic: 10 Jan 1837 to 27 Sep 1855)
Charles Menzies Gordon, S.J. † (Vicar Apostolic: 28 May 1889 to 11 Jan 1906)
John Farmer Healy †
John Joseph McEleney, S.J. † (Vicar Apostolic: 3 Feb 1950; Bishop: 29 Feb 1956; Archbishop: 14 Sep 1967 to 1 Sep 1970)
William Francis O’Hare, S.J. † (Vicar Apostolic: 2 Sep 1919 to 11 Oct 1926)
Thomas Porter, S.J. † (Vicar Apostolic: 6 Sep 1877 to 29 Sep 1888)
Joseph Sidney Woollett, S.J. † (Vicar Apostolic: 1871 to 1877)

Source(s)

Vicariate Apostolic of Giamaica o Jamaica
- Series Episcoporum Ecclesiae Catholicae, Volume 1, Page 169
Diocese of Kingston
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 48, Page 439, to Page 441
Archdiocese of Kingston in Jamaica
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 60, Page 177, and Page 178

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Archdiocese of Kingston in Jamaica

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