Montego Bay (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Vacant
John Derek Persaud, Apostolic Administrator
Burchell Alexander McPherson, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 14 September 1967
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Kingston in Jamaica
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Jamaica
Region: Antilles (West Indies)
Square Kilometers: 3,878 (1,497 Square Miles)
Description: Trelawny, Saint James, Hanover, Westmoreland, and Saint Anne
Mailing Address: Roman Catholic Chancery, 1 Fort Street, P.O. Box 197, Montego Bay, Saint James, Jamaica, W.I.
Telephone: (876)952-6678
Fax: 952-6679

Past and Present Ordinaries

Edgerton Roland Clarke (14 Sep 1967 Appointed - 11 Nov 1994 Appointed, Archbishop of Kingston in Jamaica)
Charles Henry Dufour (6 Dec 1995 Appointed - 15 Apr 2011 Appointed, Archbishop of Kingston in Jamaica)
Burchell Alexander McPherson (11 Apr 2013 Appointed - 16 Oct 2023 Resigned)

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
14 September 1967	Erected	Diocese of Kingston (Hanover, St. James, Westmoreland, St. Elizabeth, Trelawny, Manchester, and St. Anne)	Diocese of Montego Bay (erected)
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))

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

1968 22,000 700,000 3.1% 1 21 22 1,000 22 48 17 ap1971

1976 21,673 767,369 2.8% 1 24 25 866 25 44 17 ap1977

1980 19,800 654,000 3.0% 1 21 22 900 23 42 ap1981

1990 15,974 875,000 1.8% 1 19 20 798 1 19 28 38 ap1991

1999 9,096 789,256 1.2% 13 5 18 505 2 5 16 31 ap2000

2000 12,380 619,000 2.0% 13 1 14 884 2 1 16 31 ap2001

2001 13,044 621,100 2.1% 8 3 11 1,185 7 5 14 37 ap2002

2002 13,201 732,201 1.8% 13 4 17 776 7 6 16 37 ap2003

2003 15,789 940,160 1.7% 14 5 19 831 6 8 18 37 ap2004

2004 14,926 822,100 1.8% 8 3 11 1,356 6 7 20 15 ap2005

2013 8,200 646,300 1.3% 11 3 14 585 12 5 12 10 ap2014

2016 10,350 650,434 1.6% 12 3 15 690 11 6 17 12 ap2017

2019 10,430 654,000 1.6% 12 3 15 695 9 5 15 13 ap2020

2021 10,440 654,960 1.6% 11 3 14 745 8 5 19 14 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1968	22,000	700,000	3.1%	1	21	22	1,000		22	48	17	ap1971
1976	21,673	767,369	2.8%	1	24	25	866		25	44	17	ap1977
1980	19,800	654,000	3.0%	1	21	22	900		23	42		ap1981
1990	15,974	875,000	1.8%	1	19	20	798	1	19	28	38	ap1991
1999	9,096	789,256	1.2%	13	5	18	505	2	5	16	31	ap2000
2000	12,380	619,000	2.0%	13	1	14	884	2	1	16	31	ap2001
2001	13,044	621,100	2.1%	8	3	11	1,185	7	5	14	37	ap2002
2002	13,201	732,201	1.8%	13	4	17	776	7	6	16	37	ap2003
2003	15,789	940,160	1.7%	14	5	19	831	6	8	18	37	ap2004
2004	14,926	822,100	1.8%	8	3	11	1,356	6	7	20	15	ap2005
2013	8,200	646,300	1.3%	11	3	14	585	12	5	12	10	ap2014
2016	10,350	650,434	1.6%	12	3	15	690	11	6	17	12	ap2017
2019	10,430	654,000	1.6%	12	3	15	695	9	5	15	13	ap2020
2021	10,440	654,960	1.6%	11	3	14	745	8	5	19	14	ap2022