Diocese of Palmerston North

Dioecesis Palmerstonaquiloniana

Bishop(s)

John Lewis Adams, Bishop
Peter James Cullinane, Bishop Emeritus
Charles Edward Drennan, Bishop Emeritus
Owen John Dolan, Coadjutor Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 6 March 1980
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Wellington
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: New Zealand
Square Kilometers: 36,200 (13,982 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: https://pndiocese.org.nz
Mailing Address: Bishop's Office, P.O. Box 5279, Terrace End, 33 Amesbury St., Palmerston North 4441, New Zealand
Telephone: (06)354-1780
Fax: 357-3624

Past and Present Ordinaries

Peter James Cullinane (6 Mar 1980 Appointed - 22 Feb 2012 Retired)
Charles Edward Drennan (22 Feb 2012 Succeeded - 4 Oct 2019 Resigned)
John Lewis Adams (22 Jun 2023 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
6 March 1980	Erected	Archdiocese of Wellington (Clifton, Stratford, Inglewood, Taranaki, Egmont, Waitame West, Hawera, Eltham, Patea, Waitotara, Waimairino, Wanganui, Rangatikei, Kiwitea, Pohangina, Oroua, Manawatu, Kairanga, Eketahuna, Pohiatua, Woodville, Dannevirke, Waipukurau, Waipawa, ...)	Diocese of Palmerston North (erected)

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

1990 71,106 427,845 16.6% 50 65 115 618 112 163 36 ap1991

1999 62,310 447,837 13.9% 42 32 74 842 57 129 33 ap2000

2000 62,310 447,837 13.9% 43 28 71 877 52 89 33 ap2001

2001 62,310 447,837 13.9% 44 25 69 903 31 83 33 ap2002

2002 62,310 447,837 13.9% 42 21 63 989 35 72 33 ap2003

2003 62,310 447,837 13.9% 44 20 64 973 37 82 33 ap2004

2004 62,844 444,837 14.1% 43 13 56 1,122 36 61 33 ap2005

2013 57,996 487,000 11.9% 34 19 53 1,094 37 71 32 ap2014

2016 60,285 460,619 13.1% 34 19 53 1,137 1 28 62 22 ap2017

2019 64,120 489,600 13.1% 30 27 57 1,124 1 50 51 22 ap2020

2021 67,645 499,220 13.6% 28 22 50 1,352 1 43 52 22 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1990	71,106	427,845	16.6%	50	65	115	618		112	163	36	ap1991
1999	62,310	447,837	13.9%	42	32	74	842		57	129	33	ap2000
2000	62,310	447,837	13.9%	43	28	71	877		52	89	33	ap2001
2001	62,310	447,837	13.9%	44	25	69	903		31	83	33	ap2002
2002	62,310	447,837	13.9%	42	21	63	989		35	72	33	ap2003
2003	62,310	447,837	13.9%	44	20	64	973		37	82	33	ap2004
2004	62,844	444,837	14.1%	43	13	56	1,122		36	61	33	ap2005
2013	57,996	487,000	11.9%	34	19	53	1,094		37	71	32	ap2014
2016	60,285	460,619	13.1%	34	19	53	1,137	1	28	62	22	ap2017
2019	64,120	489,600	13.1%	30	27	57	1,124	1	50	51	22	ap2020
2021	67,645	499,220	13.6%	28	22	50	1,352	1	43	52	22	ap2022