Wagga Wagga (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Mark Stuart Edwards, O.M.I., Bishop
Gerard Joseph Hanna, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 28 July 1917
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Sydney
Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Australia
Square Kilometers: 62,160 (24,009 Square Miles)
Description: Wiradjuri country in the Riverina and Yorta Yorta country in the southwestern district of New South Wales
Official Web Site: https://wagga.catholic.org.au
Mailing Address: Bishop's Office, P.O. Box 473, 205 Tarcutta St., Wagga Wagga, N.S.W. 2650, Australia
Telephone: (02)6937.0003
Fax: 6921.5157

Past and Present Ordinaries

Joseph Wilfred Dwyer † (14 Mar 1918 Appointed - 11 Oct 1939 Died)
Francis Augustin Henschke † (16 Nov 1939 Appointed - 24 Feb 1968 Died)
Francis Patrick Carroll † (24 Feb 1968 Succeeded - 25 Jun 1983 Appointed, Archbishop of Canberra (and Goulburn))
William John Brennan † (16 Jan 1984 Appointed - 5 Feb 2002 Resigned)
Gerard Joseph Hanna (5 Feb 2002 Appointed - 12 Sep 2016 Resigned)
Mark Stuart Edwards, O.M.I. (26 May 2020 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
28 July 1917	Erected	Diocese of Goulburn (Wagga-Wagga, Lume, Goolamon, Ganmain, Narrandera, Leeton, Jerilderie, Berrigan, Lockhart, Tirana, Henty, Balldale, Gorowa, Albury, and Germanton)	Diocese of Wagga Wagga (erected)

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

1950 24,000 108,000 22.2% 41 41 585 18 213 21 ap1951

1966 41,000 150,000 27.3% 59 4 63 650 29 253 29 ap1967

1968 42,147 151,000 27.9% 54 3 57 739 32 249 30 ap1971

1980 56,650 171,920 33.0% 48 3 51 1,110 31 207 30 ap1981

1990 61,000 202,000 30.2% 44 44 1,386 18 180 30 ap1991

1999 62,000 206,000 30.1% 48 7 55 1,127 14 123 31 ap2000

2000 62,000 206,000 30.1% 44 11 55 1,127 24 107 31 ap2001

2001 62,000 206,000 30.1% 44 11 55 1,127 27 107 31 ap2002

2002 62,000 206,000 30.1% 46 11 57 1,087 27 115 31 ap2003

2003 62,000 206,000 30.1% 44 8 52 1,192 18 115 31 ap2004

2004 62,000 206,000 30.1% 51 6 57 1,087 17 110 31 ap2005

2010 64,800 218,000 29.7% 59 13 72 900 19 99 31 ap2011

2014 66,228 202,000 32.8% 44 5 49 1,351 1 12 87 31 ap2015

2017 65,440 199,400 32.8% 45 5 50 1,308 1 12 79 32 ap2018

2020 60,674 205,332 29.5% 47 5 52 1,166 1 19 73 32 ap2021

2022 62,960 209,000 30.1% 43 5 48 1,311 1 15 64 32 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1950	24,000	108,000	22.2%	41		41	585		18	213	21	ap1951
1966	41,000	150,000	27.3%	59	4	63	650		29	253	29	ap1967
1968	42,147	151,000	27.9%	54	3	57	739		32	249	30	ap1971
1980	56,650	171,920	33.0%	48	3	51	1,110		31	207	30	ap1981
1990	61,000	202,000	30.2%	44		44	1,386		18	180	30	ap1991
1999	62,000	206,000	30.1%	48	7	55	1,127		14	123	31	ap2000
2000	62,000	206,000	30.1%	44	11	55	1,127		24	107	31	ap2001
2001	62,000	206,000	30.1%	44	11	55	1,127		27	107	31	ap2002
2002	62,000	206,000	30.1%	46	11	57	1,087		27	115	31	ap2003
2003	62,000	206,000	30.1%	44	8	52	1,192		18	115	31	ap2004
2004	62,000	206,000	30.1%	51	6	57	1,087		17	110	31	ap2005
2010	64,800	218,000	29.7%	59	13	72	900		19	99	31	ap2011
2014	66,228	202,000	32.8%	44	5	49	1,351	1	12	87	31	ap2015
2017	65,440	199,400	32.8%	45	5	50	1,308	1	12	79	32	ap2018
2020	60,674	205,332	29.5%	47	5	52	1,166	1	19	73	32	ap2021
2022	62,960	209,000	30.1%	43	5	48	1,311	1	15	64	32	ap2023