Roman Catholic Diocese of Kingstown
Encyclopedia
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Kingstown is a diocese
of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church
in the Caribbean
. The diocese comprises the entirety of the nation of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
. The diocese is a suffragan diocese
of the Archdiocese of Port of Spain
, and a member of the Antilles Episcopal Conference
.
The Diocese of Kingstown was erected on 23 October 1989 by Pope John Paul II
. It was formed by splitting the Diocese of Bridgetown-Kingstown into the dioceses of Kingstown
and Bridgetown
.
The cathedral
of the diocese is the Cathedral of the Assumption in Kingstown. The diocese includes about 10,000 faithful, served by six parishes, five pre-schools, three primary schools, and two secondary school
s.
The founding bishop was Robert Rivas
, who served since the inception of the diocese to 2007 when he was appointed Archbishop
of the Archdiocese of Castries
. As of 19 July 2007 the See of Kingstown had been vacant until a new bishop, Charles Jason Gordon, was named by the Vatican on the 8 July 2011 at 6 a.m. St. Vincent & the Grenadines time. Archbishop
Rivas had been appointed Apostolic Administrator
until the appointment of a new bishop. He has appointed as his apostolic delegate Fr. Pio Atonio M.F., who oversaw the everyday running of the diocese. On July 8, 2011 Pope Benedict XVI
appointed Charles Jason Gordon
as Bishop of Kingstown (and at the same time as Bishop of Bridgetown
, Barbados
). In addition it was decreed that Kingstown switched its Metropolitan
from the Archdiocese of Castries, Saint Lucia
to the Archdiocese of Port of Spain
, Trinidad and Tobago
.
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
in the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
. The diocese comprises the entirety of the nation of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is an island country in the Lesser Antilles chain, namely in the southern portion of the Windward Islands, which lie at the southern end of the eastern border of the Caribbean Sea where the latter meets the Atlantic Ocean....
. The diocese is a suffragan diocese
Suffragan Diocese
A suffragan diocese is a diocese in the Catholic Church that is overseen not only by its own diocesan bishop but also by a metropolitan bishop. The metropolitan is always an archbishop who governs his own archdiocese...
of the Archdiocese of Port of Spain
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Port of Spain
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Port of Spain is a metropolitan diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in the Caribbean. The Archdiocese encompasses the entirety of the former Spanish dependency of Trinidad, including the islands of Trinidad and Tobago...
, and a member of the Antilles Episcopal Conference
Antilles Episcopal Conference
The Antilles Episcopal Conference is a Roman Catholic episcopal conference. Its members are bishops and archbishops from current and former British, Dutch, and French colonies and dependencies in the Caribbean , Central America, and northern South America. The conference's membership includes five...
.
The Diocese of Kingstown was erected on 23 October 1989 by Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
. It was formed by splitting the Diocese of Bridgetown-Kingstown into the dioceses of Kingstown
Kingstown
Kingstown is the chief port of Saint Vincent, and the capital of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. With a population of 25,418 Kingstown is a centre for the island's agricultural industry and a port of entry for tourists...
and Bridgetown
Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgetown
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgetown is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in the Caribbean. The diocese encompasses the entirety of the former British dependency of Barbados...
.
The cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
of the diocese is the Cathedral of the Assumption in Kingstown. The diocese includes about 10,000 faithful, served by six parishes, five pre-schools, three primary schools, and two secondary school
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
s.
The founding bishop was Robert Rivas
Robert Rivas
Archbishop Robert Rivas O.P. is the Roman Catholic archbishop of the Archdiocese of Castries in St. Lucia.Rivas was born in the village of La Pastora, Arouca, Trinidad, on June 7, 1946. He is the son of the late Sabina and Placido Rivas, and has one sister and five brothers...
, who served since the inception of the diocese to 2007 when he was appointed Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
of the Archdiocese of Castries
Archdiocese of Castries
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Castries is an archdiocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in the Caribbean. The archdiocese consists of the entirety the former British dependency of Saint Lucia. The archdiocese is the metropolitan of 4 dioceses: Diocese of Roseau, the Diocese of...
. As of 19 July 2007 the See of Kingstown had been vacant until a new bishop, Charles Jason Gordon, was named by the Vatican on the 8 July 2011 at 6 a.m. St. Vincent & the Grenadines time. Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
Rivas had been appointed Apostolic Administrator
Apostolic Administrator
An apostolic administrator in the Roman Catholic Church is a prelate appointed by the Pope to serve as the ordinary for an apostolic administration...
until the appointment of a new bishop. He has appointed as his apostolic delegate Fr. Pio Atonio M.F., who oversaw the everyday running of the diocese. On July 8, 2011 Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
appointed Charles Jason Gordon
Charles Jason Gordon
Msgr Jason Gordon was ordained bishop of Bridgetown and Kingstown on the 21st of September 2011. Jason Gordon was ordained a priest in 1991....
as Bishop of Kingstown (and at the same time as Bishop of Bridgetown
Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgetown
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgetown is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in the Caribbean. The diocese encompasses the entirety of the former British dependency of Barbados...
, Barbados
Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
). In addition it was decreed that Kingstown switched its Metropolitan
Metropolitan bishop
In Christian churches with episcopal polity, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a metropolis; that is, the chief city of a historical Roman province, ecclesiastical province, or regional capital.Before the establishment of...
from the Archdiocese of Castries, Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia is an island country in the eastern Caribbean Sea on the boundary with the Atlantic Ocean. Part of the Lesser Antilles, it is located north/northeast of the island of Saint Vincent, northwest of Barbados and south of Martinique. It covers a land area of 620 km2 and has an...
to the Archdiocese of Port of Spain
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Port of Spain
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Port of Spain is a metropolitan diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in the Caribbean. The Archdiocese encompasses the entirety of the former Spanish dependency of Trinidad, including the islands of Trinidad and Tobago...
, Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying just off the coast of northeastern Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles...
.
Ordinaries
- Robert RivasRobert RivasArchbishop Robert Rivas O.P. is the Roman Catholic archbishop of the Archdiocese of Castries in St. Lucia.Rivas was born in the village of La Pastora, Arouca, Trinidad, on June 7, 1946. He is the son of the late Sabina and Placido Rivas, and has one sister and five brothers...
, O.P. (23 October 1989 – 19 July 2007, Appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Castries) - Charles Jason GordonCharles Jason GordonMsgr Jason Gordon was ordained bishop of Bridgetown and Kingstown on the 21st of September 2011. Jason Gordon was ordained a priest in 1991....
(8 July 2011 – present)