Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint Thomas
Encyclopedia
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint Thomas is a diocese
of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church
in the Caribbean
. The diocese comprises the overseas dependency of the Virgin Islands specifically the islands Saint Thomas, Saint Croix and Saint John. The diocese is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Washington
. Bishops of Saint Thomas are members of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
and also enjoy observer status
with the Antilles Episcopal Conference
.
The Diocese of Saint Thomas was erected as the Territorial Prelature of the Virgin Islands on April 30, 1960. Its name was changed and was elevated to a diocese on April 20, 1977. It is the only suffragan see
of the Archdiocese of Washington
. The diocese is governed from Charlotte Amalie on the island of Saint Thomas by a bishop
whose episcopal seat is the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul
. The current Bishop of Saint Thomas is Herbert A. Bevard, who was appointed on July 7, 2008, and was ordained and installed on September 3.
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 overseas dependency of the Virgin Islands specifically the islands Saint Thomas, Saint Croix and Saint John. The diocese is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Washington
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington is a particular church of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. It comprises the District of Columbia and Calvert, Charles, Montgomery, Prince George's and Saint Mary's counties in the state of Maryland....
. Bishops of Saint Thomas are members of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is the episcopal conference of the Catholic Church in the United States. Founded in 1966 as the joint National Conference of Catholic Bishops and United States Catholic Conference, it is composed of all active and retired members of the Catholic...
and also enjoy observer status
Observer status
Observer status is a privilege granted by some organizations to non-members to give them an ability to participate in the organization's activities. Observer status is often granted by intergovernmental organizations to non-member states and international nongovernmental organizations that have...
with 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 Saint Thomas was erected as the Territorial Prelature of the Virgin Islands on April 30, 1960. Its name was changed and was elevated to a diocese on April 20, 1977. It is the only suffragan see
Suffragan bishop
A suffragan bishop is a bishop subordinate to a metropolitan bishop or diocesan bishop. He or she may be assigned to an area which does not have a cathedral of its own.-Anglican Communion:...
of the Archdiocese of Washington
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington is a particular church of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. It comprises the District of Columbia and Calvert, Charles, Montgomery, Prince George's and Saint Mary's counties in the state of Maryland....
. The diocese is governed from Charlotte Amalie on the island of Saint Thomas by a bishop
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
whose episcopal seat is the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul
Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Saint Thomas
The Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Saint Thomas is a cathedral of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States Virgin Islands. It is the mother church and seat of the prelate bishop of the Diocese of Saint Thomas...
. The current Bishop of Saint Thomas is Herbert A. Bevard, who was appointed on July 7, 2008, and was ordained and installed on September 3.
Ordinaries
- Edward John HarperEdward John HarperEdward John Harper, C.SS.R. was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He was the first Bishop of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands .Harper was born in the Bay Ridge section of Brooklyn, New York...
O.P. (1960 – 1985) - Sean O'Malley O.F.M. (1985 – 1992)
- Elliott ThomasElliott ThomasBishop Elliott G. Thomas is a bishop in the Roman Catholic Church.He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on July 25, 1926. Thomas's family had lived in Tortola, British Virgin Islands, returning there in 1934. Elliott Thomas was enrolled in the Methodist Day School in Road Town and as a teenager...
(1993 – 1999) - George MurryGeorge MurryBishop George Vance Murry was born in Camden, New Jersey in 1948. In 1972, he became a member of the Jesuit religious order. On Wednesday, March 28, 2007, Bishop Murry was installed as the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Youngstown...
, S.J. (1999 – 2007) - Herbert BevardHerbert BevardHerbert Armstrong Bevard is a Roman Catholic bishop from the United States. He is currently serving as the Bishop of Saint Thomas in the United States Virgin Islands....
(2008 – present)
High schools
- St. Joseph High SchoolSt. Joseph High School (Virgin Islands)St. Joseph High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Frederiksted, St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands. The head of school is Mrs. Skalkos. It is located within the Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Thomas and is the only Catholic high school on St. Croix....
, Frederiksted, St. Croix - Sts. Peter & Paul SchoolSts. Peter & Paul School (Virgin Islands)Sts. Peter & Paul School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands. It is located within the Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Thomas and is the only Catholic high school on St. Thomas.-Background:...
, St. Thomas
Ecclesiastical province
- See: List of the Catholic bishops of the United States#Province of Washington, D.C.