People's Booklet - Installation of Most Rev. Patrick O'Regan - Book - Page 30
History of the Archdiocese
MID NORTHERN
DEANERY
The Adelaide Archdiocese dates back to 1842,
just six years after the first fleet arrived at
Glenelg.
NORTHERN
DEANERY
WESTERN
NORTH EASTERN
DEANERY
DEANERY
Catholicism was planted in South Australia by a
small company of Catholics who had emigrated
from Ireland and England. Initially, as they had
neither priest nor church, they met for worship
in private houses.
Their first priest William Benson arrived in
Adelaide in 1841. In 1842 Rome subdivided
the vast diocese of Sydney, creating a diocese of
Adelaide which embraced the new province of
South Australia.
EASTERN
DEANERY
SOUTHERN
DEANERY
Francis Murphy was appointed as first
Bishop. The first Catholic churches were built
in Adelaide (1845) and at Morphett Vale
(1846). The first portion of St Francis Xavier’s
Cathedral in Adelaide was opened in 1858.
Deaneries of the
Archdiocese
SOUTH EASTERN
DEANERY
Today it is home to more than 280,000
Catholics – about 20 per cent of the population
– and covers 105,000 sq km taking in the city
of Adelaide and outer metropolitan areas, Yorke
Peninsula, Riverland, Barossa Valley, Adelaide
Hills, Fleurieu Peninsula, Kangaroo Island,
Coorong, South East and Limestone Coast.
There are 66 parishes and communities with
239 Mass centres and 88 Catholic schools with
approximately 41,350 students.
Image: St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral 1937
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