BATHURST, DIOCESE of. — In the province of New Brunswick, Canada, suffragan to Moncton. Established on 8 May 1860 at Chatham as a suffragan diocese of Halifax, this diocese lost the county of Kent on 22 February 1936, which was removed from it to constitute the new metropolitan see of Moncton. On 13 March 1938, a decree of the S. Congregation of the Council changed the residence from Chatham to B.
The present diocese comprises northern New Brunswick, that is, the counties of Gloucester, Madawaska, Northumberland, Ristigouche, and Victoria. It has, over an area of 7,350 sq. km., 121,473 inhabitants, of whom 82,776 are Catholics; 85 parishes, with 103 diocesan priests and 18 religious priests (1948).
BATHURST, DIOCESE of. — Established by separation from Sydney (Australia) and declared its suffragan by a papal bull of 20 June 1865; the boundaries were adjusted by another bull of 10 May 1887.
The area of the territory, situated in the State of New South Wales, is 64,360 sq. km.
According to the Australasian catholic directory of 1948, pp. 170-77, there are 32,260 Catholics, while the remainder (approximately 132,000) are Protestant. There are 21 parishes, 124 churches, 57 diocesan priests, 12 religious priests, 18 brothers, and 336 sisters. The numerous Catholic schools are attended by 6,187 pupils, and the future development of the diocese depends largely upon them.