GALVESTON,
diocese of. - A city in the State of Texas, in the United States, founded in 1847 by Pope Pio IX. It comprises that part of Texas between the Sabine River to the east and the Colorado River to the west; to the south it borders on the Gulf of Mexico, while to the north it is bounded by the counties of Lampasas, Corvell, McLennan, Limestone, Freestone, Anderson, Cherokee, Nacogdoches, and Shelby.
It has an area of 69,534 sq. km., with 1,067,131 inhabitants, of whom 254,475 are Catholics, served by 123 parishes, 32 chapels, 80 missions, 32 chapels, with 116 diocesan and 88 regular priests, and one seminary (St. Mary's Seminary).
In the diocese there are 13 male and 19 female religious communities, 5 Colleges (Hirwin High School for Boys, St. Thomas High School, Catholic University of Houston), 6 diocesan parish High Schools, and 71 parish elementary schools. In 1946 there were 783 conversions. As early as 1889, the first mission to evangelize the Indians had been established in Texas. But the colonization of the region took place only after 1836, when immigration began, partly composed of Catholics. In 1841 Fr. Odin of the Lazarists was appointed coadjutor to the bishop of Detroit; on 6 March 1842 the same Fr. Odin was appointed apostolic vicar of Texas, and was subsequently elevated to bishop of G. in 1847.
The Cathedral is dedicated to the B. Vergine Maria; the diocese is suffragan to S. Antonio.