HAMILTON, DIOCESE OF
City and diocese in Canada (North America). This locality was erected as a diocese on 17 February 1856, by separation from the archdiocese of Toronto, of which it is a suffragan, and comprises the counties of Brant, Bruce, Grey, Haldimand, Malton, Wellington, Wentworth and part of Dufferin County, all in the province of Ontario.
The first bishop was J. Farrell (1820–73). In the diocese there are 68 churches with resident priests, 35 missions with a church, 1 seminary, 3 orphanages, 3 hospitals, 3 colleges and 81 Catholic schools. The care of souls is entrusted to 102 diocesan priests and 56 religious (Basilians of Toronto, Jesuits, Resurrectionists). The Congregation of the Resurrectionists directs the College of St. Jerome in Kitchener. The total population numbers 505,951 inhabitants, while Catholics are 64,847. The territory of the diocese covers 9,000 km².