SAGINAW, DIOCESE of. - Diocese and city in the State of Michigan, U.S.A.
The diocese covers an area of 10,162 sq. miles, with a total population of 443,900 inhabitants, of whom 114,225 are Catholics. There are 128 diocesan priests and 13 religious (the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, Franciscans, and Premonstratensians), as well as 71 seminarians. The nuns number 408 and belong to 9 different congregations. Sacred functions are held in 94 parishes, 51 chapels, and 23 missions. Charitable institutions include 1 orphanage and 2 hospitals.
The diocese of S. is recent, having been erected by the apostolic constitution Ad animarum bonum of Pius XI on 26 Feb. 1938. Pius XI detached portions of the archdiocese of Detroit (Michigan) and of the diocese of Grand Rapids in order to create the new diocese. S. consists of the counties of Huron, Tuscola, and Sanilac, taken from the archdiocese of Detroit, and the counties of S., Gratiot, Midland, Bay, Gladwin, Arenac, Ogemaw, Iosco, Oscoda, Alcona, Montmorency, Alpena, Presque, and Isle, formerly in the diocese of Grand Rapids.