SAINT JOHN'S (SAN GIOVANNI DI TERRANOVA), Archdiocese of.
City and archdiocese in the province of Newfoundland (Canada). The ecclesiastical province of Saint John's, erected by Pius X on 18 February 1904, consists of the archdiocese of Saint John's and the dioceses of Harbour Grace and Saint George on the island of Newfoundland.
The diocese was erected by Pius IX on 4 June 1847 as a suffragan of Québec. On 29 February 1856, Pius IX divided the diocese to form Harbour Grace, and on 16 September 1870 elevated Saint George of Newfoundland to a diocese.
Originally, Saint John's encompassed the entire island of Newfoundland, and when it became an apostolic vicariate in 1796, there were only six priests throughout the territory. Today the total population is 102,000 inhabitants, of whom 60,000 are Catholics served by 55 priests. There are 37 churches, 75 missions, 3 colleges, 2 orphanages, and 1 hospital.