SAINT JOHN IN CANADA (Saint John's), DIOCESE OF
City and diocese in the province of New Brunswick (Canada). Saint John is the oldest incorporated city in North America, dating back to 1785.
The first missionaries in what was then Acadia were the Jesuits Biard and Massé in 1611, who remained there after the destruction of Port Royal in 1613, followed by the Recollects. With the founding of Québec, a new interest in Acadia emerged; Bishop de Saint-Vallier visited in person in 1686. The first church in Saint John was opened on November 19, 1815. In August 1829, Charlottetown, on Prince Edward Island, was elevated to a diocese with jurisdiction over New Brunswick until September 30, 1842, when the province was erected as a diocese. A subsequent division of the Diocese of New Brunswick led to the creation of Saint John in the southern part of the province, and Bishop John Sweeney (consecrated April 15, 1860) was appointed its first bishop.
A suffragan of Moncton, the diocese has a total population of 192,357, of whom 40,000 are Catholic. Fifty-seven diocesan priests and fifteen religious (Redemptorists) minister in the 65 churches, 30 parishes, and 40 missions. Charitable works include a home for the elderly, one hospital, and three orphanages.