SEATTLE, Diocese of. - Diocese and city in the State of Washington (U.S.A.). A suffragan of Portland, Oregon, the diocese of S. was first erected as the diocese of Walla Walla on May 31, 1850. The name was then changed to Nesqually, to be changed again to that of S. on Sept. 11, 1907.
S. covers an area of 36,644 sq. miles, with a total population (1950 census) of 1,880,615 inhabitants, of whom 192,000 are Catholics. There are 348 diocesan priests, of whom 207 are religious of 7 different congregations, 108 parishes, 76 chapels, 58 missions, 14 stations, 17 female congregations (1021 nuns), 1 seminary, 1 scholasticate, the University directed by the Jesuits (S. University),
2 colleges, 4 orphanages, 13 hospitals.
The Hudson's Bay Company (Hudson Bay
Company) carried on trade in the territory and many French-
Canadians were among the workers. Dr. John Mc
Loughlin, chief at Vancouver, asked in 1834-35 for
priests from Msgr. G. Norbert Provencher, bishop of the
Red River, and from Msgr. Signay of Québec. Priests
were scarce and the bishops could not respond affirmatively
to the request. The Company, on the other hand,
refused to transport the missionaries. Finally in 1837,
the Rev. F. N. Blanchet with the Rev. N. Demers set out for
the northwest and arrived at Vancouver on 24 Nov. 1838.
The Rev. Blanchet opened a mission at Cowlitz which was the
mother church of the northwest; he built a church there in 1839.
After 1839 he settled at St. Paul (Oregon) while the
Rev. Demers remained at Cowlitz and a few years later the Oblates
of Mary Immaculate opened missions for the natives.
On 24 July 1846, Pius IX created the diocese of Walla
Walla and appointed the Rev. Magloire Blanchet first bishop,
while the Rev. Demers was appointed bishop of Vancouver
and consecrated on 8 Sept. 1896; the diocese took the name of
S. in Sept. 1907.
(phot. Usia)
SEBASTIANO, saint - Current state of the crypt of St. S. in the cemetery ad catacumbas.
The altar is placed on the remains of the loculus where the Saint's remains were deposited.
Rome.