History
The Diocese of Saint-Hyacinthe was erected 8 June 1852 from territory split off from the then Diocese of Montréal and the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Québec. John Charles Prince was the first Bishop of St. Hyacinthe. At first, the old seminary building was used as a cathedral and residence; unfortunately, it burned in May, 1854. The bishop built a new residence as well as a chapel-cathedral. Bishop Prince showed untiring activity, founding twenty new parishes, establishing several missions, and in 1853 introducing from France the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary. The Sisters of Charity of the Hôpital Général of Montreal arrived in Saint-Hyacinthe in 1840 and soon established the Hotel-Dieu to provide health care for the community. In 1896, they became a separate pontifical congregation, the "Sisters of Charity of Saint-Hyacinthe". [1] Bishop Prince died on 5 May, 1860, at the age of fifty-six. [2]
Joseph La Rocque, had administered the diocese during the prolonged illness of Bishop Prince, and succeeded as the second bishop in 1860. During his tenure, the contemplative institute Sisters Adorers of the Precious Blood was founded in Saint-Hyacinthe by Catherine Aurelia Caouette. [3] Eventually, feeling overwhelmed by the responsibilities, La Rocque resigned in 1865. He was followed by his cousin, Charles La Rocque, a man with rare financial ability. He closed the episcopal palace and relocated with his staff to the Église Saint-Matthieu-de-Belœil, where he combined the duties of bishop and pastor. La Rocque effectively reduced the cathedral debt and placed the diocese on a satisfactory money basis. [2] In 1873, the Dominicans make their first foundation in Canada at Saint-Hyacinthe, where they establish a novitiate. The subject of a foundation was first broached by Bishop Prince, but the French superiors felt at that time that their own establishment was still too new. [4] In 1874 Saint-Hyacinthe lost territory to the newly erected Diocese of Sherbrooke as did the Archdiocese of Québec and the Diocese of Trois Rivières.
Louis-Zéphirin Moreau became bishop in 1875. He founded the Sisters of St. Joseph of St. Hyacinthe. The Marist Brothers came from France and established their novitiate in the diocese. Maxime Decelles was appointed coadjutor to Moreau in 1893. The elderly Moreau left external administration and tiring visits to Decelles, who became bishop upon Moreau's death in 1901.Moreau was beatified in 1987. [5]
Alexis-Xyste Bernard served as vicar-general for both bishops Moreau and Decelles; he succeeded Decelles in 1905.
Statistics
As per 2017, it pastorally served 336,445 Catholics on 3,448 km2 in 83 parishes with 185 priests (93 diocesan, 92 religious), 30 deacons, 605 lay religious (122 brothers, 483 sisters) and 43 lay pastoral workers. [6]
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