Roman Catholic Diocese of Argyll and the Isles


The Roman Catholic Diocese of Argyll and the Isles is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland, in the Province of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh.

Overview

The diocese covers an area of 31,080 km² and has a Catholic population of 10,546 out of a total population of 74,546. The see is in the town of Oban where the seat is located at St. Columba's Cathedral.

History

The diocese was erected on 5 March 1878 following the restoration of the Scottish Catholic hierarchy. On 28 December 2015 Pope Francis appointed Father Brian McGee to succeed the Right Reverend Joseph Toal as eleventh Bishop of Argyll and the Isles.

Timeline

After its establishment in 1878, the seat of the diocese was in various buildings each overlapping the same site:
The diocese is organised into three deaneries each with several parishes:
Dean: Fr Michael Hutson
Dean: Fr Roddy McAuley
Dean: Fr Michael MacDonald
There are Catholic primary schools in Rothesay, Oban, Dunoon and Fort William.

Bishops

Past and present ordinaries

The following is a list of the Bishops of Argyll and the Isles: