Roman Catholic Diocese of Helena


The Diocese of Helena is the Catholic diocese for western Montana with its cathedral located in Helena, the state capital. The diocese was erected from the year-old Vicarate of Montana on March 7, 1884, while Montana was still a territory. The diocese is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Portland, which province encompasses Oregon, Idaho, and Montana.

History

Before becoming a diocese, this was the Vicariate of Montana. For its first twenty years, the diocese served all of Montana. In 1904 the new Diocese of Great Falls was formed to serve eastern Montana.
The seat of the diocese is in the Cathedral of St. Helena in the state capital of Helena. It was completed in 1914.

Sexual abuse settlement and bankruptcy

On January 31, 2014, the Diocese of Helena filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as part of a $15 million settlement intended to go to 362 victims of sex abuse by clergy in the Diocese. The settlement, which was approved in 2015, covers Catholic churches in all or part of counties in western Montana.

Bishops

The bishops of the Diocese of Helena and their years of service:

Vicar Apostolic of Montana

  1. Jean-Baptiste Brondel

    Bishops of Helena

  2. Jean-Baptiste Brondel
  3. John Patrick Carroll
  4. George Joseph Finnigan
  5. Ralph Leo Hayes, appointed Rector of the Pontifical North American College and Titular Bishop and later Bishop of Davenport
  6. Joseph Michael Gilmore
  7. Raymond Gerhardt Hunthausen, appointed Archbishop of Seattle
  8. Elden Francis Curtiss, appointed Archbishop of Omaha
  9. Alexander Joseph Brunett, appointed Archbishop of Seattle
  10. Robert C. Morlino, appointed Bishop of Madison
  11. George Leo Thomas, appointed Bishop of Las Vegas
  12. Austin Anthony Vetter

    High schools