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Archdiocese of Perth

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Metropolitan Archdiocese of Perth
Archidioecesis Metropolitae Perthensis
Catholic
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Perth
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Perth
Location
Country Australia
Territory Greater Perth, Goldfields-Esperance, Peel, Wheatbelt regions of Western Australia, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Ecclesiastical province Perth
Statistics
Area 471,118 km2 (181,900 sq mi)[1]
Population
Total
Catholics 		(as of 2023)
2,114,911[1]
527,450[1] ( 23%)
Parishes 109[1]
Information
Denomination Catholic Church
Sui iuris church Latin Church
Rite Roman Rite
Established 6 May 1845 (diocese)
28 August 1913 (archdiocese)
Cathedral Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (St Mary's), Perth
Secular priests 163 (2023), plus 72 religious priests[1]
Current leadership
Pope Leo XIV
Metropolitan Archbishop Timothy Costelloe
Auxiliary Bishops Donald Sproxton
Nelson Po
Bishops emeritus Barry Hickey
Map
Website
www.perthcatholic.org.au

Archdiocese of Perth — The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Perth is a Latin Church metropolitan archdiocese of the Catholic Church in Australia covering the Greater Perth, Goldfields-Esperance, Peel and Wheatbelt regions of Western Australia.

St Mary's Cathedral located in Perth, Western Australia, is the seat of the Catholic Metropolitan Archbishop of Perth, currently Timothy Costelloe, appointed in February 2012.[2]

History

On 6 May 1845 the Diocese of Perth was erected in an area covered and administered previously by the Archdiocese of Sydney.

It lost territory repeatedly, to establish on 12 March 1867 the Benedictine Territorial Abbacy of New Norcia, on 10 May 1887 the Apostolic Vicariate of Kimberley in Western Australia and on 30 January 1898 the Diocese of Geraldton.

It was elevated as Metropolitan archdiocese on 29 August 1913.

On 12 November 1954 it lost territory to establish the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bunbury.

In 1982 it regained former territory from the suppressed Territorial Abbacy of New Norcia.

Cathedral

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, commonly called St Mary's Cathedral, is the seat of the archbishop and is located in East Perth.

During restoration work in the cathedral between 2003 and 2006, the brick and plaster crypt containing the coffins of bishops Matthew Gibney and Martin Griver was discovered by archaeologists under the floorboards of an aisle in the cathedral.[3][4]

In 2011, the remains of Perth's first bishop, John Brady, were exhumed from his grave in France and he was laid to rest in the crypt.[5]

Province

The Ecclesiastical Province of Perth includes for the suffragan dioceses of Broome and Perth's two daughter-bishoprics, Bunbury and Geraldton.

Bishops

Episcopal incumbents

The following individuals have been elected as archbishop of Perth, or any of its precursor titles:[1]

Diocesan suffragan bishops
  • ^ = Bishop John Brady was suspended from his functions motu proprio in October 1851 by Pope Pius IX and José Benito Serra appointed as coadjutor bishop of Perth, reporting to the Archbishop of Sydney. Brady retained the title Bishop of Perth, although living in exile from his Diocese, until his death. Serra served as Coadjutor Bishop and Temporal Administrator of Perth from 1849 to 1851, Apostolic Administrator from 1851 to 1862. Rosendo Salvado was appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Perth for three years from 1853[6] while Serra was absent in Europe.[7][8]
Metropolitan Archbishops

Coadjutor and auxiliary bishops

Current
Former

Other priests of the diocese who became bishops

Parishes

The archdiocese is divided into three separate deaneries that administer individual parishes covering inner metropolitan Perth, outer metropolitan Perth, and country parishes and church centres (with churches dedicated the saints as indicated).

Inner metropolitan Perth

The inner metropolitan deanery covers:

Outer metropolitan Perth

The outer metropolitan deanery covers parishes located in Armadale (St Francis Xavier), Baldivis (St Teresa of Calcutta), Clarkson (St Andrew), Ellenbrook (St Helena of the Holy Cross), Gosnells (Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament), Greenmount (St Anthony), Greenwood (All Saints), Guildford (St Mary), Kalamunda (Holy Family), Kelmscott (Good Shepherd), Kwinana (St Vincent), Lesmurdie (Our Lady of Lourdes), Maddington (Holy Family), Maida Vale (St Francis of Assisi), Midland (St Brigid), Mundaring (Sacred Heart), Ocean Reef (St Simon Peter), Pickering Brook (Our Lady of Grace), Port Kennedy (St Bernadette), Rockingham (Our Lady of Lourdes), Spearwood (St Jerome), Thornlie (Sacred Heart), Wanneroo (St Anthony of Padua), Whitford (Our Lady of the Mission), Woodvale (St Luke), Yanchep (Guilderton Community Hall), and Yangebup (Mater Christi).

See also

Canonical status and jurisdiction

Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Perth is a metropolitan archdiocese of the Catholic Church.[12]

References

  1. Back to citation occurrence 1.0 Back to citation occurrence 1.1 Back to citation occurrence 1.2 Back to citation occurrence 1.3 Back to citation occurrence 1.4 Back to citation occurrence 1.5 "Archdiocese of Perth". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. 20 March 2026. Retrieved 26 March 2026.
  2. Back to citation Cardy, Todd (20 February 2012). "Pope appoints new head of Catholic Church in WA". PerthNow. Retrieved 19 February 2012; "Timothy Costelloe selected as Perth's Archbishop". ABC News. Australia. 21 February 2012. Retrieved 21 February 2012; Rickard, Jayne; Simpson, Gavin (8 April 2011). "Time's up for Perth Archbishop". The West Australian. Retrieved 25 November 2025; Rosengren, Peter (16 November 2011). "Brisbane's prelate is free to go! No word on Perth". The Record. Australia. Retrieved 21 December 2011; "Archdiocese of Perth" (downloadable PDF) (Press release). Apostolic Nunciature in Australia. 17 February 2012. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
  3. Back to citation "Ned Kelly's bishop's tomb found under Cathedral pews". Catholic News. 16 October 2006. Retrieved 22 December 2011.
  4. Back to citation Laurie, Tiffany (14 October 2006). "Cathedral reveals the secret of its lost bishops". The West Australian. p. 3.
  5. Back to citation Spinks, Bridget (13 July 2011). "Brady to join Bishops in crypt". The Record. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  6. Back to citation Some sources say 'from 1849'.
  7. Back to citation "The Salvado Era: 1846 – 1900". The Story of New Norcia. New Norcia Benedictine Community. 2011. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
  8. Back to citation William, Dom. "Salvado, Rosendo (1814–1900)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
  9. Back to citation "Bishop Donald George Sproxton". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. 25 February 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2026.
  10. Back to citation O'Brien, Jamie (5 February 2026). "A shepherd who listens: Perth welcomes Bishop-elect Nelson Po". The Record. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  11. Back to citation "Resignations and Appointments, 02.02.2026". Holy See Press Office. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
  12. Back to citation Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Perth, official website

Further reading

  • Busher, Mary (10 January 2005). "History of the Diocese of Perth established 160 years ago". Record. Perth, Western Australia. p. 12.
  • Winship, John A (2010). Our cathedral: a history of St Mary's Cathedral, Perth, Western Australia (paperback). Perth, Western Australia: Archdiocese of Perth. p. 240. ISBN 978-1-453-75519-8.

31°57′19.58″S 115°51′55.29″E / 31.9554389°S 115.8653583°E

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