Archdiocese History

History of the Archdiocese

The Roman Catholic Episcopal Corporation of St. John's

(Incorporated May 12, 1897)

Erected

  • Prefecture Apostolic of Newfoundland, May 30, 1784, by Pope Clement XIV
  • Vicariate Apostolic of Newfoundland, January 5, 1796, by Pope Clement XIV
  • Diocese of Newfoundland, June 4, 1847, by Pope Pius IX
  • Archdiocese and Metropolitan See, February 7, 1904, by Pope Pius X

Former Bishop's and Archbishops

2007 - 2019

Most Reverend Martin W. Currie, D.D.

7th Archbishop of St. John’s  & 13th Bishop

  • Born: December 11, 1943
  • Ordained to Priesthood: May 12, 1968
  • Ordained to Episcopate: Jan. 31, 2001
  • Bishop of Grand Falls: 2001-2007
  • Appointed Archbishop of St. John’s: Oct. 18, 2007
  • Took Canonical Possession of the Archdiocese: Nov. 30, 2007
  • Resignation accepted Dec 12, 2018
  • Retired January 29, 2019
Archbishop-Brendan-O'Brien

2001 - 2007

Most Reverend Brendan M. O’Brien, S.T.D.

  • Ordained to Episcopate June 29, 1987
  • Ottawa, Ontario Auxiliary Bishop of Ottawa, Ontario, 1987-1993
  • Bishop of Pembroke: 1993-2000
  • Appointed Archbishop of St. John’s December 2000
  • Took possession of the Archdiocese of St. John’s, Jan 29, 2001
  • Transferred to Kingston, Ontario, July 23, 2007
Archbishop-James-MacDonald

1991 - 2001

Most Reverend James H. MacDonald, C.S.C.

  • Consecrated Auxiliary Bishop of Hamilton, Ontario, April 17, 1978
  • Bishop of Charlottetown, P.E.I., 1981- Feb 1, 1991
  • Appointed Archbishop of St. John’s, Feb 2, 1991
  • Took possession of the Archdiocese of St. John’s, Feb 2, 1991
  • Retired January 29, 2001
Archbishop-James-MacDonald

1979 - 1990

Most Reverend Alphonsus L. Penney, D.D.

  • Consecrated Bishop of Grand Falls, Newfoundland, January 18,1973
  • Appointed Archbishop of St. John’s, April 5, 1979
  • Took possession of the Archdiocese of St. John’s, May 31, 1979
  • Resigned as Archbishop, February 2, 1991
Archbishop-Patrick-Skinner

1951 - 1979

Most Reverend Patrick Skinner, C.J.M., D.D.

  • Consecrated Titular Bishop of Zenobia, March 17, 1950
  • Named Auxiliary to the Archbishop of St. John’s
  • Nominated Archbishop of St. John’s, January 23, 1951
  • Took possession of the Archdiocese of St. John’s, March 22, 1951
  • Retired April 25, 1979
  • Died September 20, 1988
Archbishop Thomas J Flynn

1945 - 1949

Most Reverend Thomas John Flynn, D.D.

  • Coadjutor to the Archbishop of St. John’s with the right of succession
  • Consecrated June 24, 1945
  • Died September 1, 1949
Archbishop Thomas J Flynn

1915 - 1950

Most Reverend Edward Patrick Roche, D.D.

  • Consecrated June 29, 1915
  • Died September 23, 1950
Bishop-Michael-Howley

1894 - 1914

Most Reverend Michael Francis Howley, D.D.

  • Appointed Vicar Apostolic of the West Coast of Newfoundland and Bishop of Amastris, April 29, 1892
  • Consecrated June 24, 1892
  • Appointed Bishop of St. John’s, December 21, 1894
  • Died October 15, 1914
Aux-Bishop-Francis-Brennan

1893 - 1894

Most Reverend Thomas Francis Brennan, D.D. (Auxiliary Bishop)

  • Named Titular Bishop of Utila, February 1, 1893
  • Recalled to Rome when Archbishop Howley succeeded to the Holy See
  • Retired to Monastery Grottaferrata
  • Died March 21, 1916. Buried at Frascatti, Italy
Bishop-Michael-Howley

1870 - 1893

Most Reverend Thomas James Power, D.D. 

  • Bishop of St. John’s, June 12, 1870
  • Retired to Monastery Grottaferrata
Bishop-Michael-Howley

1850 - 1869

Most Reverend John Thomas Mullock, O.S.F. 

  • Coadjutor to Bishop Fleming, December 27, 1847
  • Succeeded as Bishop of Newfoundland, July 14, 1850
  • Bishop of St. John’s, February 29, 1856
  • Died March 29, 1869
Bishop-Michael-Howley

1830 - 1850

Most Reverend Michael Anthony Fleming, O.S.F. 

  • Coadjutor to Bishop Scallon, October 28, 1829
  • Succeeded as Vicar Apostolic of Newfoundland, May 30, 1830
  • Bishop of Newfoundland, June 4, 1847
  • Died July 14, 1850
Bishop-Thomas-Scallan

1816 - 1830

Most Reverend Thomas Scallon, O.S.F. 

  • Coadjutor Bishop to Bishop Lambert, May 1, 1816
  • Succeeded as Vicar Apostolic of Newfoundland, Sept. 23, 1816
  • Died May 30, 1830
Bishop-Patrick-Lambert

1807 - 1816

Most Reverend Patrick Lambert, O.S.F. 

  • Coadjutor Bishop to Bishop O’Donel, August 2, 1805
  • Succeeded as Vicar Apostolic January 1, 1807
  • Died September 23, 1816
Bishop-James-O'Donel

1784 - 1806

Most Reverend James O'Donel, O.S.F. 

  • Prefect Apostolic of Newfoundland May 30, 1784
  • Appointed Vicar Apostolic of Newfoundland, January 5, 1796
  • Consecrated Bishop, September 21, 1796
  • Resigned December 31, 1806
  • Died April 1, 1811

Archdiocese of St. John's

Office of the Archbishop

Pastoral Centre 

200 Military Road

St. John’s, NL A1C 2E8

Tel: (709) 726-3660

Fax: (709) 726-8021

Secretary of the Archbishop

Mrs. Janet Stead

T: (709) 726-3660 | Ext 230

E: Archdiocese@rcsj.org