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 Bishops 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

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

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

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

1951 - 1979
Most Reverend Patrick J. 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

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

1915 - 1950
Most Reverend Edward Patrick Roche, D.D.
Consecrated June 29, 1915
Died September 23, 1950

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

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

1870 - 1893
Right Reverend Thomas James Power, D.D.
Bishop of St. John’s, June 12, 1870
Died December 4, 1893

1850 - 1869
Right 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

1830 - 1850
Right 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

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

1807 - 1816
Right 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

1784 - 1806
Right 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
Roman Catholic Archdiocese
of St. John's
Contact Us
Office of the Archbishop
Pastoral Center
200 Military Road
St. John’s, NL A1C 2E8
Tel: (709) 726-3660
Fax: (709) 753-5600
Secretary to the Archbishop
Mrs. Janet Stead
Tel: (709) 726-3660 | Ext 230
Fax: (709) 753-5600
Email: archdiocese@rcsj.org