Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint Thomas


The Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint Thomas in the Virgin Islands is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in the Caribbean. The diocese comprises the overseas dependency of the U.S. Virgin Islands, specifically the islands Saint Thomas, Saint Croix and Saint John. The diocese is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Washington. Bishops of Saint Thomas are members of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and also enjoy observer status with the Antilles Episcopal Conference.

History

The Diocese of Saint Thomas was erected as the Territorial Prelature of the Virgin Islands on April 30, 1960. Its name was changed and was elevated to a diocese on April 20, 1977. It is the only suffragan see of the Archdiocese of Washington. The diocese is governed from Charlotte Amalie on the island of Saint Thomas by a bishop whose episcopal seat is the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul. The current Bishop of Saint Thomas is Herbert A. Bevard, who was appointed on July 7, 2008, and was ordained and installed on September 3.

Bishops

The list of bishops of the diocese and their years of service:

Apostolic Prefect of the Virgin Islands

  1. Edward John Harper, C.Ss.R.

    Bishops of Saint Thomas

  2. Edward John Harper, C.Ss.R.
  3. Seán Patrick O'Malley, O.F.M. Cap., appointed Bishop of Fall River and later Bishop of Palm Beach, Archbishop of Boston, and President of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors
  4. Elliot Griffin Thomas
  5. George Murry, S.J., appointed Bishop of Youngstown
  6. Herbert Bevard

    Coadjutor Bishops