Diocese of Alexandria-Cornwall
The Diocese of Alexandria includes the two most eastern counties in the province of Ontario: Stormont
and Glengarry. The Diocese is bordered by the St. Lawrence River to the south and the Province of Quebec to the east. The Diocese
serves a Catholic population of more than 56,000.
The Diocese, which is divided into two deaneries, has a total of 29 parishes:
17 English, 5 Bilingual (French/English) and 7 French.
STATISTICS
Total population
87,500
Catholic Population
55,570
Priests
36
Religious Priests
7
Seminarians
2
Deacons
17
Religious Brothers
4
Religious
Women
22
Catholic Schools
28
for the Diocese of Alexandria-Cornwall
Diocèse catholique d'Alexandria-Cornwall Catholic Diocese
220, ch. Montreal Rd, C.P./Box 1388, Cornwall ON K6H 5V4 * 613-933-1138
Welcome
to the little diocese with the big heart
Originally settled by Catholic Scotsmen in 1780s, the diocese of Alexandria-Cornwall was officially established in 1890. The diocese's
more than 56,000 Catholics are led by His Excellency, the Most Rev. Paul-André Durocher
History of the Diocese
During the 1780's, Catholic Scotsmen and their priests settled in the counties of Stormont and Glengarry. The
first parishes were St. Andrew's in the county of Stormont, and of St. Raphael's in the county of Glengarry. In 1802, Pierre Denaut,
Bishop of Quebec, granted canonical status to both of these parishes.
The Reverend Alexander Macdonell, who was appointed the
third pastor of St. Raphael’s in January 1805, became Vicar General of the Bishop of Quebec in 1807. He was put in charge of all the
pastoral activities for Upper Canada. With residence in St. Raphael’s and with the same responsibilities, he became the Auxiliary
Bishop to Bishop Plessis in 1819. On January 27, 1826, he was appointed the first Bishop of Kingston, although he did not leave St.
Raphael's until 1829.
The Diocese of Alexandria was established on January 23, 1890.
On September 17, 1976, Bishop
Eugène LaRocque was granted permission from the Sacred Congregation for Bishops to affix the name Cornwall to Alexandria and to have
a co-cathedral in Cornwall. St. Finnan's Cathedral is located in Alexandria and the Co-cathedral of Nativity is located in Cornwall.
Bishops of the Diocese of Alexandria-Cornwall
Rt. Rev. Alexander Macdonell (1890-1905)
Rt. Rev. William S. Macdonell (1906-1920)
Most Rev. Félix Couturier, O.P. (1921-1941)
Most Rev. Rosario Brodeur (1941-1966)
Most Rev. Jacques Landriault (Aux.) (1962-1964)
Most
Rev. Joseph-Aurèle Plourde (Aux.) (1964-1967)
Most Rev. Adolphe Proulx (1967-1974)
Most Rev. Eugène LaRocque (1974-2002)
Most
Rev. Paul-André Durocher (2002 - present)