Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mobile

Former names: Apostolic Vicariate of Alabama and the Floridas (1825-1829), Diocese of Mobile (1829-1954; 1969-1980), Diocese of Mobile-Birmingham (1954-1969).

Archdiocese of Mobile

Archidiœcesis Mobiliensis
Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception
Coat of arms
Location
CountryUnited States
TerritoryLower half of Alabama
Ecclesiastical provinceProvince of Mobile
Statistics
Area59,467 km2 (22,960 sq mi)
Population
- Total
- Catholics		(as of 2021)
1.84 million
108,000 (5%)
Information
DenominationCatholic
Sui iuris churchLatin Church
RiteRoman Rite
Established1825
CathedralCathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception
Patron saintImmaculate Conception (Primary)
Irenaeus of Lyons, Michael the Archangel (Secondary)
Current leadership
PopeFrancis
ArchbishopThomas John Rodi
Map
Website
mobarch.org

The Archdiocese of Mobile (Latin: Archidiœcesis Mobiliensis) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or archdiocese of the Catholic Church comprising the lower half of the state of Alabama. It is the metropolitan see of the Province of Mobile, which includes the suffragan bishopric sees of the Diocese of Biloxi, the Diocese of Jackson, and the Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama. It was established as the Archdiocese of Mobile on November 16, 1980. The Archbishop of Mobile is the pastor of the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception located in Mobile, Alabama.

The Archdiocese encompasses 22,969 square miles and comprises the lower 28 counties of the state of Alabama, namely: Autauga, Baldwin, Barbour, Bullock, Butler, Choctaw, Clarke, Coffee, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Dallas, Elmore, Escambia, Geneva, Henry, Houston, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, Mobile, Monroe, Montgomery, Pike, Russell, Washington and Wilcox, with 76 parishes and 7 missions and a total Catholic population of approximately 108,000 Catholics, or roughly 5% of the total population of 1.84 million.

History

The diocese was originally erected by Pope Leo XII in 1825, as Vicariate Apostolic of Alabama and the Floridas. It was established as the Diocese of Mobile by Pope Pius VIII on May 15, 1829. The diocese had its name changed to the Diocese of Mobile-Birmingham by Pope Pius XII on July 9, 1954, and was redesignated as the Diocese of Mobile by Pope Paul VI on June 28, 1969. The Ecclesiastical Province of Mobile was erected by Pope John Paul II on November 16, 1980. Before then, the diocese had been part of the Ecclesiastical Province of New Orleans.

Reports of sexual abuse:

In December 2018, Archbishop Thomas Rodi released the names of 29 priests and religious order clergy who were accused of committing acts of sex abuse while serving in the Archdiocese of Mobile.[1] Claims of sex abuse dated as early as 1950.[1] At least 2 Catholic clergy on this list were convicted, with one other being sued.[2] Archbishop Rodi also issued an apology and asked for forgiveness.[1]

Bishops

The lists of the bishops and archbishops of Mobile and dates of service, followed by other affiliated bishops:

Bishops of Mobile
  1. Michael Portier (1825–1859)
  2. John Quinlan (1859–1883)
  3. Dominic Manucy (1884)
  4. Jeremiah O'Sullivan (1885–1896)
  5. Edward Patrick Allen (1897–1926)
  6. Thomas Joseph Toolen (1927–1954), title changed with title of diocese; also elevated to Archbishop ad personam in 1954

Bishop of Mobile-Birmingham
  1. Thomas Joseph Toolen (1954–1969), archbishop ad personam

Bishop of Mobile
  1. John Lawrence May (1969–1980), appointed Archbishop of Saint Louis

Archbishops of Mobile
  1. Oscar Hugh Lipscomb (1980–2008)
  2. Thomas John Rodi (2008–present)

Former Auxiliary Bishops

Other priests of this diocese who became bishops

Schools

High Schools

Middle Schools

Elementary Schools

Private Schools - (Independent schools within the territory but not under the administration of the Archdiocese of Mobile.)
  • Resurrection Catholic School (Montgomery)
  • St. Joseph Child Development Center (Fort Mitchell)

See also

References
  1. "29 Mobile Catholic clergy named in sex abuse list". al. Dec 6, 2018. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  2. "Database of Priests Accused of Sexual Abuse". app.bishop-accountability.org. Retrieved May 30, 2021.

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