Roman Catholic Diocese of Grass Valley

The Diocese of Grass Valley (Latin: Dioecesis Vallispratensis) was a diocese of the Latin Church of the Catholic Church located in northeastern California, United States. The diocese also included most of Nevada,^[1] and, early in its history, Utah and part of Colorado.^[2]

History

The particular church that became the Diocese of Grass Valley was erected in 1860 as the Vicariate Apostolic of Marysville from territory formerly belonging to the Archdiocese of San Francisco, of which it was a suffragan see.^[3] In 1868, the see city was changed to Grass Valley, and the vicariate was renamed and elevated to a diocese.^[4]

St. Joseph Church in Marysville served as the pro-cathedral of the vicarate. When the vicarate was elevated to a diocese, Bishop Eugene O'Connell resisted the change of see city to Grass Valley, and continued using St. Joseph's as his pro-cathedral. St. Patrick Cathedral in Grass Valley was the official cathedral approved by the Vatican.^[5]

The diocese served the large mining population in the Sierra Nevada during the California Gold Rush. By 1886, commercial mining in the Gold Country had slowed considerably, significantly reducing the population in the area, and the diocese was suppressed. Much of its territory became part of the Diocese of Sacramento. O’Connell is considered the first bishop of Sacramento.^[6][7]

Second diocesan bishop

On July 27, 1880 Bishop Patrick Manogue was appointed as coadjutor bishop of the Grass Valley Diocese.^[8] On May 24, 1884, Manogue succeeded O’Connell as the second and last diocesan bishop of Grass Valley.^[8] Manogue served two years as the final diocesan bishop.^[8]

Suppression of diocese

On May 28, 1888 this diocese was suppressed^[3] when the Diocese of Sacramento was erected.^[9] Manogue became its founding bishop and in effect the second bishop of the Sacramento diocese.^[8][10][9]

Restoration

In 1997, Pope John Paul II restored the see as a titular see. The current titular bishop of Grass Valley is Christie Macaluso, an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Hartford.^[11]

Ordinaries

Vicar Apostolic of Marysville^[3]

1. Eugene O’Connell (1860–1868)

Bishop of Grass Valley^[3]

1. Eugene O’Connell (1868–1884)
2. Patrick Manogue (1884–1886)

Titular Bishop of Grass Valley^[11]

1. Christie Macaluso (1997–present)

Further reading

• Dwyer, John T. (1976); Condemned to the mines: The life of Eugene O'Connell, 1815-1891, pioneer bishop of Northern California and Nevada; ISBN 0-533-02130-8

See Also

• List of titular sees

References

1. ^ "Nevada's Catholic History". Roman Catholic Diocese of Reno. Archived from the original on 2007-08-06. http://web.archive.org/web/20070806093004/http://www.catholicreno.org/history.htm. Retrieved 2007-08-28. 
2. ^ Bernice M. Mooney. "The Catholic Church in Utah". Utah History Encyclopedia. University of Utah. http://www.media.utah.edu/UHE/c/CATHOLIC.html. Retrieved 2007-08-28. 
3. ^ ^{a b c d} Diocese of Grass Valley at Catholic-Hierarchy. Retrieved on August 28, 2007.
4. ^ "About the diocese". Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento. http://www.diocese-sacramento.org/diocese/about.html. Retrieved 2007-08-28. 
5. ^ Eric Stoltz (January 31, 2008). "The Forgotten Diocese and the Spurned Cathedral". Cathedrals of California. http://www.cathedralsofcalifornia.com?p=136. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
6. ^ Lineage of Bishops Retrieved: 2010-03-24.
7. ^ Jennifer Garza (February 8, 2010), "Bishop Gallegos' body will be moved in bid for sainthood", Sacramento Bee, http://www.sacbee.com/2010/02/08/2520540/bishop-gallegos-body-will-be-moved.html, retrieved March 24, 2010 
8. ^ ^{a b c d} Bishop Patrick Manogue at Catholic-Hierarchy. Retrieved on March 24, 2010.
9. ^ ^{a b} Diocese of Sacramento at Catholic-Hierarchy. Retrieved on March 24, 2010.
10. ^ Lineage of Bishops Retrieved: 2010-03-24.
11. ^ ^{a b} Titular See of Grass Valley at Catholic-Hierarchy. Retrieved on August 28, 2007.