Archdiocese of Québec
Stored: Archdiocese of Québec
| Diocese: Archdiocese of Québec | |
| Status: | Active |
| Rite: | |
| Type: | |
| Ecclesiastical Province: | Province of Québec |
| Suffragan Dioceses: | Diocese of Chicoutimi, Diocese of Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pocatière, Diocese of Trois-Rivières |
| Metropolitan Archdiocese: | |
| Country: | Canada |
| Region: | Quebec |
| Bishop: | Gérald Cyprien Lacroix |
| Website: | https://www.ecdq.org |
| Newspaper: | |
| Catholic Percentage: | 84.0% |
| Catholic Elementary Schools: | 10 |
| Catholic High Schools: | 3 |
| Deaneries: | 7 |
| Priests: | 410 |
| Existence: | 1658– |
| Predecessor Diocese: | |
| Successor Diocese: | |
| Catholic Hospitals: | 2 |
| Rating: | 3.0 |
The Archdiocese of Québec, a Latin Rite Archdiocese, is an active ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Canada, encompassing the north-central region of Quebec. Founded in 1658 as the Apostolic Vicariate of New France by Pope Alexander VII and elevated to an archdiocese in 1819, it is led by Archbishop Gérald Cyprien Lacroix as of 2011. As the primatial see of Canada and metropolitan see of the Province of Québec, it oversees a vibrant Catholic community across 38 parishes and missions. A notable aspect is its 350th anniversary celebration in 2024, which drew international attention with a papal envoy, underscoring its historic role as the oldest diocese in the New World north of Mexico.
Establishment
The Archdiocese of Québec was established in 1658 as the Apostolic Vicariate of New France by Pope Alexander VII to serve the spiritual needs of French settlers and Indigenous converts in New France. It was elevated to a diocese in 1674 and to an archdiocese in 1819 by Pope Pius VII, becoming the first Catholic diocese in what is now Canada.[1]
History
Early Years
Founded under Bishop François de Laval in 1658, the Archdiocese of Québec initially covered all of French North America. Laval established the Seminary of Québec in 1663, fostering vocations and education, and faced challenges evangelizing in a vast, often hostile territory.[2]
Modern Era
The archdiocese’s territory was reduced over time with the creation of suffragan dioceses, such as Chicoutimi (1878), Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pocatière (1951), and Trois-Rivières (1852). By 2025, it serves approximately 1.2 million Catholics, with notable growth in urban areas like Québec City, and welcomed 350 new Catholics at the 2025 Easter Vigil.[3]
Geography
The Archdiocese of Québec spans the north-central region of Quebec, including:
- Québec City
- Lévis
- Portneuf
- La Côte-de-Beaupré
- L’Île-d’Orléans
- La Jacques-Cartier
- Charlevoix
- Charlevoix-Est
It is part of the Province of Québec.[4]
Mother Church
Basilica-Cathedral Notre-Dame de Québec, a Gothic Revival structure completed in 1843, serves as the archdiocese’s mother church. It is a national historic site and the primatial church of Canada, known for its role in major liturgical events.[5]
Saints
| Saint | SaintStage | FeastDay | Patronage | Attributes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Anne | Saint | July 26 | Mothers, grandmothers, pregnant women, childless women, teachers, miners, seamstresses, lace makers, Brittany, Canada, Detroit | Book, door, holding Mary as a child |
| Saint François de Laval | Saint | May 06 | Canada, Bishops, Quebec | Episcopal vestments, Crozier, Mitre |
| Saint Jean de Brébeuf | Saint | October 19 | Canada; missionaries to Native Americans | Pyx |
| Saint Marie de l'Incarnation | Saint | April 30 | Canada, Ursuline Order, Missionaries | Religious habit, Book, Crucifix |
Leadership
Current Bishop
Gérald Cyprien Lacroix has served as archbishop since February 22, 2011. A member of the Secular Institute Pius X, he emphasizes evangelization and reconciliation.[6]
Auxiliary Bishops
The Archdiocese of Québec currently has two auxiliary bishops: Bishop Marc Pelchat (since 2016) and Bishop Martin Laliberté (since 2020).[2]
Past Bishops
| Name | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| François de Laval | 1658–1688 | First bishop; canonized in 2014. |
| Jean-Baptiste de La Croix de Chevrières de Saint-Vallier | 1688–1727 | Founded hospitals and schools; died in office. |
| Louis-Philippe Mariauchau d’Esgly | 1727–1739 | Died in office. |
| François-Louis Pourroy de Lauberivière | 1739–1740 | Died in office. |
| Henri-Marie Dubreil de Pontbriand | 1741–1760 | Oversaw French and Indian War; died in office. |
| Jean-Olivier Briand | 1766–1784 | Resigned. |
| Louis-Philippe Mariauchau d’Esgly | 1784–1788 | Died in office. |
| Jean-François Hubert | 1788–1797 | Resigned. |
| Pierre Denaut | 1797–1806 | Died in office. |
| Joseph-Octave Plessis | 1806–1825 | First archbishop (1819); died in office. |
| Bernard-Claude Panet | 1825–1833 | Died in office. |
| Joseph Signay | 1833–1850 | Died in office. |
| Pierre-Flavien Turgeon | 1850–1867 | Died in office. |
| Charles-François Baillargeon | 1867–1870 | Died in office. |
| Elzéar-Alexandre Taschereau | 1871–1898 | First Canadian cardinal; died in office. |
| Louis-Nazaire Bégin | 1898–1925 | Cardinal; died in office. |
| Paul-Eugène Roy | 1925–1926 | Died in office. |
| Jean-Marie-Rodrigue Villeneuve | 1931–1947 | Cardinal; died in office. |
| Maurice Roy | 1947–1981 | Cardinal; retired. |
| Louis-Albert Vachon | 1981–1990 | Retired. |
| Maurice Couture | 1990–2002 | Retired. |
| Marc Ouellet | 2002–2010 | Transferred to Vatican; cardinal. |
Theological and Cultural Orientation
The Archdiocese of Québec maintains a moderate stance (rating: 3.0). It supports traditional practices like Eucharistic adoration (rating: 3.5) while promoting social justice initiatives, including Indigenous reconciliation and refugee support (rating: 2.5), under Archbishop Lacroix’s balanced leadership (rating: 3.0).[7]
Statistics
The archdiocese covers 13,896 square miles (35,990 km²), serves approximately 1.2 million Catholics across 38 parishes and missions, and has a total population of about 1.4 million.[8]
Religious Communities
Ursuline Sisters
The Ursuline Sisters operate schools and retreat centers. Address: 10 Rue Donnacona, Québec City, QC G1R 3Y7.[9]
Augustinians of the Mercy of Jesus
The Augustinians of the Mercy of Jesus manage healthcare and pastoral services. Address: 32 Rue Charlevoix, Québec City, QC G1R 2J6.[10]
Parishes
| Archdiocese of Québec |
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| This map created from a Cargo query () |
The Archdiocese of Québec serves 38 parishes and missions across 7 deaneries, offering Masses in French and some in English for diverse communities.[11]
Mission and Services
Catholic Education
The archdiocese manages 13 schools:
| School Name | City | Type | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Collège François-de-Laval | Québec City | High School | Collège François-de-Laval |
| École Saint-Louis-de-Gonzague | Québec City | Elementary | Saint-Louis-de-Gonzague |
| École Notre-Dame-de-Foy | Québec City | Elementary | Notre-Dame-de-Foy |
| École Saint-Charles-Garnier | Québec City | High School | Saint-Charles-Garnier |
| École des Ursulines de Québec | Québec City | Elementary | Ursulines de Québec |
| École Saint-Jean-Eudes | Québec City | High School | Saint-Jean-Eudes |
| École Sainte-Anne | Québec City | Elementary | Sainte-Anne |
| École Saint-Joseph | Lévis | Elementary | Saint-Joseph |
| École Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde | Lévis | Elementary | Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde |
| École Saint-Dominique | Québec City | Elementary | Saint-Dominique |
| École Sainte-Marie | Québec City | Elementary | Sainte-Marie |
| École Saint-Michel | Québec City | Elementary | Saint-Michel |
| École des Saints-Anges | Québec City | Elementary | Saints-Anges |
Community Outreach
Caritas Québec provides social services, including food banks and support for the homeless, serving over 50,000 people annually.[13]
Notable Events or Figures
- The 350th anniversary in 2024 included a Mass with a papal envoy, highlighting the archdiocese’s historic role.[14]
- Saint François de Laval, the first bishop, was canonized in 2014, recognized for his missionary work.[2]
References
- ↑ "History of the Archdiocese". https://www.ecdq.org/en/history. Retrieved 2025-08-27.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Archdiocese of Québec". https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dqueb.html. Retrieved 2025-08-27.
- ↑ "Diocesan Statistics". https://www.ecdq.org/en/statistics. Retrieved 2025-08-27.
- ↑ "Parish Directory". https://www.ecdq.org/en/parishes. Retrieved 2025-08-27.
- ↑ "History of Notre-Dame Basilica". https://www.notredamedequebec.org/en/history. Retrieved 2025-08-27.
- ↑ "Archbishop Gérald Cyprien Lacroix". https://www.ecdq.org/en/archbishop. Retrieved 2025-08-27.
- ↑ "Mission and Vision". https://www.ecdq.org/en/mission. Retrieved 2025-08-27.
- ↑ "Diocesan Statistics". https://www.ecdq.org/en/statistics. Retrieved 2025-08-27.
- ↑ "Ursuline Monastery". https://www.ursulines-uc.com. Retrieved 2025-08-27.
- ↑ "Augustinian Monastery". https://www.augustinesdequebec.com. Retrieved 2025-08-27.
- ↑ "Parish Directory". https://www.ecdq.org/en/parishes. Retrieved 2025-08-27.
- ↑ "Catholic Education". https://www.ecdq.org/en/education. Retrieved 2025-08-27.
- ↑ "Our Services". https://www.caritasquebec.org. Retrieved 2025-08-27.
- ↑ "350th Anniversary Celebration". https://www.ecdq.org/en/350th-anniversary. Retrieved 2025-08-27.