Roman Catholic Diocese of Casale Monferrato

The Diocese of Casale Monferrato (Latin: Dioecesis Casalensis) is a Roman Catholic diocese in northwest Italy, a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Vercelli which forms part of the ecclesiastical region of Piedmont.[1][2] The diocese, which adheres to the Roman Rite, was established on 18 April 1474; in 2013 it had a population of 104,900 of whom 99,000 were baptised. In that year there was one priest for every 1,125 Catholics. Alceste Catella has been bishop of the diocese since 15 May 2008.

Diocese of Casale Monferrato

Dioecesis Casalensis
Location
Country Italy
Ecclesiastical provinceVercelli
Statistics
Area970 km2 (370 sq mi)
Population
- Total
- Catholics (including non-members)
(as of 2013)
104,900 (est.)
99,000 (est.) (94.4%)
Parishes115
Information
DenominationCatholic Church
RiteRoman Rite
Established18 April 1474
CathedralCattedrale di S. Evasio e S. Lorenzo
Secular priests77 (diocesan)
11 (Religious Orders)
Current leadership
PopeFrancis
BishopAlceste Catella
Map
Website
www.webdiocesi.chiesacattolica.it

History

Casale Monferrato, the ancient Bodincomagus, is a city in the province of Alessandria, Piedmont (Italy), on the River Po, and has been a stronghold since the time of the Lombards. Liutprand, King of the Lombards enlarged it, and Emperor Otto II made it the chief town of a marquisate, giving it to the sons of Aleran, Duke of Saxony; later it was inherited by Emperor Michael VIII, Palaeologus, who sent thither his son Theodore. In 1533, the dynasty of the Palaeologi being extinct, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor gave Casale to the House of Gonzaga. From 1681 to 1706 it was in the hands of the French, from whom, in 1713, it passed to the House of Savoy.

Casale was created a see in 1474 by Sixtus IV; previously it belonged to the Diocese of Asti. Its first bishop was Bernardino de Tebaldeschi; his successor was Gian Giorgio Paleologo (1517), who also governed the marquisate for his nephew, a minor. Among its noteworthy bishops were: the Dominican Benedetto Erba (1570), most zealous for the Christian instruction of children and the introduction of the Tridentine reforms, in which good work he was associated with St. Charles Borromeo; he was also the founder of the monti di pietà; Giulio Careta (1614), who imitated other contemporary bishops and founded an oratory for priests, and when the plague was ravaging Casale (1630) himself nursed the sick; Scipione Pasquali (1645), author of a history of the campaign of Charles Emmanuel of Savoy against Montferrat. Among the churches of Casale are the cathedral, one of the finest monuments of Lombard architecture, and that of Sant’Ilario (Hilary of Poitiers).[3]

Bishops of the diocese

  • Bernardino de Tebaldeschi (21 May 1474 – 1517 Died)
  • Gian Giorgio Paleologo (1517 – 12 Jan 1525 Resigned)
  • Bernardino Castellari (13 Jan 1525 – 15 Nov 1529 Resigned)
  • Ippolito de' Medici (15 Nov 1529 – 6 Mar 1531 Resigned)
  • Bernardino Castellari (6 Mar 1531 – 27 Jun 1546 Died)
  • Bernardino della Croce, B. (7 Jun 1546 – 27 Apr 1547 Appointed, Bishop of Asti)
  • Francesco Micheli (13 Jul 1548 – 1555 Resigned)
  • Scipione d'Este (5 Jun 1555 – 12 Jul 1567 Died)
  • Ambrogio Aldegati, O.P. (3 Sep 1567 – 18 Apr 1570 Died)
  • Benedetto Erba, O.P. (16 Jun 1570 – 28 Dec 1576 Died)
  • Alessandro Andreasi (11 Mar 1577 – 14 Nov 1583 Appointed, Bishop of Mantova)
  • Lelio Zimbramonti (14 Nov 1583 – 1589 Died)
  • Marcantonio Gonzaga (30 Aug 1589 – 7 May 1592 Died)
  • Settimio Borsari (12 Jun 1592 – 29 Apr 1594 Died)[4]
  • Jullio del Carretto (13 Jul 1594 – 13 Oct 1614 Died)[5]
  • Scipione Pasquali (12 Jan 1615 – 1624 Died)[6]
  • Scipione Agnelli (12 Feb 1586 – 1 Oct 1653 Died)
  • Gerolamo Francesco Miroglio (29 Nov 1655 – 14 Sep 1679 Died)
  • Lelio Ardizzone (13 May 1680 – Nov 1699 Died)
  • Pier Secondo Radicati de Cocconato (9 May 1701 – 12 Apr 1728 Appointed, Bishop of Osimo e Cingoli)
  • Pier Gerolamo Caravadossi, O.P. (10 May 1728 – 25 May 1746 Died)
  • Ignazio della Chiesa de Rodi (28 Nov 1746 – 29 Jul 1758 Died)
  • Giuseppe Luigi Avogadro, C.R.L. (19 Nov 1759 – 22 May 1792 Died)
  • Teresio Maria Carlo Vittorio Ferrero della Marmora (27 Jun 1796 – 18 May 1803 Resigned)
  • Jean-Chrysostome de Villaret (23 Dec 1805 – 3 Oct 1814 Retired)
  • Francesco Alciati (1 Oct 1817 – 26 Oct 1828 Died)
  • Francesco Maria Icheri di Malabaila (5 Jul 1830 Confirmed – Jul 1846 Died)
  • Luigi Giuseppe Nazari di Calabiana (12 Apr 1847 – 27 Mar 1867 Appointed, Archbishop of Milan)
  • Pietro Maria Ferré (27 Mar 1867 – 13 Apr 1886 Died)
  • Filippo Chiesa (7 Jun 1886 – 3 Nov 1886 Died)
  • Edoardo Pulciano (14 Mar 1887 – 11 Jul 1892 Appointed, Bishop of Novara)
  • Paolo Maria Barone (11 Jul 1892 – 17 Mar 1903 Resigned)
  • Ludovico Gavotti (22 Jun 1903 – 22 Jan 1915 Appointed, Archbishop of Genova)
  • Albino Pella (12 Apr 1915 – 17 May 1940 Died)
  • Giuseppe Angrisani (1 Jul 1940 – 1 Mar 1971 Retired)
  • Carlo Cavalla (1 Mar 1971 – 3 Jun 1995 Retired)
  • Germano Zaccheo (3 Jun 1995 – 20 Nov 2007 Died)
  • Alceste Catella (15 May 2008 – )

Parishes

The diocese, which covers an area of 970 km², is divided into 115 parishes.[7] The majority, like Casale itself, are in the Province of Alessandria, while the rest are divided between the provinces of Asti and Turin. A list of parishes by province and commune follows; locations (villages or neighbourhoods) within a commune are shown in brackets.

Province of Alessandria

Alfiano Natta
S. Antonio Abate (Sanico)
S. Eusebio (Cardona)
S. Marziano.[8]
Altavilla Monferrato
S. Giulio.[9]
S. Defendente (Franchini).[10]
Balzola
Assunzione di Maria Vergine.[11]
Borgo San Martino
Santi Quirico e Giulitta.[12]
Bozzole
Visitazione di Maria Vergine
Cabella Ligure
SS. Nome di Maria (Guazzolo)
Camagna Monferrato
S. Eusebio
Camino
S. Lorenzo
S. Pietro Apostolo (Castel San Pietro)
Casale Monferrato
Addolorata.:[13] Assunzione di Maria Vergine (Oltreponte).[14]
Castello.[15][16]
Cuore Immacolato di Maria
Sacro Cuore di Gesù
S. Clemente (Rolasco)
S. Domenico
Sant’Evasio
S. Germano (San Germano).[15]
S. Giacomo Apostolo (Terranova)
S. Giovanni Battista (Casale Popolo)
Sant’Ilario.[17]
Patrocinio di S. Giuseppe (Roncaglia)
S. Maria degli Angeli (Santa Maria del Tempio)
Natività di Maria Santissima (Grangia di Gazzo).[18]
Santi Maria e Carlo
Santo Stefano.[19]
Spirito Santo
Castelletto Merli
S. Eusebio
Castelletto Monferrato
S. Siro
Cella Monte
Santi Quirico e Giulitta
Cereseto Monferrato
S. Pietro Apostolo
Cerrina Monferrato
Natività di Maria Vergine (Montalero)
S. Candido (Montaldo)
Santi Nazario e Celso
Coniolo
Assunzione di Maria Vergine
Conzano
S. Lucia
S. Maurizio (San Maurizio)
Cuccaro Monferrato
Assunzione di Maria Vergine
Frassinello Monferrato
Assunzione di Maria Vergine
Frassineto Po
S. Ambrogio
Fubine
Assunzione di Maria Vergine
Gabiano
S. Carpoforo (Cantavenna)
S. Pietro Apostolo
Santi Aurelio e Eusebio (Varengo)
Giarole
S. Pietro Apostolo
Lu
S. Valerio
Mirabello Monferrato
S. Vincenzo
Mombello Monferrato
S. Bononio Abate (Pozzengo)
Santi Pietro e Anna
Santo Spirito (Casalino)
Moncestino
Assunzione di Maria Vergine
Morano sul Po
S. Giovanni Battista
Murisengo
Natività di Maria Vergine (Sorina)
S. Antonio Abate
S. Candido (S. Candido)
Occimiano
S. Valerio
Odalengo Grande
S. Quirico
Odalengo Piccolo
Santi Maria e Pietro Apostolo
Olivola
S. Pietro Apostolo
Ottiglio
Santi Eusebio e Germano
Ozzano Monferrato
S. Salvatore
Pomaro Monferrato
S. Sabina
Pontestura
S. Agata
Natività di Maria Vergine (Quarti)
Ponzano Monferrato
S. Antonio Abate (Salabue)
S. Giovanni Battista
Rosignano Monferrato
S. Giacomo Apostolo (Stevani)
S. Martino (San Martino)
S. Vittore Martire
Sala Monferrato
Natività di Maria Vergine
San Giorgio Monferrato
S. Giorgio
San Salvatore Monferrato
S. Anna (Fosseto)
Santi Martino e Siro
Serralunga di Crea
Madonna di Crea
Solonghello
Santi Andrea e Eusebio
Terruggia
S. Martino
Ticineto
Assunzione di Maria Vergine
Treville
S. Ambrogio
Valenza
S. Agata (Villabella)
Valmacca
Natività di Maria Vergine
Vignale Monferrato
S. Bartolomeo
Villadeati
S. Giorgio (Zanco)
Santi Remigio e Grato
Villamiroglio
S. Stefano (Vallegioliti)
Santi Filippo e Michele
Villanova Monferrato
S. Emiliano

Province of Asti

Calliano
S. Desiderio (S. Desiderio)
SS. Nome di Maria
Casorzo
S. Vincenzo
Cocconato
S. Maria della Consolazione
Cortiglione
S. Eusebio
Grana
Assunzione di Maria Vergine
Grazzano Badoglio
Santi Vittore e Corona
Moncalvo
S. Antonio di Padova
Montemagno
Santi Martino e Stefano
Montiglio Monferrato
S. Anna (Sant’Anna)
Santi Antonio e Giacomo (Carboneri)
S. Lorenzo
S. Maria (Scandeluzza)
S. Vittore (Colcavagno)
Moransengo
Santi Agata e Vitale
Penango
S. Grato
S. Vittore (Cioccaro)
Robella
S. Giacomo
Tonco
Santi Maria e Giuseppe
Tonengo
Concezione Immacolata di Maria Vergine

Province of Turin

Brozolo
S. Giorgio
Brusasco
S. Pietro Apostolo
S. Pietro Apostolo (Marcorengo)
Cavagnolo
Santi Eusebio e Secondo
Monteu da Po
S. Giovanni Battista
Rivalba
S. Rocco
Verrua Savoia
S. Giovanni Battista
Santi Sebastiano e Giacomo (Sulpiano)
Map of the Diocese

Statistics

At the end of 2006 the diocese had a population of 103,900 of whom 97.7% had been baptised as Catholics.[20]

Year Population Priests Deacons Religious Parishes
  baptised total % number secular regular baptised
per priest
  men women  
1949138,268138,35899.9385256129359140670146
1959133,482349241108382180635146
1970128,750129,00099.826618878484108505147
1980118,300119,00099.419114843619155332148
1990107,000109,21798.016512441648849230115
1999102,500104,90097.713510629759833165115
2000102,500105,10097.513210329776935159115
2001102,450105,08097.5128100288001234163115
2002101,700104,05897.712696308071334160115
2003101,700104,00097.812798298001333150115
2004101,200103,50097.8129100297841233145115
2006101,500103,90097.712597288121332149115

References

  1. "Diocese of Casale Monferrato" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved January 30, 2016
  2. "Diocese of Casale Monferrato" GCatholic.org. Gabriel Chow. Retrieved February 14, 2016
  3. History section taken originally from the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia article on Casale Monferrato which is unfortunately strewn with errors.
  4. "Bishop Settimio Borsari" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved March 21, 2016
  5. "Bishop Jullio del Carretto" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved March 21, 2016
  6. "Bishop Scipione Pasquali" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved November 24, 2016
  7. "Diocesi di Casale Monferrato: Parrocchie". Diocesi di Casale Monferrato.
  8. The antiquity of the parish is uncertain, but it became a pieve of the Diocese of Asti between 836 and 886. It passed to Casale between 1474 and 1577, returned to Asti in 1805 and passed again finally to Casale in 1817. ‘Alfiano Natta’, MonferratoArte. A databank established by the Associazione Casalese Arte e Storia as an amplified version of C. Aletto, Chiese extraurbane della Diocesi di Casale Monferrato: repertorio storico-biografico degli edifici di culto (San Salvatore Monferrato: 2006).
  9. The parish existed under this dedication from time immemorial. Later dedications were to S. Michele and to S. Maria degli Angeli, returning to S. Giulio (albeit in a new parish church) in 1630. Until the creation of the Diocese of Casale this formed part of the Diocese of Vercelli. ‘Altavilla Monferrato’, MonferratoArte. A databank established by the Associazione Casalese Arte e Storia as an amplified version of C. Aletto, Chiese extraurbane della Diocesi di Casale Monferrato: repertorio storico-biografico degli edifici di culto (San Salvatore Monferrato: 2006).
  10. The parish of S. Defendente was created 20 October 1821. ‘Franchini’, MonferratoArte. A databank established by the Associazione Casalese Arte e Storia as an amplified version of C. Aletto, Chiese extraurbane della Diocesi di Casale Monferrato: repertorio storico-biografico degli edifici di culto (San Salvatore Monferrato: 2006).
  11. This appears on a mid-tenth-century list of the pievi of the Diocese of Vercelli, and may well date back to times of Saint Eusebius. It was among the original parishes of the Diocese of Casale, although it returned to Vercelli’s jurisdiction for the years 1805–1817. ‘Balzola’, MonferratoArte. A databank established by the Associazione Casalese Arte e Storia as an amplified version of C. Aletto, Chiese extraurbane della Diocesi di Casale Monferrato: repertorio storico-biografico degli edifici di culto (San Salvatore Monferrato: 2006).
  12. Ss. Quirico e Giulitta is thought to have been part of the Diocese of Pavia from the Early Middle Ages until 1805 when it passed to the Diocese of Alessandria; the following year it passed to that of Casale. ‘Borgo San Martino’, MonferratoArte. A databank established by the Associazione Casalese Arte e Storia as an amplified version of C. Aletto, Chiese extraurbane della Diocesi di Casale Monferrato: repertorio storico-biografico degli edifici di culto (San Salvatore Monferrato: 2006).
  13. A parish, located in the Borgo Ala quarter to the east of the old city walls, founded in 1802 as SS. Crocifisso e B.V. Addolorata. The church had been built in the previous century for the lay confraternity of SS. Crocifisso e B.V. Addolorata, founded in 1614 and the custodians of the ‘Entierro’, a Good Friday devotional tradition. Designed by Francesco Ottavio Magnocavalli, the church contains wooden statues of the crucifixion and of the Addolorata (Our Lady of Sorrows) by the sculptor Felice Cassini. The parish’s name was changed to Addolorata in 1987.
  14. The parish church, located in a suburb of Casale to the north of the Po which developed after the Second World War, was built in 1959. Grignolio, Idro (1983), Casale Monferrato, Casale Monferrato: Media Editrice / Pro Loco Casale, p. 343.
  15. The collegiate church of San Germano was parished in 1578. It was rebuilt in 1780 on a new site, and on a larger scale, to a design by Magnocavalli. Casalis, Goffredo, ed. (1836), "Casale", Dizionario geografico storico-statistico-commerciale degli stati di s. m. il re di Sardegna, III, Torino, p. 673.
  16. A former parish (still extant in the 1830s) served by Nostra Donna della Concezione: a small church founded in 1623 and used by the castle’s garrison
  17. The parish of Sant'Ilario was erected in 1520. Casalis, Goffredo, ed. (1836), "Casale", Dizionario geografico storico-statistico-commerciale degli stati di s. m. il re di Sardegna, III, Torino, p. 672.
  18. Of unknown antiquity, but certainly created before it passed from the diocese of Vercelli to that of Casale in 1574, the parish was united with that of Terranova in 1872. ‘Terranova’, MonferratoArte. A databank established by the Associazione Casalese Arte e Storia as an amplified version of C. Aletto, Chiese extraurbane della Diocesi di Casale Monferrato: repertorio storico-biografico degli edifici di culto (San Salvatore Monferrato: 2006).
  19. The parish was erected a little before 1500. Casalis, Goffredo, ed. (1836), "Casale", Dizionario geografico storico-statistico-commerciale degli stati di s. m. il re di Sardegna, III, Torino, p. 671.
  • "Diocesi di CASALE MONFERRATO - Chiesa Cattolica Italiana" (in Italian). Official site of the Diocese of Casale Monferrato
  • La Vita Casalese (in Italian) Weekly newspaper with web supplement offering news and comment on the Diocese of Casale Monferrato, published by Editrice Fondazione Sant'Evasio - Casale Monf. (AL)
  • MonferratoArte (in Italian) A historical and bibliographical directory of artists active in the extra-urban churches of the Diocese of Casale Monferrato.

acknowledgments

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