The Provincial Archives of NF & L (PANL)
Colonial Building
Military Road
St. John's, NF.
A1C 2C9
Phone: 709-729-3065
Fax: 709-729-0578
A little Roman Catholic history.
In the very early years the Roman Catholic religion was forbidden to be practiced in NF. If you are looking for early records try St. Thomas Anglican Church, in St. John's.
Through out the island there are four Roman Catholic Archdiocese: The Archdiocese of NF., which is now the Archdiocese of St. John's, was established in 1784 and began keeping baptismal records in 1793. Presently this archdiocese has forty-two parishes. With a growing population came the Diocese of Grandfalls, which was established in 1856, to serve Central & Western (at that time) portions of the island. Presently this diocese has twenty-one parishes and serves Central Newfoundland. In 1904 the Diocese of Corner Brook was established to serve Western Newfoundland. In 1967 the Diocese of Labrador City - Schefferville was established to serve Labrador - twenty-three parishes.
Baptismal, marriage and mortuary records, from 1793 to1900 or from the founding of a particular church thru to1900, belonging to the Diocese of St. John's are centrally located at the RC Archdiocesan Archives. After this date records can be found at the parish of origin. In recent years some churches have closed and others have opened. St. Joseph's, in the east end of St. John's, closed some years back. Their records, from 1900 until they closed, are held at the Basilica of St. John the Baptist Parish. A listing of forty of the forty two parishes of the Diocese of St. John's and other information can be found at this address:
http://delweb.com/rcec/index.htm
While it is true that some of the data listed on the original registries at the churches are not always given on certificates from the Provincial Archives, the Roman Catholic Archdiocesan Archives has limited staff and for this reason would like for people to first search for their family records at the Provincial Archives.
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese Archives is open to the public Monday thru Friday, 9-4. Appointments are required due to limited research space. Inquires are also handled by mail, telephone, fax and e-mail. Use this address, phone, fax and e-mail for inquires at the RC Archives and the Archdiocese of St. John's & direct all inquires to:
Larry Dohey
49 Bonaventure Avenue
P.O. Box 1363
St. John's, Newfoundland
A1C 5N5
Telephone: 709-726-3661
Fax: 709-739-6458
e mail:
ldohey@seascape.com
Here is a listing of the older RC churches for this area:
St. John's
Basilica of St. John the Baptist (est. 1784 - this is the oldest RC Church in NF.)
200 Military Road
St. John's, Newfoundland
A1C 2E8
Telephone: 709-754-2170
Fax: 709-754-5608
Corpus Christi Parish (est. 1916)
260 Waterford Bridge Road
St. John's, Newfoundland
A1E 1E2
Telephone: 709-368-9751
Fax: 709-368-4674
Mary Queen of Peace (est. 1925)
135 Torbay Road
St. John's, Newfoundland
A1A 2G9
Telephone: 709-726-9924
Fax: 709-726-3625
St. Patrick's Parish (est. 1860)
6 Patrick's Street
P.O. Box 7368
St. John's Newfoundland
A1E 3Y5
Telephone: 709-754-1195
Fax: 709-754-3302
St. Teresa's Parish (est. 1930)
120 Mundy Pond Road
St. John's, Newfoundland
A1E 1V1
Telephone: 709-579-0065
Fax#: 709-579-3804
Torbay
Holy Trinity Parish (est. 1830)
P.O. Box 40
Torbay, Newfoundland
A1K 1E2
Telephone: 709-437-6628
Fax: 709-437-5651
e mail:
david.butler@nf.sympatico.ca
Pouch Cove
St. Agnes & St. Michael's Parish (est. 1916)
P.O. Box 10
Pouch Cove, Newfoundland
A0A 30L
Telephone: 709-335-2863
Fax: 709-335-8240
e-mail:
fpud@nf.sympatico.ca
Outer Cove
St. Francis of Assisi Parish (est. 1912)
P.O. Box 51400, SS #3
Outer Cove, Newfoundland
A1B 4M2
Telephone: 709-437-5777
Prior to the establishment of the church in Pouch Cove in 1916, for the people of Pouch Cove & Flat Rock, the sacraments were received at Holy Trinity Parish in Torbay and records are keep at Holy Trinity. Records are keep at the Pouch Cove parish since 1916. Prior to the establishment of Holy Trinity in 1830 sacraments were received at the Basilica in St. John's. This is also true for Middle Cove & Outer Cove.