
The Diocese of Gaylord, a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory in the northern region of the lower peninsula of Michigan, was created in 1970 by Pope Paul VI. It covers approximately 11,171 square miles and includes the cities of Gaylord, Traverse City, Alpena, Manistee, and Petoskey. The diocese has a population of 505,000, of which 66,000 are Catholic. This represents around 13% of the population. In the state of Michigan as a whole, Catholics make up 18% of the population, with over 1,700,000 members by 2010. So, while the Catholic population in Gaylord, Michigan, may not be as high as in other parts of the state or country, it still forms a significant part of the religious landscape of the region.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Population of Gaylord, Michigan in 2020 | 4,286 |
| Population of Gaylord, Michigan in 2010 | 3,645 |
| Population of the Diocese of Gaylord | 505,000 |
| Number of Catholics in the Diocese of Gaylord | 66,000 |
| Percentage of Catholics in the Diocese of Gaylord | 13.05% |
| Percentage of Catholics in Michigan | 18% |
| Percentage of Christians in Michigan | 70% |
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What You'll Learn

Gaylord, Michigan, is a Catholic diocese
The creation of the Diocese of Gaylord involved territory separation from the Dioceses of Saginaw and Grand Rapids, which previously covered the Gaylord area. The diocese is a suffragan diocese in the ecclesiastical province of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Detroit. The Diocese of Detroit was formed on March 8, 1833, by Pope Gregory XVI and initially covered the entire Michigan Territory. Over time, new dioceses were established in the state, including the Diocese of Saginaw in 1938 by Pope Pius XI and the Diocese of Grand Rapids in 1882 by Pope Leo XIII.
The current bishop of Gaylord is Jeffrey Walsh, appointed by Francis in 2022. He succeeded Steven J. Raica, who was named bishop of Gaylord in 2014 and moved to the Diocese of Birmingham in 2020. The first bishop of Gaylord, Edmund Szoka, served until he was appointed archbishop of the Archdiocese of Detroit in 1981. Robert John Rose became the second bishop of Gaylord that same year, followed by Auxiliary Bishop Patrick R. Cooney in 1989.
The cathedral for the Diocese of Gaylord is St. Mary, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral. The diocese contains 77 parishes and 17 schools. While Michigan has a diverse religious landscape, with over 70% of the state's population identifying as Christian, the Catholic Church is the largest denomination. By 2010, the Roman Catholic Church in Michigan had over 1,717,296 members, representing about 18% of the state's total population.
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Gaylord has a Catholic population of 66,000
The Diocese of Gaylord, a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory, covers approximately 11,171 square miles in the northern region of the lower peninsula of Michigan. The diocese has a population of 505,000, 66,000 of whom are Catholic. It comprises 21 northern counties of the lower peninsula of Michigan, including the cities of Gaylord, Traverse City, Alpena, Manistee, and Petoskey.
The Diocese of Gaylord was created in 1970 by Pope Paul VI and erected in 1971, with Edmund Szoka becoming its first bishop. The diocese is a suffragan diocese in the ecclesiastical province of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Detroit. It has 77 parishes and 17 schools.
Gaylord, Michigan, is the county seat of Otsego County and the only city within the county. The city of Gaylord had a population of 4,286 as of the 2020 census, an increase from 3,645 in the 2010 census. The town was settled in 1873 and became known as the "Village of Gaylord" in 1874. It was named after Augustine Smith Gaylord, an attorney associated with the Michigan Central Railroad, although he never lived in the town.
The creation of the Diocese of Gaylord in 1970 was a result of territory separation from the Dioceses of Saginaw and Grand Rapids. These two dioceses previously covered the Gaylord area. The current bishop of Gaylord is Jeffrey Walsh, who was appointed in 2022.
In the state of Michigan, Catholics represent about 18% of the total population, with over 1,700,000 members by 2010 and 1,823,448 Catholics in the seven dioceses of Detroit, Gaylord, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Marquette, and Saginaw.
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St. Mary, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral is the diocese's cathedral
St. Mary, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral, also known as St. Mary Cathedral, is a Catholic cathedral and parish church located in Gaylord, Michigan. It is the seat of the Diocese of Gaylord. The cathedral is an octagon-shaped structure built in a Modern architectural style.
The parish of St. Mary's began as a mission in the Diocese of Grand Rapids. The first church was constructed in 1884, and with a predominantly Polish congregation, the parish began to grow. During the leadership of Rev. Casmir Skory, St. Mary's School was founded in 1893 with Dominican Sisters as teachers, and a new church was built from 1900 to 1901 for about $15,000. For many years, it was the largest building in the area.
When Pope Paul VI established the Diocese of Gaylord on December 19, 1970, St. Mary's became the cathedral for the new diocese. The first bishop of Gaylord, Edmund Szoka, oversaw the construction of the present cathedral. The cornerstone was laid on July 25, 1975, and the new cathedral was dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel on June 25, 1976. The bell tower and bells were consecrated in July 1977.
The cathedral features a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary outside the south entrance, created by Jim Hopfensperger of Midland, Michigan. It is cast in bronze and was added in 1991. Inside the cathedral, the altar is made from Vermont granite and contains the relics of the evangelists Saint Matthew, Saint Mark, and Saint Luke, a piece of Saint John's house, and pieces of bone from other saints. The Blessed Sacrament Chapel houses a sculpture of The Burning Bush by Vera Bartnik of Traverse City, Michigan, and the tabernacle is shaped like a monstrance with a suspended luna. There are four shrine areas dedicated to the Sacred Heart, Saint Joseph, Our Lady of Czestochowa, and Bishop Frederic Baraga. The stained glass windows depict the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the Stations of the Cross are bronze bas reliefs. Four crosses with candles mark the four primary directions where the cathedral walls were consecrated with Sacred Chrism.
In the state of Michigan, Catholics represent 18% of the total population across seven dioceses, including Gaylord. In metropolitan Detroit and southeast Michigan, 18% of the adult population identifies as Catholic, according to a 2019 survey by the Pew Research Center.
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Gaylord has 17 Catholic schools
The Diocese of Gaylord is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory, or diocese, of the Catholic Church in the northern region of the lower peninsula of Michigan in the United States. The diocese covers approximately 11,171 square miles and includes the cities of Gaylord, Traverse City, Alpena, Manistee, and Petoskey. The diocese has a population of 505,000, of whom 66,000 are Catholic, representing about 13% of the total population within the diocese. This is slightly lower than the percentage of Catholics in the state of Michigan, which is around 18% according to recent estimates.
Gaylord, Michigan, is part of this larger diocese and is home to a significant Catholic population. The city itself has a total population of approximately 4,286 residents, as of the 2020 census, and while the exact number of Catholics in the city is not known, it is likely that a sizeable portion of the population identifies as Catholic.
The Diocese of Gaylord has a rich history dating back to the early 1970s. It was created by Pope Paul VI on December 19, 1970, and was officially erected on July 20, 1971, with Edmund Szoka becoming the first bishop of the diocese. The diocese covers a vast area in the northern region of Michigan and is home to 77 parishes and 17 Catholic schools.
Among the 17 Catholic schools in the Diocese of Gaylord, one notable institution is St. Mary Cathedral High School, located in Gaylord itself. This school is likely a central hub for Catholic education in the city and the surrounding area. The other 16 Catholic schools are likely spread across the diocese, serving the Catholic communities in the various cities and towns within its jurisdiction.
The presence of 17 Catholic schools in the diocese, including one in Gaylord, highlights the importance of Catholic education in the region. These schools provide a faith-based learning environment for Catholic families and play a crucial role in passing on religious values and traditions to the next generation. The establishment and maintenance of these schools demonstrate the commitment of the Catholic Church in Gaylord and the surrounding areas to fostering the spiritual and academic growth of its youth.
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Pope Paul VI created the Diocese of Gaylord in 1970
The Diocese of Gaylord is one of seven Roman Catholic Dioceses in the state of Michigan. It was established on 20 July 1971 by Pope Paul VI, who defined its territory the previous year. The Diocese of Gaylord is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory, or diocese, of the Catholic Church in the northern region of the lower peninsula of Michigan in the United States. It is a suffragan diocese in the ecclesiastical province of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Detroit.
The Diocese of Gaylord covers approximately 11,171 square miles. It is comprised of territory that was previously part of the Saginaw and Grand Rapids dioceses. The area includes the 21 most northern counties of Michigan's lower peninsula, which are mostly rural. The total population of the area exceeds 500,000, of whom around 50,000 to 66,000 are Catholic. Within its boundaries, there are 75 to 77 parishes and 16 to 18 Catholic schools.
The first Archbishop of Gaylord was Edmund Casimir Szoka, who served from 1971 to 1981. He was succeeded by Robert John Rose, who served as Bishop of Gaylord from 1981 to 1989. The current Archbishop of Gaylord is Steven J. Raica, who was appointed in 2014.
In the state of Michigan, there are 1,823,448 Catholics across the seven dioceses, representing 18% of the state's total population. According to the Pew Research Center, 18% of adults in Michigan identify as Catholic, making it the third-largest religious group in the state after Evangelical Protestants (25%) and mainline Protestants (18%).
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Frequently asked questions
Gaylord, Michigan had a population of 4,286 at the 2020 census.
The Catholic population of Gaylord, Michigan is not available. However, the Diocese of Gaylord, which covers approximately 11,171 square miles, has a population of 505,000, 66,000 of whom are Catholic.
The Catholic population of Michigan is estimated to be 1,717,296 as of 2010 and 1,823,448 across seven (arch)dioceses as of 2019, representing 18% of the total population of the state.
The religious composition of Michigan is 70% Christian, with the largest denomination being Catholic (18%). Non-Christian faiths represent about 7% of the population, with Muslims comprising 3%, Jews 2%, Buddhists 1%, and Hindus less than 1%. 24% of Michiganders report having no religious affiliation, with 3% identifying as atheists.
No, Gaylord became a part of the Diocese of Gaylord in 1970 when it was created by Pope Paul VI. Before that, it was a part of the Diocese of Saginaw and Grand Rapids.

































