Erection of the Ecclesiastical Province of Las Vegas (USA) and appointment of the first Metropolitan Archbishop
The Holy Father has erected the Ecclesiastical Province of Las Vegas (U.S.A.), elevating the Diocese of Las Vegas to Metropolitan Church and assigning to it as suffragan dioceses the Dioceses of Reno and Salt Lake City.
The Holy Father has appointed as first Metropolitan Archbishop of Las Vegas (U.S.A.) H.E.R. Msgr. George L. Thomas, until now Bishop of the Diocese of Las Vegas.
Curriculum vitae
H.E. Msgr. George L. Thomas, was born in Anaconda in the Diocese of Helena (Montana) on 19 May 1950. He attended Saint Thomas Seminary in Seattle (Washington) and holds a Master’s Degree in Psychology and a Bachelor’s Degree in History.
He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Seattle on 22 May 1976.
He held the following positions: Vice-Pastor of the Holy Family in Kirkland (1976-1987) and of Saint James Cathedral. During the same years, he was Chaplain at the State Prison. In 1987 he was appointed Parish Administrator of Sacred Heart in Bellevue and Chancellor and Vicar General of Seattle. In 1996 he was elected Diocesan Administrator of Seattle.
Appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Seattle and titular Bishop of Vagrauta on 19 November 1999, he received episcopal consecration on 28 January 2000.
On 23 March 2004 he was transferred to the See of Helena (Montana), taking office the following 4 June.
On 28 February 2018 he was transferred to the Diocese of Las Vegas (Nevada) and took possession on 15 May 2018.
Statistical Data of the New Ecclesiastical Province
| Province of
San Francisco (after the creation of the new Province) |
Las Vegas Province | |
| Surface | 186.466 Km² | 506.582 Km² |
| Residents | 14.275.694 | 6.094.189 |
| Catholics | 3.331.705 | 1.028.798 |
| Parishes | 465 | 106 |
| Diocesan Priests | 904 | 148 |
| Religious Priests | 607 | 30 |
| Permanent Deacons | 579 | 150 |
| Seminarists | 63 | 19 |
| Religious | 979 | 37 |
| Women Religious | 1.437 | 48 |
