Although the earliest beginnings of the Catholic Mission in Guyana go back to the year 1771, it was not until 1825 when the first couple of priests arrived, which included Fr. William Clancy.
At this time the then Governor of the colony, Sir Benjamin D’Urban, granted a piece of land on Brickdam in the City of Georgetown for a church of which the foundation stone was laid on the 12th of November,1825.
In 1837 Fr. Clancy was appointed the first Bishop of the Vicariate, he resigned in 1843 and was succeeded by
Bishop Thomas Hynes O.P. (Barbados was added to his jurisdiction in 1850).
In 1856 the Jesuits arrived and took charge of the Vicariate. Later, religious sisters arrived from the
Ursuline Order as well as the Mercy Order, these sisters were asked to take charge and run many of the
Catholic schools in the country. In the mid 1950’s the
Carmelite Sisters and the Scarboro Fathers arrived in the country.
On the 22nd. Of July 1956 the Vicariate was elevated by
Pope Pius XII to
the status of a Diocese and so became the Diocese of Georgetown.
Bishop R.L. Guilly S.J.
was appointed the first Bishop of Georgetown.
At present the Diocese is served by Jesuits, Scarboro, local Diocesan, Phillipino Diocesan,
Fathers of the Incarnate Word and Benedictines.
The female religious are from the Sisters of Mercy, the Ursulines, the Carmelites and the
Sisters of Charity.