Catholic Diocese of Salina

Welcome to the Catholic Diocese of Salina!

The Catholic Diocese of Salina, formerly the Catholic Diocese of Concordia, was established on August 2, 1887.  It was moved from Concordia to Salina on December 23, 1944.  The counties included in this diocese are Cheyenne, Sherman, Wallace, Logan, Thomas, Rawlins, Decatur, Sheridan, Gove, Trego, Graham, Norton, Phillips, Rooks, Ellis, Russell, Osborne, Smith, Jewel, Mitchell, Lincoln, Ellsworth, Saline, Ottawa, Cloud, Republic, Washington, Clay, Dickinson, Geary, and Riley.  It covers 26,685 square miles and has a Catholic population of 47, 456.

Sacred Heart Cathedral

Bishop Paul S. Coakley

Bishop Paul S. Coakley

He was ordained a priest in May 21, 1983. After serving as a priest of the Diocese of Wichita for twenty-one years, he was appointed Bishop of Salina on October 21, 2004. Bishop Coakley was ordained and installed as Bishop of Salina on December 28, 2004.

For his motto as bishop, Bishop Coakley selected DUC IN ALTUM that translates into English as Put out into the Deep. It is found in St. Luke’s gospel and relates to the moment when Jesus, after teaching the crowds from Simon’s boat, invites the apostles to "put out into the deep" and lower their nets for the catch (Lk.5:4). Obedient to Jesus’ command, Simon Peter and his companions cast their nets as directed, and "caught such a great number of fish that their nets were at the breaking point" (Lk. 5:4). Jesus calls the Church today, as always, to put out into the deep, as a witness to hope, to hear, and to respond joyfully to his word with faith and confidence.