Nicolet, Diocese of (NICOLETANA), in the Province of Quebec, Canada, suffragan of Quebec. It comprises the counties of Nicolet, Yamaska, Arthabaska, Drummond, and a small part of Shefford and Bagot. The see takes its name from the town of Nicolet (population 3915), situated on the south bank of the St. Lawrence, opposite Trois-Rivieres.
It was erected into a bishopric on July 11, 1885, by separation from the Diocese of Trois-Rivieres, the first occupant of the see being Msgr. Elphege Gravel. He was born on October 12, 1838, at Saint-Antoine de Richelieu, Quebec; consecrated at Rome on August 2, 1885, and died, January 28, 1904. His successor, Msgr. Joseph-Simon-Herman Brunault, the present occupant of the see, was born at St-David, Quebec, on January 10, 1857; educated at the seminary of Nicolet and the Canadian College, Rome; ordained, June 29, 1882. Having ministered two years in the cathedral of St. Hyacinth and taught for many years in the seminary of Nicolet, first as professor of literature, and then of theology, he was named coadjutor to Msgr. Gravel and consecrated titular Bishop of Tubuna, December 27, 1899; and succeeded as Bishop of Nicolet, January 28, 1904. The seminary of Nicolet was founded in October, 1803, and affiliated to the Laval University of Quebec, in 1863; it contains over 320 students; a grand seminaire, likewise affiliated to the University of Laval, was established at Nicolet, February 22, 1908.
The religious in the diocese are as follows: Soeurs de I’Assomption de la Sainte-Vierge, teachers, founded at St-Gregoire (Nicolet) in 1853, have eighteen houses in the diocese; Soeurs Grises (de Nicolet), hospitallers, three houses; Congregation de Notre-Dame (of Mont-real), teachers, at Arthabaskaville, and Victoriaville; Soeurs de la Presentation de la Bienheureuse Vierge Marie, teachers, at St-David and Drummondville; Soeurs Grises de la Croix (of Ottawa), teachers and nurses, with academy and school of house-keeping at St-Francois du Lac, and a school at Pierreville (Abenaki Indian village); Religieuses hospitalieres de St-Joseph (of Montreal), hospitallers, at Arthabaskaville; Soeurs du Precieux-Sang, and Soeurs de la Sainte-Famille at Nicolet; the Freres des Ecoles Chretiennes have schools at Nicolet, Arthabaskaville, La Baie, and St-Gregoire; the Freres de la Charite are at Drummondville; and the Freres du Sacre-Coeur teach at Arthabaskaville, and Victoriaville. General Statistics.—Secular priests, 140; brothers, 120; sisters, 400; churches with resident priests, 65; mission, 1; theological seminary, 1; college seminary, 1; commercial colleges and academies for boys, 11; students, 1500; academies for young ladies in charge of sisters, 28; students, 1800; normal school for young ladies, 1; parochial schools, 500; children attending parochial schools, 20,000; orphan asylums, 1; orphans, 120; hospitals, 3; population: Catholic French Canadians, 90,000; Irish Canadians, 600; Protestants, 1800; total population, 92,400.
J.—S.—HERMAN BRUNAULT.