Diocese of Grenoble-Vienne

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The Diocese of Grenoble–Vienne is a Catholic territory in south-eastern France. It is part of the Latin Church and follows the Roman Rite. It belongs to the Archdiocese of Lyon and covers the Isère department and part of the Rhône department around Villeurbanne. The diocese covers about 7,467 square kilometers. As of 2021, about 1.29 million people live in the area, with roughly 817,000 Catholics and 47 parishes. The main church is Grenoble Cathedral, and the diocese’s patron is Notre-Dame de l’Assomption. The current bishop is Jean-Marc Eychenne (appointed September 14, 2022); the metropolitan archbishop is Olivier de Germay.

History in brief:
- The diocese began in the 4th century as the Diocese of Grenoble. In 2006, it was renamed to Grenoble–Vienne.
- Before the French Revolution, Grenoble was under the Archdiocese of Vienne. After the upheavals of 1801, French dioceses were reorganized under Napoleon, and Grenoble became linked with Lyon in many matters.
- In 1970, the Diocese of Saint-Étienne was created, and Grenoble lost some territory to Lyon.
- The diocese keeps a rich record of pastoral visits from 1339 to 1970, though earlier records were damaged by floods.

Religious life and sites:
- The area has long been home to monasteries and religious orders, including the notable Grand Chartreuse near Grenoble.
- Important pilgrimage sites include Notre-Dame de Parménie, Notre-Dame de l’Osier, and Our Lady of La Salette (a major pilgrimage site since 1852).

Notable figures:
- Amatus the Anchorite, an early saint from the region.
- Peter of Tarentaise, a medieval bishop born in the area.
- Jean-Baptiste Vianney, later known as the Curé of Ars, was ordained a subdeacon in Lyon by Grenoble’s bishop and became a priest in Grenoble in 1815.