List of Catholic dioceses in the United States
This list of the Catholic dioceses and archdioceses of the United States includes not only dioceses of the Latin or Western Church, using the Roman Rite, but also various dioceses, mainly the eparchies (dioceses) of the Eastern Catholic Churches of various (Byzantine and other) rites which are in full communion with the Bishop of Rome. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, is not a metropolitan see. The Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter was established on January 1, 2012, for former Anglicans to join the Catholic Church.[1]
The Catholic Church has a total of 198 particular churches, consisting of 32 territorial archdioceses, 145 territorial dioceses, the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (serving members of the armed forces and the Diplomatic Corps, those in facilities of the Veterans Administration, and their dependents), and the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter (serving those of the Anglican tradition) within the Roman Rite, two archieparchies, sixteen eparchies, and one apostolic exarchate,[2] in the fifty states of the United States and the U. S. Virgin Islands. The pastor of any particular church other than an ordinariate must receive ordination as a bishop, but his title conforms to that of his jurisdiction: the pastor of an archdiocese is an archbishop, the pastor of a diocese is a bishop, the pastor of an archieparchy is an archieparch, the pastor of an eparchy is an eparch, and the pastor of an exarchate is an exarch. The pastor of an ordinariate, called the "ordinary" (a term also used generically to refer to the pastor of any particular church), may be either a bishop, if celibate, or a presbyter ("priest"), if married, but he holds the same power of governance over the ordinariate that a bishop holds over his diocese in either case—a provision deliberately instituted by Pope Benedict XVI to allow married former Anglican bishops who come into the full communion of the Catholic Church with many of their congregations to hold the office without violating sensitivities in ecumenical relations with the churches of the Orthodox Communion, which also maintains a celibate episcopacy. The pastor of each particular church is, ex officio, a full member of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). Auxiliary and retired bishops are also members of this body, but have no vote.
In the United States, each archbishop is also the metropolitan of an ecclesiastical province that encompasses several of the neighboring dioceses. Likewise, each archieparch is also the metropolitan of an ecclesiastical province that encompasses all of eparchies of the same sui juris ritual church within the United States. Most provincial and diocesan boundaries conform to state, county, or, in Louisiana, parish political boundaries.[3] The sui juris Ukrainian Catholic Church has ecclesiastical province consisting of an archieparchy and three eparchies and the sui juris Byzantine Catholic Church has an ecclesiastical province consisting of an archieparchy and two eparchies; the boundaries of these jurisdictions also generally conform to state lines. Most of the remaining eparchies and the exarchate are national in scope, but two particular churches—the Armenian Catholic Eparchy of Our Lady of Nareg in the United States and Canada and the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter—are international, encompassing all of the United States and Canada, so their pastors also are, ex officio, regular members of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB).
There are several other dioceses that encompass the nation's unincorporated territories. Puerto Rico has one ecclesial province, consisting of an archdiocese and five dioceses, which forms the Puerto Rican Episcopal Conference separate from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).[4] The dioceses that encompass American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam are part of the Episcopal Conference of the Pacific.
In the Roman Rite, (arch)dioceses customarily take the name of the city of the (arch)bishop's official seat, called the "see." A few dioceses have the names of two cities, variously reflecting a shift in the major center of population (the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston), plans to split a diocese in the future (the former Diocese of Reno-Las Vegas), a merger of two former dioceses (the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph), political expedience (the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis), or a perceived need for some episcopal functions to be accessible to residents in another part of his territory (the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown). Some of the sui juris ritual churches also follow this custom, while others have named their jurisdictions after saints or other titles of religious significance.
In the Catholic Church, there are many bishops who do not govern dioceses.
- A "coadjutor" is appointed to assist the bishop of a diocese or eparchy with the day-to-day governance thereof, with right of automatic succession upon the death or resignation of the diocesan bishop. A coadjutor always holds the title "Coadjutor of <name of see>." The coadjutor of an archdiocese or archieparchy also holds status as an archbishop or archieparch.
- A retired diocesan bishop holds the title of "Bishop Emeritus of <name of see>" or, in the case of an archdiocese, "Archbishop Emeritus of <name of see>."
- But auxiliary bishops, bishops who govern entities that are not canonically erected as dioceses, bishops and archbishops who work in the Roman Curia, and bishops and archbishops of the Vatican's diplomatic corps hold titles of former diocesan and archdiocesan sees.
- The pope also may confer the personal title of archbishop (archbishop ad personam) on a diocesan bishop who does not govern an archdiocese. Such a diocesan bishop holds the title of a former archdiocesan see in addition to the title of his own diocese. The late Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, Bishop of Rochester and Titular Archbishop of Neoportus, nationally known for his radio talk shows, is one of the more famous examples of this.
When a diocese is suppressed or when a diocesan see is transferred to another place, the title of the former see becomes available for assignment to a titular bishop or, in the case of an archdiocese, a titular archbishop or an archbishop ad personam. The Vatican resurrected the titles of many former sees in the United States in the mid-1990s, as shown by the table of former dioceses toward the end of this article.
Territorial provinces and dioceses
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Military Archdiocese
Members of the Armed Forces of the United States and their dependents, employees of the U.S. Veterans Health Administration and its patients, and Americans in government service overseas, including the nation's diplomatic corps and their dependents — both Latin and Eastern — are served by the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA. It is led by an archbishop, who is assisted by presently four auxiliary bishops. It should be noted that the status as an "Archdiocese" is merely an honorary title. In 1986, Pope St. John Paul II changed the structure for military chaplaincies from "Military Vicariates" to "Military Ordinariates",[5] the head of which was likened to a Diocesan bishop. The ordinary of the "Archdiocese of Military Services" is, usually, granted the personal title of Archbishop, though this is not mandatory to hold the position.
Eastern Catholic eparchies
Province of Philadelphia (Ukrainian)
The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in the United States is organized into a metropolia (or province) consisting of a metropolitan archeparchy and three suffragan eparchies.
| Metropolia | Metropolia Map | Eparchy |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia |  |
Archeparchy of Philadelphia |
| Eparchy of Chicago | ||
| Eparchy of St. Josaphat of Parma | ||
| Eparchy of Stamford | ||
Province of Pittsburgh (Ruthenian)
The Ruthenian Catholic Church in the United States is organized into the sui iuris Province of Pittsburgh, consisting of a metropolitan archeparchy and three suffragan eparchies. The eparchies also serve the faithful of other Byzantine Rite Churches without established hierarchies in the United States, namely those of the Albanian, Belarusian, Bulgarian, Croatian, Greek, Hungarian, Italo-Albanian, Macedonian, Russian, and Slovakian Byzantine Catholic Churches.
| Metropolia | Metropolia Map | Eparchy |
|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh |  |
Archeparchy of Pittsburgh |
| Eparchy of Parma | ||
| Eparchy of Passaic | ||
| Eparchy of Phoenix | ||
Eastern Catholic Eparchies Immediately Subject to the Holy See
The following particular churches of various Eastern Rites are not suffragan to Metropolitan sees, but are instead exempt, i.e. immediately subject to the Holy See, while they remain part of their respective patriarchal, major archiepiscopal or other rite- & tradition-specific particular Churches.
Personal Ordinariate (Anglican use)
Under the provisions of Anglicanorum Coetibus, issued in 2009, an effort was underway to establish a personal ordinariate, or diocese, in the United States. The ordinariate was formed for former Anglicans, including members from the Episcopal Church, Continuing Anglican churches and Anglican Use parishes. The world's first such ordinariate is the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham of England and Wales. The personal ordinariate for the United States, the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter, was established on January 1, 2012 in accordance with the apostolic constitution Anglicanorum coetibus of Pope Benedict XVI.[1]
Former US Dioceses
| Diocese | Cathedral | History | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roman Catholic Diocese of Allegheny | St. Peter's Church | •1876.01.11: Established as Diocese of Allegheny with territory from Diocese of Pittsburgh •1889.07.01: Suppressed, with territory returned to Diocese of Pittsburgh •1971: Title of Bishop of Allegheny Restored as Titular Episcopal See |
[6] |
| Roman Catholic Diocese of Alton | Church of Sts. Peter and Paul | •1853.07.29: Established as Diocese of Quincy, with territory from Diocese of Chicago •1857.01.09: See Transferred and Title Changed to Diocese of Alton •1887.01.07: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Belleville •1923.10.26: See Transferred and Title Changed Diocese of Springfield in Illinois •1995: Title of Bishop of Alton Restored as Titular Episcopal See |
[7] |
| Roman Catholic Diocese of Bardstown | Basilica of St. Joseph Proto-Cathedral | •1808.04.08: Established as Diocese of Bardstown with territory from Diocese of Baltimore •1821.06.19: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Cincinnati •1834.05.06: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Vincennes •1837.07.28: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Nashville •1841.02.13: See Transferred and Title Changed to Diocese of Louisville •1937: Elevated to Archdiocese •1995: Title of Bishop of Bardstown Restored as Titular Episcopal See |
[8] |
| Roman Catholic Diocese of Both Californias | •1840.04.27: Established as Diocese of Both Californias with territory from the Diocese of Sonora •1849.11.20: Title Changed to Diocese of Monterey •1859: Title Changed to Diocese of Monterey-Los Angeles •1992: Title Changed to Diocese of Los Angeles-San Diego •1922: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Monterrey-Fresno •1936: Elevated to Archdiocese; lost territory to establish Diocese of San Diego •1976: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Orange 1978: Lost territory to establish Diocese of San Bernardino •1996: Title of Bishop of Both Californias Restored as Titular Episcopal See |
[9][10] | |
| Roman Catholic Diocese of Concordia | Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church | •1887.08.02: Established as Diocese of Concordia with territory from Diocese of Leavenworth •1944.12.23: See transferred and title changed to Diocese of Salina •1995: Title of Bishop of Concordia Restored as Titular Episcopal See |
[11] |
| Roman Catholic Diocese of Grass Valley | St. Patrick Church | •1860.09.27: Established as Apostolic Vicariate of Marysville with territory from Metropolitan Archdiocese of San Francisco •1868.03.22: Promoted as Diocese of Grass Valley •1886.05.28: Title Changed to Diocese of Sacramento •1995: Restored as Titular Episcopal See of Grass Valley |
[12] |
| Roman Catholic Diocese of Jamestown | St. James Church | •1889.11.10: Established as Diocese of Jamestown with territory from Apostolic Vicariate of Dakota •1897.04.06: See Transferred and Title Changed to Diocese of Fargo •1995: Title of Bishop of Jamestown Restored as Titular Episcopal |
[13] |
| Roman Catholic Diocese of Kearney | •1912.03.08: Established as Diocese of Kearney with territory from Diocese of Omaha •1917.04.11: See transferred and title changed to Diocese of Grand Island •1995: Title of Bishop of Kearney Restored as Titular Episcopal See |
[14] | |
| Roman Catholic Diocese of Lead | St. Patrick’s Church | •1902.08.04: Established as Diocese of Lead with territory from Diocese of Sioux Falls •1930.08.01: See transferred and title changed to Diocese of Rapid City •1995: Title of Bishop of Lead Restored as Titular Episcopal See |
[15] |
| Roman Catholic Diocese of Leavenworth | Church of the Immaculate Conception | •1850.07.19: Established as Apostolic Vicariate of Indian Territory East of the Rocky Mountains with territory from Diocese of New Orleans •1857.01.06: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Vicariate of Nebraska •1857: Renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of Kansas •1877.05.22: Promoted as Diocese of Leavenworth •1887.08.02: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Wichita and Diocese of Concordia •1891.05.29: Title Changed to Diocese of Kansas City, Kansas •1897.03.05: Title Changed to Diocese of Leavenworth •1947.05.10: See Transferred and Title Changed to Diocese of Kansas City in Kansas •1952: Elevated to Archdiocese •1995: Title of Bishop of Leavenworth Restored as Titular Episcopal See |
[16] |
| Roman Catholic Diocese of Natchez | St. Mary Basilica | •1826.07.18: Established as Apostolic Vicariate of Mississippi with territoriy from Diocese of Louisiana •1837.07.28: Promoted as Diocese of Natchez •1956.12.18: Title Changed to Diocese of Natchez–Jackson •1977.03.01: See Transferred and Title Changed to Diocese of Natchez; Lost territory to establish Diocese of Biloxi and Diocese of Jackson •1977.03.01: Title of Bishop of Natchez designated as Titular Episcopal See |
[17] |
| Roman Catholic Diocese of Natchitoches | Basilica of the Immaculate Conception | •1853.07.29: Established as Diocese of Natchitoches with territory from Metropolitan Archdiocese of New Orleans •1910.08.06: See Transferred and Title Changed to Diocese of Alexandria •1977: Title Changed to Diocese of Alexandria-Shreveport •1986: Title Changed to Diocese of Alexandria; lost territory to establish Diocese of Shreveport •1995: Title of Bishop of Natchitoches Restored as Titular Episcopal See |
[18] |
| Roman Catholic Diocese of Nesqually | Proto-Cathedral of St. James the Greater | •1850.05.31: Established as Diocese of Nesqually with territory from Diocese of Walla Walla •1853.07.29: Gained territory from the suppressed Diocese of Walla Walla •1907.09.11: See Transferred and Title Changed to Diocese of Seattle •1951: Elevated to Archdiocese •1995: Title of Bishop of Nesqually Restored as Titular Episcopal See |
[19] |
| Roman Catholic Diocese of Oregon City | St. John the Apostle Church | •1843.12.01: Established as Apostolic Vicariate of Oregon with territory from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Baltimore and Archdiocese of Québec •1846.07.24: Promoted as Diocese of Oregon City, lost territory to establish Diocese of Vancouver Island and Diocese of Walla Walla •1850.07.29: Elevated to Metropolitan Archdiocese of Oregon City •1868.03.03: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Vicariate of Idaho and Montana •1894: Gained territory from Diocese of Vancouver Island •1903.06.19: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Baker City •1928.09.26: See Transferred and Title Changed to Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon •1996: Title of Archbishop of Oregon City Restored as Titular Metropolitan See |
[20] |
| Roman Catholic Diocese of Quincy | •1853.07.29: Established as Diocese of Quincy, with territory from Diocese of Chicago •1857.01.09: See Transferred and Title Changed to Diocese of Alton •1887.01.07: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Belleville •1923.10.26: See Transferred and Title Changed Diocese of Springfield in Illinois •1995: Title of Bishop of Alton Restored as Titular Episcopal See |
[21] | |
| Roman Catholic Diocese of Sault Sainte Marie | Holy Name of Mary Pro-Cathedral | •1853.07.29: Established as Apostolic Vicariate of Upper Michigan with territory from Diocese of Detroit •1857.01.09: Promoted as Diocese of Sault Sainte Marie •1865.10.23: Renamed as Diocese of Sault Sainte Marie–Marquette •1937.01.03: See transferred and title changed to Diocese of Marquette •1995: Title of Biship of Sault Sainte Marie Restored as Titular Episcopal See •1996: Title of Titular See Changed to Bishop of Sault Sainte Marie in Michigan |
[22] |
| Roman Catholic Diocese of Vincennes | Basilica of St. Francis Xavier | •1834.05.06: Established as Diocese of Vincennes with territory from Diocese of Bardstown •1857.01.08: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Fort Wayne •1898.03.28: See transferred and title changed to Diocese of Indianapolis •1944: Elevated to Metropolitan Archdiocese; lost territory to establish Diocese of Evansville •1995: Title of Bishop of Vincennes Restored as Titular Episcopal See |
[23] |
| Roman Catholic Diocese of Walla Walla | •1846.07.24: Established as Diocese of Walla Walla with territory from Apostolic Vicariate of Oregon •1850.05.31: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Nesqually •1853.07.29: Suppressed, with territory merged into Diocese of Nesqually •1971: Title of Bishop of Walla Walla Restored as Titular Episcopal See |
[24] | |
See also
- Category:Roman Catholic dioceses in the United States (including ecclesiastical provinces)
- Provincial boundary lines in the U.S.
- List of the Catholic bishops of the United States
- List of Catholic dioceses (structured view)
- List of Catholic dioceses (alphabetical)
- List of the Catholic cathedrals of the United States
- List of basilicas#North American & Central American Basilicas
- Category:Roman Catholic churches in the United States (including sub-categories for shrines, cathedrals, and former churches) – churches are listed by state, territory, or district.
- Nunciature to the United States
- List of Roman Catholic dioceses in North America#Episcopal Conference of the United States of America
- List of Catholic dioceses (alphabetical) (including archdioceses)
- List of Catholic dioceses (structured view) (including archdioceses)
- List of Roman Catholic archdioceses (by country and continent)
Footnotes
- 1 2 Cardinal Levada, William (January 1, 2012). "Decree of Erection of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter" (PDF). Holy See.
- ↑ On July 14, 2010, Pope Benedict XVI erected an apostolic exarchate (similar to an apostolic vicariate in the Latin Church) — the Syro-Malankara Catholic Exarchate in the United States — for Syro-Malankara Catholics in the United States. Although not the same as an eparchy (diocese), an exarchate is still led by a bishop.
- ↑ For exceptions, see Provincial Boundary Lines.
- ↑ Conferencia Episcopal Puertorriqueña (C.E.P.). GCatholic.org website. Retrieved 2011-02-13.
- ↑ http://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/la/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_jp-ii_apc_19860421_spirituali-militum-curae.html
- ↑ "Titular Episcopal See of Allegheny". GCatholic.org. 21 February 2016. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
- ↑ "Titular Episcopal See of Alton". GCatholic.org. 21 February 2016. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
- ↑ "Titular Episcopal See of Bardstown". GCatholic.org.
- ↑ "Titular Episcopal See of Both Californias". GCatholic.org. 21 February 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
- ↑ "California". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
- ↑ "Titular Episcopal See of Concordia". GCatholic.org. 21 February 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
- ↑ "Titular Episcopal See of Grass Valley". GCatholic.org. 21 February 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
- ↑ "Titular Episcopal See of Jamestown". GCatholic.org. 21 February 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
- ↑ "Titular Episcopal See of Kearney". GCatholic.org. 21 February 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
- ↑ "Titular Episcopal See of Lead". GCatholic.org. 21 February 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
- ↑ "Titular Episcopal See of Leavenworth". GCatholic.org. 21 February 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
- ↑ "Titular Episcopal See of Natchez". GCatholic.org. 21 February 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
- ↑ "Titular Episcopal See of Nachitoches". GCatholic.org. 21 February 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
- ↑ "Titular Episcopal See of Nesqually". GCatholic.org. 21 February 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
- ↑ "Titular Episcopal See of Oregon City". GCatholic.org. 21 February 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
- ↑ "Titular Episcopal See of Quincy". GCatholic.org. 21 February 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
- ↑ "Titular Episcopal See of Sault Sainte Marie". GCatholic.org. 21 February 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
- ↑ "Titular Episcopal See of Vincennes". GCatholic.org. 21 February 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
- ↑ "Titular Episcopal See of Walla Walla". GCatholic.org. 21 February 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
