Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester

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Diocese of Rochester
Dioecesis Roffensis
Basic information
Location	Rochester, New York, United States
Territory	Counties of Monroe, Livingston, Wayne, Tioga, Tompkins, Ontario, Seneca, Schuyler, Yates, Steuben and Chemung, New York
Population	350,000 Catholics
Rite	Roman Rite
Ecclesiastical province	Archdiocese of New York
Established	March 3, 1868
Cathedral	Sacred Heart Cathedral
Bishop	Bishop of Rochester
Website	Diocese of Rochester
Current leadership
Pope	Benedict XVI
Metropolitan	Edward Michael Egan Archbishop of New York
Diocesan Bishop	Matthew H. Clark Bishop of Rochester

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester is a diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the Greater Rochester region of New York State in the United States. The region that the Diocese comprises extends from its northern border on the south shore of Lake Ontario through the Finger Lakes region to its southern border at the New York-Pennsylvania border. The current bishop of the Diocese is Bishop Matthew H. Clark. The Diocese comprises 12 counties in New York, with approximately 350,000 Catholics and over 125 faith communities (parishes), 39 diocesan elementary schools and 7 independent parochial high schools. The Metropolitan for this Diocese is the Archdiocese of New York. The Cathedral parish for this Diocese is Sacred Heart Cathedral.

Contents 1 History 2 Ordinaries 3 High schools 4 Counties 5 References 6 External links

[edit] History

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester began on March 3, 1868 when Pope Pius IX entrusted eight counties (Monroe, Livingston, Wayne, Ontario, Seneca, Cayuga, Yates, and Tompkins) within the Diocese of Buffalo to Bernard J. McQuaid, the first bishop of Rochester. The new diocese had about 54,500 Catholics in 35 parish churches and 29 mission churches.

In 1896, the counties of Schuyler, Tioga, Chemung, and Steuben were added to the Diocese of Rochester from the Diocese of Buffalo, forming the current boundaries.

The Diocese grew as Catholic immigrants came to western New York, peaking in the 1960s. Since then, the Catholic population has stabilized while the numbers of religious (priests and sisters) has fallen.^[1]

• In 1909, there were 121,000 Catholics in 93 parishes, 36 missions and 53 parish schools with 18,000 pupils. There were 164 priests and more than 500 sisters.
• In 1938, there were 223,657 Catholics in 129 parishes, 36 missions and 72 parish schools serving 23,796 pupils. There were 289 active diocesan priests.
• In 1966, there were 361,790 Catholics in 155 parishes, 36 mission churches and 99 elementary parish schools serving 45,540 pupils. There were 371 active diocesan priests and 1,549 sisters.
• In 1978, there were 358,850 Catholics in 161 parishes, 29 mission churches and 75 schools serving 19,526 pupils. There were 311 active diocesan priests and 1,095 women religious.
• In 1992, there were 361,384 Catholics in 162 parishes and 58 elementary schools serving 11,992 pupils. There were 208 active diocesan priests and 842 sisters.

[edit] Ordinaries

The following is a list of Bishops who served the Diocese of Rochester, along with their dates of service:

• Bishop Bernard J. McQuaid: March 3, 1868 - 1909 (death)
• Bishop Thomas Francis Hickey: 1909 - 1928
• Bishop John Francis O’Hern: 1928 - May 1933 (death)
• Archbishop (later Cardinal) Edward Mooney: August 1933 - May 1937 (transfer to Archdiocese of Detroit)
• Bishop James E. Kearney: 1937 - 1966
• Bishop Fulton J. Sheen: 1966 - 1969
• Bishop Joseph L. Hogan: October 1969 - November 28, 1978 (retired due to health)
• Bishop Matthew H. Clark: June 26, 1979 - present (current bishop)

[edit] High schools

• Aquinas Institute, Rochester
• Bishop Kearney High School, Rochester
• DeSales High School, Geneva
• McQuaid Jesuit High School, Rochester
• Nazareth Academy, Rochester
• Notre Dame High School, Elmira
• Our Lady of Mercy High School, Rochester

[edit] Counties

This is a list of the counties in New York State that fall into the Diocese of Rochester:

• Monroe
• Livingston
• Wayne
• Ontario
• Seneca
• Cayuga
• Yates
• Tompkins
• Schuyler (added in 1896)
• Tioga (added in 1896)
• Chemung (added in 1896)
• Steuben (added in 1896)

[edit] References

1. ^ Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester - Diocesan History

[edit] External links

• The Diocese of Rochester's Website
•   "Diocese of Rochester". Catholic Encyclopedia. (1913). New York: Robert Appleton Company. 

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