Grace Thompson
Connecticut is home to four Catholic dioceses: the Archdiocese of Hartford, the Dioceses of Bridgeport and Norwich, and the Ukrainian Catholic Diocese of Stamford. The Archdiocese of Hartford was established as the Diocese of Hartford in 1843, encompassing Connecticut and Rhode Island. In 1872, the Diocese of Providence was created, removing Rhode Island from the Diocese of Hartford, which then covered only Connecticut and Fisher's Island in New York. The Diocese of Bridgeport is led by Bishop Frank J. Caggiano, who is committed to renewing the culture of the Church and bringing believers closer to Jesus.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Catholic Dioceses in Connecticut | 4 |
| Names of the Dioceses | Archdiocese of Hartford, Diocese of Bridgeport, Diocese of Norwich, Ukrainian Catholic Diocese of Stamford |
| Number of Parishes in the Archdiocese of Hartford | 117 |
| Counties in the Archdiocese of Hartford | Hartford, Litchfield, and New Haven |
| Number of Catholics in the Archdiocese of Hartford | 400,000 |
| Current Archbishop of Hartford | Christopher J. Coyne |
| Current Bishop of Bridgeport | Frank J. Caggiano |
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What You'll Learn
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hartford
In 1941, Pope Pius XII elevated the diocese to an archdiocese, and in 1953, it officially became the Archdiocese of Hartford. The pope also erected the new Dioceses of Norwich and Bridgeport, making them suffragan dioceses of Hartford. Henry O'Brien was named the first archbishop of Hartford.
The Archdiocese of Hartford comprises the counties of Hartford, Litchfield, and New Haven in Connecticut and includes over 400,000 Catholics. There are 157 priests actively ministering within the Archdiocese, serving 115 parishes, as well as other apostolates. The priests are assisted by 95 active deacons. The mother church of the Archdiocese of Hartford is the Cathedral of Saint Joseph in Hartford, which rises 281 feet from the sidewalk and is constructed of reinforced concrete, sheathed with Alabama limestone.
In 2019, the Archdiocese of Hartford released a list of 48 clergy who were "credibly accused" of committing acts of sexual abuse while serving in the Archdiocese. As of January 2019, the Archdiocese had paid $50.6 million to settle 146 sexual abuse claims against 32 priests.
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The Diocese of Bridgeport
There are four Catholic dioceses in Connecticut: Hartford, Bridgeport, Norwich, and Providence. Each diocese is led by a bishop, who oversees the Catholic churches, schools, and other institutions within its geographic boundaries.
Now, here is some detailed information about The Diocese of Bridgeport specifically:
The diocese currently consists of 82 parishes, 19 elementary schools, and four high schools. It also oversees several other institutions, including a Catholic center at the University of Connecticut, Bridgeport, and a variety of social service agencies and ministries. The Cathedral of St. Augustine in Bridgeport serves as the mother church of the diocese and the seat of its bishop.
The first bishop of Bridgeport was Walter William Curtis, who served from 1953 until his retirement in 1988. During his tenure, Bishop Curtis established new parishes, schools, and social service agencies to meet the needs of the growing Catholic population in Fairfield County. He also played a significant role in the Second Vatican Council, particularly in the development of the council's decree on ecumenism, "Unitatis Redintegratio."
The current bishop of Bridgeport is Frank Joseph Caggiano, who was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI in 2013. Bishop Caggiano has focused on evangelization and faith formation, establishing a comprehensive initiative called "The Diocese of Bridgeport: Faith in Motion" to renew and strengthen the Catholic faith in the diocese. He has also placed a strong emphasis on youth and young adult ministry, creating new programs and initiatives to engage and involve young people in the life of the Church.
In recent years, the Diocese of Bridgeport has faced several challenges, including the ongoing process of parish consolidation and school closures due to changing demographics and financial constraints. The diocese has also been impacted by the clergy sexual abuse crisis, with several lawsuits filed against the diocese in the early 2000s. However, under Bishop Caggiano's leadership, the diocese has implemented strict policies and procedures to ensure the protection of minors and vulnerable adults, and it continues to work towards healing and reconciliation.
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The Diocese of Norwich
There are three Catholic dioceses in Connecticut: the Diocese of Norwich, the Diocese of Bridgeport, and the Archdiocese of Hartford.
In 1957, Pius XII transferred Fishers Island in Long Island Sound from the Diocese of Brooklyn to the Diocese of Norwich. Reverend Vincent Hines of the Archdiocese of Hartford was appointed as the second bishop of Norwich by John XXIII in 1959. During his tenure, Hines led a $1 million fundraising campaign for schools in the diocese. He also built two high schools in Middletown, Connecticut: Xavier High School for boys in 1963, and Mercy High School for girls in 1965.
In 1975, Pope Paul VI appointed Reverend Daniel Reilly of the Diocese of Providence as the third bishop of Norwich. He served in Norwich for 19 years before being appointed bishop of Worcester by Pope John Paul II in 1994. Pope John Paul II then named Auxiliary Bishop Daniel Anthony Hart of the Archdiocese of Boston as the fourth bishop of Norwich. During his eight-year tenure, Hart raised over $15 million through his "Response of Faith Campaign" in 1998 for the support and maintenance of diocesan services.
Michael Richard Cote, formerly an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Portland, was appointed by John Paul II as the bishop of Norwich, serving until Pope Francis accepted his resignation on 3 September 2024. Archbishop Christopher J. Coyne was appointed as the apostolic administrator for the diocese until Monsignor Richard F. Reidy from the Diocese of Worcester was appointed as the next bishop of Norwich on 12 February 2025.
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The Ukrainian Catholic Diocese of Stamford
There are several Catholic dioceses in Connecticut, including the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hartford, the Diocese of Bridgeport, and the Ukrainian Catholic Diocese of Stamford.
The diocesan bishop (eparch) of the Ukrainian Catholic Diocese of Stamford is Bishop Paul Patrick Chomnycky, O.S.B.M., who was appointed on 3 January 2006. The diocese operates the St. Basil College Seminary in Stamford, which opened in September 1939 and is the only Ukrainian Catholic liberal arts college of its kind outside of Ukraine. The college's mission is to educate and prepare men who wish to pursue a vocation to the priesthood for the Ukrainian Catholic Church. By 2007, the college had graduated 130 students, with 127 ordained to the priesthood, including six who were elevated to the episcopacy.
The Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Stamford also operated the St. Basil Preparatory School on the cathedral campus from 1933 to 1990. The school was founded by Archbishop Constantine Bohachevsky as the "Ukrainian Catholic High School", and its alumni include over 75 Ukrainian and Roman Catholic priests and two former Connecticut state judges.
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The history of the Diocese of Hartford
In the 1820s, Catholic immigrants began arriving in Connecticut, and Bishop Benedict Fenwick of Boston purchased an existing Episcopalian church in Hartford, establishing Holy Trinity, the state's first Catholic church. By the 1840s, the Catholic population in the region had grown significantly, and Bishop Fenwick petitioned the Vatican for a diocese specifically for Connecticut and Rhode Island. As a result, on November 28, 1843, Pope Gregory XVI established the Diocese of Hartford, encompassing both Connecticut and Rhode Island.
The first bishop of Hartford was William Tyler of Boston, chosen by Pope Gregory XVI. Despite having only 600 Catholics in Hartford at the time, as compared to 2,000 in Providence, Tyler diligently served his flock. He travelled by foot, distributed food to the hungry, and personally attended to the sick in his parish. Tyler also recruited clergy from All Hallows College in Ireland and received financial support from Catholic societies in France and Austria. Unfortunately, Tyler passed away in 1849 after six years of dedicated service.
Bernard O'Reilly of the Diocese of New York was appointed as the second bishop of Hartford by Pope Pius IX in 1850. O'Reilly worked tirelessly to secure priests for the diocese and defend Catholics amidst anti-Catholic sentiments. He funded St. Mary's Theological Seminary and even taught classes there. In 1852, he travelled to Europe to recruit more priests, including students from All Hallows College in Dublin. Unfortunately, in January 1856, O'Reilly was lost at sea, leaving the Diocese of Hartford without a bishop for two years.
In 1858, Francis McFarland of New York was named as the next bishop by Pope Pius IX. Due to his declining health, McFarland later petitioned for the division of his diocese. As a result, in 1872, the Vatican established the Diocese of Providence, which took responsibility for Rhode Island. This change reduced the Diocese of Hartford to the state of Connecticut and Fisher's Island in New York. McFarland introduced several religious orders to the diocese and constructed a convent for the Sisters of Mercy. He passed away in 1874.
The fourth bishop of Hartford, Thomas Galberry, was installed in 1877. Despite his sudden death just two years later, he laid the cornerstone for the original cathedral. This was followed by the leadership of Lawrence S. McMahon, who established 48 parishes and 16 school parishes during his 14-year tenure. In 1941, the Diocese of Hartford was elevated to an Archdiocese by Pope Pius XII.
In more recent times, the Archdiocese of Hartford has continued to grow and serve its Catholic population. It currently comprises the counties of Hartford, Litchfield, and New Haven in Connecticut, with over 400,000 Catholics and 117 parishes. The current archbishop, as of May 1, 2024, is Christopher J. Coyne, who oversees the spiritual needs of the archdiocese.
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Frequently asked questions
There are four Catholic dioceses in Connecticut.
The four Catholic dioceses in Connecticut are the Archdiocese of Hartford, the Dioceses of Bridgeport and Norwich, and the Ukrainian Catholic Diocese of Stamford.
Bishop Frank J. Caggiano is the fifth and current Bishop of the Diocese of Bridgeport.
