Michael Brooks
The Catholic Church has a significant presence in New Jersey, with six dioceses: Newark, Trenton, Camden, Metuchen, Paterson, and Passaic. These dioceses serve over 3.5 million Catholics in nearly 600 parishes across the state. The history of Catholicism in New Jersey dates back to the 18th century, with the establishment of the Diocese of Baltimore in 1789, which included New Jersey. The Archdiocese of Newark, the metropolitan see, has four suffragan dioceses under its jurisdiction. The Catholic Church in New Jersey has faced several sex abuse scandals, resulting in compensation payments to victims.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Catholic Diocese in New Jersey | 6 |
| Names of Diocese | Newark, Trenton, Camden, Metuchen, Paterson, and Passaic |
| Number of Parishes | Nearly 600 |
| Number of Catholic elementary and high schools | 500 |
| Number of students in Catholic schools | More than 120,000 |
| Number of Catholic hospitals | 13 |
| Catholic population in New Jersey | More than 3.5 million |
| Archbishop of Newark | Cardinal Tobin |
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What You'll Learn
The Archdiocese of Newark
The Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Newark educate students in grades Pre-K through 12 across the counties of Bergen, Essex, Hudson, and Union. Since 2011, a third of these schools have been recognized by the state with a Blue Ribbon from the US Department of Education.
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Diocese of Trenton
New Jersey is home to five Catholic dioceses: the Archdiocese of Newark, the Diocese of Trenton, the Diocese of Camden, the Diocese of Paterson, and the Diocese of Metuchen. This response will focus on the Diocese of Trenton.
The Diocese of Trenton was erected in 1881 by Pope Leo XIII, who designated the Church of St. Mary of the Assumption as its cathedral and appointed Michael J. O'Farrell of New York as its first bishop. The Trenton area had previously been part of the Diocese of Newark, but the new diocese took over southern and central New Jersey.
The Catholic population of New Jersey was growing rapidly during this time, increasing from 25,000 in 1860 to 130,000 in 1880, and 145,000 in 1881. The first Catholic Mass in Trenton was celebrated around 1804 in the printing office of Isaac Collins. In 1811, services moved to the home of John Baptist Sartori, and in 1814, the first Catholic parish in New Jersey, St. John the Baptist, was constructed.
During his tenure, O'Farrell established several new parishes and missions, as well as an orphanage in New Brunswick and a home for the elderly in Beverly. When he died in 1884, the diocese contained 92 priests, 101 churches, and 82 parochial schools. St. John the Baptist Church, the first Catholic church in the diocese, burned down the following year.
In 1894, Reverend James McFaul of Newark was appointed the second bishop of Trenton. During his tenure, he continued to establish Catholic institutions in South Jersey, including an orphanage at Hopewell, a home for senior citizens at Lawrenceville, and Mount St. Mary's College at Plainfield. McFaul also established Catholic Charities in Trenton in 1913.
Today, Catholic Charities Diocese of Trenton is a re-accredited, independent nonprofit organization that provides child and family services and behavioral healthcare.
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Diocese of Camden
There are five Catholic dioceses in New Jersey: the Archdiocese of Newark, the Diocese of Camden, the Diocese of Trenton, the Diocese of Metuchen, and the Diocese of Paterson. This answer will focus on the Diocese of Camden.
The Diocese of Camden is a Latin Church diocese of the Catholic Church in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It was erected by Pope Pius XI on December 9, 1937, taking its present territory from the Diocese of Trenton. The pope designated the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Camden as its cathedral and named Reverend Bartholomew J. Eustace of the Archdiocese of New York as its first bishop.
When Eustace became bishop, the new diocese had 75 diocesan priests and 11 religious priests serving approximately 100,000 Catholics in 49 parishes and 31 missions, as well as 30 elementary and five secondary schools. Eustace founded two parishes specifically for African-American Catholics: St. Monica's in Atlantic City and St. Bartholomew's in Camden. He also founded Our Lady of Fatima Parish for Spanish-speaking Catholics.
Eustace was succeeded by Auxiliary Bishop Justin J. McCarthy of Newark, appointed by Pope Pius XII in 1957. McCarthy opened a mobile chapel for migrant workers in 1957 and secured the services of four Oblates of the Sacred Heart Sisters to teach religion and do social work at Our Lady of Fatima Parish in 1959. He also erected four new parishes and founded a diocesan commission on properties and buildings. During his tenure, the Catholic population and the number of priests in the diocese more than doubled.
Today, the Diocese of Camden serves approximately 475,000 Catholics in 62 parishes across Atlantic, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem Counties. The current Bishop of Camden is Joseph A. Williams, who was named Coadjutor Bishop by Pope Francis on May 21, 2024, and became the ninth Bishop upon the retirement of his predecessor, Dennis J. Sullivan, on March 17, 2025.
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Diocese of Metuchen
There are currently six Catholic dioceses in New Jersey, each covering different counties within the state. One of these is the Diocese of Metuchen, which was founded on November 19, 1981, by Pope John Paul II. It encompasses 109 parishes across four counties in central New Jersey: Hunterdon, Middlesex, Somerset, and Warren. The Diocese of Metuchen is led by the Bishop, currently James F. Checchio, who resides at the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi in Metuchen, which serves as the mother church for the diocese.
The diocese has a strong focus on Catholic education and operates a network of schools across the region. It oversees 44 elementary schools and seven high schools, providing faith-based education to thousands of students. The Diocese of Metuchen also places a high priority on evangelization and outreach, with various ministries and programs aimed at spreading the Gospel and serving those in need. This includes initiatives such as the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis, which offers resources and programs for faith formation and discipleship.
Social services and charitable works are also a significant part of the diocese's mission. It operates Catholic Charities, one of the largest social service providers in the region, offering a wide range of programs to help the needy, including emergency assistance, counseling, and immigration services. The diocese also has a strong commitment to promoting and defending the sanctity of life at all stages, with active pro-life ministries and initiatives.
The Diocese of Metuchen has a rich cultural and ethnic diversity, with a significant number of parishes serving specific cultural communities. These include Polish, Spanish, Filipino, Korean, and Vietnamese communities, among others. The diocese also has a strong devotion to the Blessed Mother, with several shrines dedicated to Our Lady, such as the National Blue Army Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Washington, which is a significant pilgrimage site.
The diocese organizes various events and programs throughout the year to foster community and faith, such as the annual Catholic Charities Appeal, which raises funds for those in need, and the Diocesan Pilgrimage to the March for Life in Washington, D.C., where thousands of parishioners come together to defend the sanctity of life. The Diocese of Metuchen also has a strong presence of religious orders and consecrated life, with several monasteries, convents, and houses of formation across the region.
Overall, the Diocese of Metuchen plays a vital role in the spiritual and social fabric of central New Jersey, serving the Catholic community through its parishes, schools, and ministries. It strives to live out its motto, "That They May Be One" (John 17:21), by fostering unity and love among all people, inspired by the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
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Diocese of Paterson
New Jersey is home to five Catholic dioceses: the Archdiocese of Newark, the Diocese of Paterson, the Diocese of Trenton, the Diocese of Metuchen, and another diocese that is not explicitly named.
The Diocese of Paterson
The Diocese of Paterson was established by Pope Pius XI on December 9, 1937, when its territory was separated from the Archdiocese of Newark. The pope named Auxiliary Bishop Thomas H. McLaughlin of Newark as the first bishop of Paterson. St. John the Baptist in Paterson was designated as the diocesan cathedral.
The Diocese of Paterson comprises New Jersey’s three northwest counties of Morris, Passaic, and Sussex, covering an area of 1,214 square miles with a population of 1,134,000. Within this area are 430,000 Catholics spread across 109 parishes, where Mass is offered in 14 different languages. The diocese also includes 22 Catholic schools, 70 Catholic Charities programs, and various ministries.
The current bishop of Paterson is Kevin J. Sweeney, who was installed as the eighth bishop of the diocese in July 2020.
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Frequently asked questions
There are six Catholic dioceses in New Jersey.
The six Catholic dioceses in New Jersey are Newark, Trenton, Camden, Metuchen, Paterson, and Passaic.
The Archdiocese of Newark is a Latin Church ecclesiastical jurisdiction, or archdiocese, of the Catholic Church in northeastern New Jersey in the United States.
There are four suffragan dioceses in the Archdiocese of Newark.
By February 2020, the five Catholic dioceses in New Jersey had paid over $11 million to compensate for 105 claims of sex abuse committed by clergy.
