Sarah Mitchell
The number of Catholic parishes in the US is a topic of interest given the recent decision by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York to close several churches, following a nationwide trend of Catholic parish closures. This is despite the number of self-identified US Catholics rising from 48.5 million in 1965 to 76.7 million in 2014. As of 2024, there are over 17,600 parishes across 176 US dioceses, with a total of 196 particular churches in the 50 US states, Washington, D.C., and the US Virgin Islands.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Catholic parishes in the US | 17,483 (as of 2014) or 17,600+ (as of 2024) |
| Number of Catholic parishes in New York | 112 parishes closed and 55 new parishes formed (as of 2014) |
| Number of Catholic archdioceses in the US | 33 |
| Number of Catholic dioceses in the US | 143 |
| Number of Catholic churches in the US | 196 |
| Catholic churches in the US Virgin Islands | 1 archdiocese and 1 diocese |
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What You'll Learn
There are 17,600+ Catholic parishes in the US
There are over 17,600 Catholic parishes in the United States, according to data from 2024. This figure represents a decrease in the number of parishes over time, despite an increase in the number of Catholics in the country. For example, in 1988, there were 19,705 parishes in the US.
The Catholic Church in the United States is organised into 194 archdioceses/dioceses, including the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, and the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter. These are divided into 14 geographic regions, typically including multiple archdioceses and dioceses across one or more states.
The Archdiocese for the Military Services provides pastoral and spiritual care to those serving in the armed forces, veterans' affairs facilities, and their dependents. The Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter, established in 2012, serves former Anglican groups and clergy who have become Catholic. It is based in Houston, Texas and includes parishes and communities across the US that retain elements of their Anglican heritage and traditions.
The Catholic Church in the US also includes Eastern Catholic Churches, which have origins in Eastern Europe, Asia, and Africa, and have their distinctive liturgical, legal, and organisational systems. These churches are organised into archeparchies and eparchies, with jurisdiction over large areas of the US and Canada.
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Parish closures are a nationwide trend
This decline in parishes comes despite a growth in the number of self-identified U.S. Catholics. Between 1965 and 2014, the number of Catholics in the country rose from 48.5 million to 76.7 million, according to CARA's data. This trend is not limited to New York but is also evident in other regions, particularly the Northeast and Midwest. For instance, Chicago has witnessed a significant decrease in the number of parishes, with a third fewer parishes today than just five years ago.
The reasons behind these closures are multifaceted. One factor is the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which altered people's worship habits. Even as churches resumed in-person services, attendance levels struggled to return to pre-pandemic numbers. The pandemic accelerated an existing trend of Americans moving away from Christianity. Additionally, the Catholic Church has been affected by the sexual abuse scandal, driving away individuals with tenuous connections to the faith.
Furthermore, the closures reflect a shift in the way people engage with religion. There is a generational change, with grandparents being regular churchgoers, while their children may believe in God but not attend church regularly. By the time millennials arrived, they had little connection to churchgoing or religion. Other factors contributing to closures include dropping participation and giving, as well as the failure of churches to adapt to changing demographics and attract younger generations.
To adapt to these changes, some parishes have chosen to merge with others. For example, St. Bartholomew Parish in Chicago merged with two other parishes as part of the "Renew My Church" initiative. While some members may find this upsetting, others view it as an opportunity to form new relationships and strengthen their community.
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The Catholic Church has 196 churches in the US
The Catholic Church has a rich history in the United States, with a presence that extends across all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and even the U.S. Virgin Islands. As of 2025, there are 196 particular churches that comprise the Catholic Church in the United States. This includes a diverse range of dioceses and archdioceses, each serving a unique community of faithful Catholics.
The Catholic Church in the United States is organized into 14 geographic regions, each typically containing multiple archdioceses and dioceses. There are 33 territorial archdioceses and 143 territorial dioceses spread across the nation. Additionally, the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, serves those connected to the U.S. Armed Forces and the diplomatic corps, as well as veterans and their dependents. This archdiocese is unique in that it is not a metropolitan diocese.
The Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter, established in 2012, serves former Anglicans who have joined the Catholic Church. With a base in Houston, Texas, this ordinariate has a national scope, encompassing parishes and communities across the United States. It retains elements of Anglican heritage and traditions while being fully integrated into the Catholic faith.
Eastern Catholic Churches, with origins in Eastern Europe, Asia, and Africa, constitute their own membership region. They are distinguished by their unique liturgical, legal, and organizational systems and are identified by the national or ethnic character of their region of origin. These churches have jurisdiction over large areas of the United States and Canada, serving their respective communities with dedication.
While the number of self-identified Catholics in the United States has been rising over the years, there has been a concurrent trend of Catholic parish closures. Despite this, the Catholic Church in the United States continues to thrive and adapt to the needs of its diverse and devoted congregation, ensuring that its presence remains strong and vibrant in communities across the nation.
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The US has 194 archdioceses/dioceses
The Catholic Church in the United States is divided into 194 archdioceses and dioceses. These are further divided into 14 geographic regions, each containing two or more metropolitan archdioceses and several dioceses spread across one or more states.
The Catholic Church in the US also includes the Archdiocese for the Military Services, which provides pastoral care and spiritual services to those serving in the armed forces, the Veterans Affairs Department, and their dependents. This archdiocese is led by an archbishop and four auxiliary bishops.
In addition, there is the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter, established in 2012 to serve former Anglican groups and clergy seeking to become Catholic. This ordinariate, based in Houston, Texas, includes parishes and communities across the US that retain their Anglican heritage and traditions while being fully Catholic.
The Catholic Church in the US has a total of 196 particular churches, including 33 archdioceses and 143 dioceses, spread across the 50 states, Washington, D.C., and the US Virgin Islands. However, the number of parishes has decreased over time, with the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York recently closing dozens of churches, mirroring a nationwide trend of Catholic parish closures. Despite the growing number of Catholics in the US, there were 17,483 parishes in 2014, compared to 19,705 in 1988.
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The Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter
The ordinariate is based in Houston, Texas, with the Cathedral of Our Lady of Walsingham as its principal church. The liturgy of the ordinariate, known as the Anglican Use, is a form of the Roman Rite with the introduction of traditional English Catholic and Anglican elements. The ordinariate is under the direct authority (exempt) of the Holy See. The head of the ordinariate, currently Bishop Steven J. Lopes, is a full member of both the USCCB and the CCCB.
The pastor of an ordinariate is an "ordinary" and may be either a bishop if celibate or a priest if married. The ordinary is named directly by the pope and holds the same power of governance of his ordinariate that an episcopal ordinary has in his diocese. Pope Benedict XVI instituted this provision to permit married, former Anglican bishops who come into full communion with the Catholic Church, along with many of their congregants, to accede to office while respecting sensitivities in ecumenical relations with the Eastern Orthodox Churches, which also maintain a celibate episcopacy.
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Frequently asked questions
There are 17,483 Catholic parishes in the US as of 2014, according to the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) at Georgetown University.
No, the number of parishes in 2014 was about equal to the number that existed in 1965.
There could be multiple reasons for the decline in Catholic parishes in the US. One reason could be the nationwide trend of Catholic parish closures. For example, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York decided to close down dozens of churches.
The Catholic Church in the United States has a total of 196 particular churches in the 50 US states, Washington, D.C., and the US Virgin Islands. These include 33 archdioceses, 143 dioceses, the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, and the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter. A diocese is a collection of these particular churches.
An archdiocese is a diocese that has a larger number of Catholics than other dioceses in the same province or region.
