Sarah Mitchell
The Catholic Church in the United States is divided into 194 archdioceses and dioceses, which are further divided into 14 geographic membership regions. These include the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, which provides pastoral care and spiritual services to those serving in the armed forces, and the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter, which serves Catholics who were formerly Anglicans. In addition to these, there are several other dioceses that cover the unincorporated territories of the United States, such as Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of archdioceses/dioceses in the US | 194 |
| Number of geographical archdioceses/dioceses in the US (excluding the Archdiocese for the Military Services) | 196 |
| Number of local Catholic parishes in the US (as of 2018) | 17,007 |
| Number of ecclesiastical jurisdictions in the US | 197 |
| Number of geographic regions | 14 |
| Number of dioceses in Puerto Rico | 6 (one metropolitan archdiocese and five suffragan dioceses) |
| Number of dioceses in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Territory of American Samoa, and the Territory of Guam | Not specified |
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What You'll Learn
There are 194 archdioceses/dioceses in the US
There are 194 archdioceses and dioceses in the US, which are divided into 14 geographic regions. These regions typically include two or more Metropolitan Archdioceses and several Dioceses across one or more states. The Archdioceses and Dioceses of the United States are led by bishops, who are in charge of their own dioceses and collectively form the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).
Each diocese is led by a bishop, who is the chief pastor and minister of his diocese, usually defined by geography and incorporating around 350,000 Catholic Christians on average. The bishop of a diocese is known as an "ordinary", meaning he has complete jurisdiction over that territory or group of Christians. The bishop of a diocese is also referred to as a "diocesan bishop" or "local bishop".
Archdioceses are led by archbishops, who are also the metropolitan bishops of an ecclesiastical province. An ecclesiastical province is a mid-level grouping of bishops, often covering a state, and is usually made up of several dioceses. The lead bishop of an ecclesiastical province is the archbishop, who strives to achieve unanimity of practice with his suffragan bishops.
Eastern Catholic Churches, with origins in Eastern Europe, Asia, and Africa, have their own distinctive liturgical, legal, and organizational systems. They are identified by the national or ethnic character of their region of origin and are considered equal to the Latin tradition within the Church in the United States. The Eparchies and Archeparchies of the Eastern Catholic Churches have jurisdiction over large areas of the United States and Canada.
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The Archdioceses and Dioceses are divided into 14 geographic regions
The Catholic Church in the United States has a total of 196 particular churches in the 50 U.S. states, Washington D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These include 33 archdioceses and 143 dioceses, the Archdiocese for the Military Services, and the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter. The Archdioceses and Dioceses are divided into 14 geographic regions, with the Eastern Catholic Churches constituting their own membership region for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) proceedings.
The 14 geographic regions typically include two or more Metropolitan Archdioceses and several Dioceses across one or more states. For example, the Diocese of Washington includes the District of Columbia and part of Maryland. The naming convention for the domestic dioceses is usually after the state in which they are located or a portion of that state (for example, Northern Michigan or West Texas). In a state where there is more than one diocese, the area where the Episcopal Church started in that state is the diocese that bears the name of that state. For instance, the Church of England's first outpost in what is now Georgia was in Savannah, hence the Diocese of Georgia is based in Savannah.
Some dioceses include portions of more than one state. For example, the Diocese of Iowa and Minnesota each has two cathedrals, and occasionally the diocesan offices and the cathedral are in separate cities. The Eastern Diocese, which comprised all of New England except Connecticut, is another example of a diocese that covers more than one state. By 1843, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, and Rhode Island had their own dioceses, and the Eastern Diocese became Massachusetts. Similarly, the Diocese of Illinois formerly comprised all of Illinois. In 1877, the diocese was divided into three parts, with the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago assuming the legal succession of the former statewide diocese.
Most provincial and diocesan boundaries conform to state, county, borough (in Alaska), or parish (in Louisiana) political boundaries. The sui iuris Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in the US has an ecclesiastical province consisting of an archeparchy and three eparchies, and the sui iuris Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church has an ecclesiastical province consisting of an archeparchy and three eparchies.
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The Catholic Church has the third-highest congregations in the US
The Catholic Church is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States. In terms of congregations, it ranks third, behind the Southern Baptists and the United Methodists. However, it is important to note that the average Catholic parish is significantly larger than the average Baptist or Methodist congregation. There are more than four times as many Catholics as Southern Baptists and over eight times as many Catholics as United Methodists.
According to the latest data, there were 17,007 local Catholic parishes in the United States in 2018, spread across 194 archdioceses and dioceses. These archdioceses and dioceses are further divided into 14 geographic membership regions for US Catholic Church governance proceedings. The Catholic Church in the United States has a total of 196 particular churches in the 50 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These include 33 territorial archdioceses and 143 territorial dioceses, as well as the Archdiocese for the Military Services, which provides spiritual care to the U.S. Armed Forces and their dependents.
While the number of practicing Catholics in the United States has increased from 2010 to 2020, the overall religious participation rate among Catholics is declining. Weekly church attendance among Catholics has dropped significantly, from 55% to 20%, and the number of people leaving the Catholic Church is on the rise. Issues such as the clergy sex abuse crisis have undermined trust in the Catholic Church's leadership, contributing to this decline.
Despite these challenges, Catholicism is growing in more than half of US states, particularly in the South and West. States like Florida and Arizona have experienced significant increases in their Catholic populations. Additionally, the Latino element within the Catholic Church is growing, currently reaching 37% of the Catholic population. With the election of Pope Leo XIV, there is a renewed focus on the growth of Catholicism in the United States, although his home state of Illinois has seen a decline in Catholic worshippers.
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The Archdiocese for Military Services, USA serves the armed forces
The Catholic Church in the United States is divided into 194 archdioceses and dioceses, with an additional two non-geographic dioceses: the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, and the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter. The Archdiocese for Military Services, USA, was established by Pope Saint John Paul II in 1986 to provide pastoral care and spiritual services to those serving in the United States Armed Forces, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and their dependents. This includes more than 220 installations in 29 countries, patients in 153 VA Medical Centers, and federal employees serving in 134 countries outside the United States. As of 2013, about 25% of the U.S. armed forces, or approximately 1.8 million people, were Catholic.
The Archdiocese for Military Services, USA, is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and is led by an archbishop who is assisted by four auxiliary bishops. The current archbishop is Timothy P. Broglio, who was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI in 2007. The Archdiocese serves as the sole endorser of Roman Catholic chaplains to the Veterans Administration hospitals and the United States government. As of 2020, 204 Roman Catholic priests were endorsed by the Archdiocese for active-duty military service. These priests serve on loan from their diocese or religious order and are released for a term of military service.
The Archdiocese for Military Services, USA, is not a metropolitan diocese and does not have any parishes or parish registries. Chapels are the property of the United States government. The coat of arms of the Archdiocese is divided into three sections, with the traditional colours of the United States: red, white or silver, and blue. The uppermost portion features an American Bald Eagle holding an olive branch, a symbol of peace. The middle portion features a silver cross on the outline of the earth's meridians, and the lowest portion features the gold and silver crossed keys of Saint Peter. The composition of the coat of arms conveys the Archdiocese's message and mission: to be Americans bearing peace, to proclaim Christ worldwide, and to offer healing through the forgiveness of sins.
Several reverends have served in the military before becoming archbishops or bishops, including John Ireland, who served with the 5th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment of the Union Army before becoming the archbishop of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul; Bernard McQuaid, who served with the New Jersey Brigade of the Union Army before becoming the bishop of the Diocese of Rochester and then archbishop of Chicago; and Philip M. Hannan, who served with the Army's 82nd Airborne Division and later became the archbishop of the Archdiocese of New Orleans. These men, among others, have dedicated their lives to serving both their country and their faith.
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The US has 197 ecclesiastical jurisdictions
The Catholic Church in the United States is divided into 197 ecclesiastical jurisdictions. These are made up of 194 archdioceses and dioceses, the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, and the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter. The 194 archdioceses and dioceses are further divided into 14 geographic membership regions for USCCB proceedings. These regions typically include two or more Metropolitan Archdioceses and several Dioceses across one or more states.
The Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, provides pastoral care and spiritual services to those serving in the armed forces of the United States, the Department of Veterans Affairs facilities, and their dependents. It is led by an archbishop and assisted by four auxiliary bishops. The Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter, on the other hand, was established on January 1, 2012, for former Anglicans joining the Catholic Church. Its territory extends over the United States and Canada.
Eastern Catholic Churches, which have origins in Eastern Europe, Asia, and Africa, constitute their own membership region for USCCB proceedings. They have their own distinctive liturgical, legal, and organizational systems and are identified by the national or ethnic character of their region of origin. While they are based in a certain city, they have jurisdiction over large areas of the United States and Canada.
Each diocese is headed by a bishop, who is the chief pastor and minister of his diocese. The bishop has complete jurisdiction over his territory and is called an "ordinary". Most provincial and diocesan boundaries conform to state, county, or borough boundaries, with each diocese incorporating, on average, about 350,000 Catholic Christians.
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Frequently asked questions
There are 194 archdioceses/dioceses in the US, according to the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).
The USCCB is an assembly of the Catholic Church hierarchy of the United States and the US Virgin Islands.
A diocese is a local community of Catholics headed by a priest, whereas an archdiocese is a larger administrative unit that consists of multiple dioceses.
In 2018, there were 17,007 local Catholic parishes in the United States within the 196 geographical dioceses and archdioceses.
A bishop is the chief pastor and minister of a diocese, providing leadership and guidance to the parishes within it.
