Ethan Walker
The United States is home to a multitude of Catholic dioceses and archdioceses, encompassing a variety of liturgical traditions and serving a diverse range of communities. The Catholic Church in the US consists of 194 archdioceses and dioceses, with an additional 2 archdioceses and 16 eparchies in the Eastern Catholic Churches. These dioceses are not just limited to the 50 states but also extend to territories like Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The number of dioceses in the US highlights the extensive reach and organizational complexity of the Catholic Church in the country, catering to the spiritual needs of millions of Catholics across diverse regions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of archdioceses/dioceses in the US | 194 |
| Number of archdioceses/dioceses in the US including the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA and the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter | 196 |
| Number of geographic regions | 14 |
| Number of territorial archdioceses | 33 |
| Number of territorial dioceses | 143 |
| Number of dioceses supported by Catholic Extension Society | 55 |
| Number of California's dioceses | 12 |
| Number of Puerto Rico's dioceses | 6 |
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What You'll Learn
There are 194 archdioceses/dioceses in the US
The Catholic Church in the US has a total of 196 particular churches across the country, including Washington, D.C., and the US Virgin Islands. These consist of 33 archdioceses and 143 dioceses, in addition to the Archdiocese for the Military and the Ordinariate. The Eastern Catholic Churches, with origins in Eastern Europe, Asia, and Africa, have their own distinctive liturgical and organizational systems. They are considered equal to the Latin tradition within the Church in the US and have jurisdiction over large areas of the country.
The USCCB proceedings divide the country into 14 regions, typically including multiple archdioceses and dioceses. A diocese becomes vacant when its bishop resigns, passes away, or is transferred. An administrator, chosen by the College of Consultors, oversees the diocese until a new bishop is appointed. The Pope may also appoint an Apostolic Administrator.
The Catholic Extension Society supports 87 dioceses across the US and its territories, focusing on building vibrant Catholic faith communities in America's poorest regions. Population trends from census data help identify challenges and opportunities for the Catholic Church in these dioceses. California's 12 dioceses, for example, have experienced population growth, while dioceses in the Northeast and Midwest are declining in population.
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Dioceses are divided into 14 geographic regions
Dioceses are administrative divisions of a church, each of which is overseen by a bishop. In the United States, there are 194 archdioceses and dioceses, as well as the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, and the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter. These are divided into 14 geographic regions, which typically include two or more Metropolitan Archdioceses and several Dioceses across one or more states. The Eastern Catholic Churches constitute their own membership region for the purposes of USCCB proceedings.
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 territorial archdioceses, 143 territorial dioceses, the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, and the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter. The latter two have jurisdiction over large swaths of the United States (and Canada) and are not metropolitan dioceses.
The USCCB is the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, and each archbishop—except the archbishop of the Archdiocese for the Military Services—is also the metropolitan bishop of an ecclesiastical province. Each archeparch is also the metropolitan of an ecclesiastical province that encompasses all of the eparchies of the same sui iuris particular church in the United States. Most provincial and diocesan boundaries conform to state, county, borough (in Alaska), or parish (in Louisiana) political boundaries.
The Catholic Extension Society supports 87 dioceses in the US and its territories. They work to build vibrant and transformative Catholic faith communities in America's poorest regions. Population growth is occurring most significantly in the southern and western regions of the US, while dioceses in the Northeast and Midwest are experiencing population decline.
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The Archdiocese for the Military Services
The Catholic Church in the United States has 194 archdioceses and dioceses, in addition to the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, and the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter. The Archdiocese for the Military Services, also known as AMS, is a unique archdiocese that is not a metropolitan diocese. It was established by Pope John Paul II in 1986, when he decided to separate the responsibility for the military services from the archbishop of New York. The archdiocese provides pastoral care and spiritual services to those serving in the armed forces of the United States, including members of the US Armed Forces and Diplomatic Corps, as well as their dependents. It also serves those in facilities of the Veterans Administration, such as employees of the US Veterans Health Administration and its patients.
The vocation of a military chaplain in the Archdiocese for the Military Services is a unique calling. Chaplains offer spiritual guidance and solace to soldiers, providing prayers and comfort in the midst of battle. They embody the fusion of faith and valor, bringing God's blessings to those who defend and protect. The archdiocese is led by an archbishop, who is currently assisted by four auxiliary bishops. The current archbishop is Timothy Broglio, who was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI in 2007. The first archbishop was Reverend Joseph T. Ryan, a veteran of the US Navy, who served in the Battle of Okinawa during World War II and was decorated for bravery.
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The Eastern Catholic Churches
There are 194 archdioceses and dioceses in the United States, divided into 14 geographic regions. The Eastern Catholic Churches constitute their own membership region for USCCB proceedings.
Eastern Catholic Churches have origins in Eastern Europe, Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, East Africa, and South India. They are distinct from the Latin Church, which uses the Latin liturgical rites, and instead have their own autonomous liturgical, legal, and organizational systems. They are identified by the national or ethnic character of their region of origin. Each is considered fully equal to the Latin tradition within the Catholic Church. The Eastern Catholic Churches are in full communion with the Pope in Rome, and their members are able to freely receive sacraments within the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church.
The Patriarchal Churches consist of their own Patriarchs, who, along with a synod of bishops, hold legislative, judicial, and executive powers within their jurisdictional territory. The six Patriarchal Churches are: Coptic (Egypt), Maronite (Lebanon), Syriac (Lebanon), Armenian (Lebanon), Chaldean (Iraq), and Melkite (Syria).
The Major Archiepiscopal Churches are governed by Major Archbishops, with the assistance of synods of bishops, and have a similar level of autonomy to the Patriarchal Churches. The four Major Archiepiscopal Churches are: Syro-Malankara (India), Syro-Malabar (India), Romanian (Romania), and Ukrainian (Ukraine).
The three Metropolitan Churches are governed by Metropolitans, with the assistance of a council of hierarchs. These Metropolitans are appointed by the Roman Pontiff. The Metropolitan Churches are: Ethiopian (Ethiopia), Eritrean (Eritrea), and Slovak (Slovak Republic).
The nine Other Eastern Churches Sui Iuris are presided over by hierarchs or ordinaries (bishops and their equivalents in law), in accordance with common law and the particular law established by the Roman Pontiff. These churches include: Albanian (Albania), Belarusian (Belarus), Bulgarian (Bulgaria), Byzantine (Croatia), Greek Byzantine (Greece), Hungarian (Hungary), Italo-Albanian (Italy), and Russian (Russia).
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US Catholic population trends
Catholicism is the second-largest religious grouping in the United States, with 21-23% of the population identifying as Catholic. This equates to around 70 million people, a significant increase from the 45 million recorded in 1960. However, the percentage of Americans who are Catholic has decreased during this period, falling from 25% to 22%. The United States has the fourth-largest Catholic population in the world.
The Catholic population in the US is ageing, with a median age of 49, four years older than in 2007. Only 17% of Catholic adults are under 30. The group is also increasingly made up of immigrants and children of immigrants. 27% of US Catholic adults were born outside the country, compared to 15% of all US adults.
There are regional variations in the distribution of US Catholics. The Northeast has the highest concentration, with 24% of the total US Catholic population, followed by the Midwest at 19%, the West at 25%, and the South at 32%. However, the Catholic population in the Northeast and Midwest has decreased between 2007 and 2014, while it has increased in the South and West. This shift is partly due to a growing number of Catholics in Texas, Louisiana, and Florida.
The Catholic Church in the United States consists of 194 archdioceses and dioceses, divided into 14 geographic regions. There are 33 territorial archdioceses and 143 territorial dioceses, as well as the Archdiocese for the Military Services and the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter.
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Frequently asked questions
There are a total of 194 archdioceses/dioceses in the US.
The 194 archdioceses/dioceses are spread across 50 US states, Washington D.C., and the US Virgin Islands. They are divided into 14 geographic regions, with the Eastern Catholic Churches constituting their own membership region.
The Catholic Extension Society supports 87 dioceses in the US and its territories. 55 of these dioceses have grown, adding 4.7 million people.
