Grace Thompson
The Pennsylvania Catholic Conference is the public affairs arm of Pennsylvania's Catholic Church, and it serves eight Latin Rite dioceses and two Byzantine Rite dioceses. The eight Latin Rite dioceses are fully contained within Pennsylvania, and they include the Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg, the Diocese of Erie, and the Diocese of Pittsburgh.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Dioceses | 8 |
| Diocese 1 | Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg |
| Diocese 2 | Roman Catholic Diocese of Greensburg |
| Diocese 3 | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia |
| Diocese 4 | Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie |
| Diocese 5 | Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh |
| Diocese 6 | Roman Catholic Diocese of Scranton |
| Diocese 7 | Roman Catholic Diocese of Allentown |
| Diocese 8 | Roman Catholic Diocese of Wilmington |
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What You'll Learn
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg
The current bishop of Harrisburg is the Most Reverend Timothy C. Senior. The second bishop of Harrisburg was Reverend Thomas McGovern of Philadelphia, named by Pope Leo XIII in 1888. During his tenure, McGovern erected twelve parishes, mostly designated for different ethnic groups. The first bishop of Harrisburg was Bishop Ronald William Gainer, formerly of the Diocese of Lexington, who was installed in 2014. Gainer introduced a new policy prohibiting girls at Catholic schools from participating in wrestling, football, and rugby matches.
Shanahan was the bishop before McGovern and during his 18-year tenure, he opened the Sylvan Heights Seminary in 1883. He also introduced the Sisters of Mercy, the Sisters of St. Joseph, the Sisters of Christian Charity, the Sisters of the Holy Cross, and the Sisters of Charity into the diocese to set up Catholic institutions. When Shanahan died in 1886, the diocese had 51 priests, 51 churches, 75 chapels and missions, three orphanages, 29 parochial schools, and a Catholic population of over 35,000.
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The Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh
In 1853, the Vatican erected the Diocese of Erie, taking the northern counties from the Diocese of Pittsburgh. In 1865, after the American Civil War, the diocese went heavily into debt to finance expansion projects. In 1885, after Bishop Tuigg suffered a stroke, Pope Leo XIII appointed Richard Phelan of Pittsburgh as coadjutor bishop to assist him. Bishop Tuigg died in December 1889, and Phelan succeeded him. During this period, Catholic immigrants of many nationalities came to Western Pennsylvania to work in mines and steel mills. Phelan set up new national parishes with pastors who could speak the immigrants' native languages. In 1901, the Vatican erected the Diocese of Altoona, taking its territory from the Diocese of Pittsburgh.
In 1921, Pope Benedict XV named Reverend Hugh Charles Boyle of Pittsburgh as the sixth bishop of the diocese. During his 29-year tenure, Boyle sponsored a comprehensive school-building program in the diocese, including Central Catholic High School and Carlow College, now Carlow University. In 1951, the Vatican erected the Diocese of Greensburg, taking its territory from the Diocese of Pittsburgh.
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The Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie
The Diocese of Erie is geographically the largest diocese in Pennsylvania, covering 10,167 square miles (26,332.41 km2). It covers 13 counties in Northwestern Pennsylvania, serving about 220,000 Catholics (74,000 families) and educating approximately 14,000 children and youth. The dividing line of the diocese runs east and west along the northern boundaries of Cambria, Indiana, Armstrong, Butler, and Lawrence Counties, giving thirteen northern counties to the Diocese of Erie.
The history of the Diocese of Erie is closely tied to the discovery of oil in Titusville in 1859 and the subsequent oil rush. The diocese experienced rapid growth, with the number of churches and priests increasing from 28 churches and 14 priests to over 50 of each by 1866. During this time, several Catholic schools, orphanages, and hospitals were established, including the St. Joseph's Orphan Asylum in 1864 and St. Peter's Cathedral, founded by Monsignor Tobia Mullen, the third bishop of Erie appointed by Pope Pius IX.
The Diocese of Erie has had several notable bishops throughout its history. Bishop Michael O'Connor, appointed by Pope Pius IX, was the first bishop of the diocese. Auxiliary Bishop Alfred Watson faced criticism for his slow implementation of the reforms of the Second Vatican Council and encountered opposition from the diocesan clergy. Auxiliary Bishop Michael Murphy, appointed as a coadjutor bishop in 1978, improved pastoral service to Catholics by reorganizing the diocesan administration. Bishop Donald Trautman, appointed in 1990, enhanced diocesan youth and vocational programs and continued to renovate St. Peter Cathedral.
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The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia
The Archdiocese of Philadelphia originally included all of Pennsylvania and Delaware, along with seven counties and parts of three counties in New Jersey. In 1868, the Vatican erected the dioceses of Harrisburg, Scranton, and Wilmington, taking their territory from the Diocese of Philadelphia. In 1961, Pope John XXIII erected the Diocese of Allentown, taking several northern counties from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
The first Catholic school established in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia was at St. Mary Parish in Philadelphia during the late eighteenth century. John Neumann (1851–1860) made the establishment of parish elementary schools a priority and by 1860 there were seventeen parish elementary schools in Philadelphia. Between 1900 and 1930, Catholic elementary schools increased to 124 schools in Philadelphia and 78 schools in the four suburban counties. Between 1945 and 1965, 62 new Catholic elementary schools were established. In 2012, about 25% of the students in Philadelphia Catholic elementary schools were not Catholic.
The Catholic Foundation of Greater Philadelphia (CFGP) is an independent, nonprofit community foundation committed to growing philanthropy according to the teachings of Jesus Christ. The Catholic Faith Network’s mission is to proclaim the teachings of Jesus Christ to the Catholic Community and beyond using media in all forms. The Archdiocese is proud to be a media partner with CFN.
In 2012, diocese priest William Lynn became the first Catholic official to be convicted in the United States of covering up abuses by other priests in his charge. In 2020, the ongoing sexual abuse scandal in the archdiocese was expected to result in a payment of $126 million to victims. The Archbishop’s Benefit for Children (ABC) is a year-round fundraising initiative that provides vital support for Catholic Social Services’ programs designed to help children and young people in need throughout the Philadelphia region.
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The Roman Catholic Diocese of Greensburg
The mother church of the Diocese of Greensburg is the Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in Greensburg, which was established in 1847 by the missionary John Nepomucene Neumann. It was the forerunner of the Blessed Sacrament Cathedral and the first Catholic Church in Greensburg. The first bishop of Greensburg was Auxiliary Bishop Hugh L. Lamb of Philadelphia, who was appointed by Pope Pius XII. Under his leadership, the diocese spent millions on construction, creating eight new schools and ten new parishes.
The second bishop of Greensburg was Reverend William G. Connare of Pittsburgh, appointed by Pope John XXIII in 1960. He founded the diocesan newspaper, The Catholic Accent, and expanded educational programs in parishes. He also opened the diocesan office of Catholic Charities and renovated the Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in 1972 to accommodate liturgical reforms.
The current bishop of Greensburg, as of 2023, is Larry J. Kulick, who was appointed by Pope Francis on December 18, 2020. He is a native of Leechburg and the first native son and priest of the diocese to be appointed Bishop of Greensburg. The Diocese of Greensburg's mission is "to love, serve, and form disciples of Christ".
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