Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen
Encyclopedia
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen is a Roman Catholic diocese
in New Jersey
, centered in the borough
of Metuchen
. It was erected on November 19, 1981, from the territory of the Diocese of Trenton
.
The Bishop of Metuchen presides from the Saint Francis of Assisi Cathedral in Metuchen.
The diocese encompasses the New Jersey counties of Middlesex
, Somerset
, Hunterdon
and Warren
.
Its coat of arms
is blazon
ed Quarterly, Or and Argent, in dexter chief a tongue of fire Gules; in sinister base the letter "M" Azure, crowned Argent; overall a cross Moline Azure. The cross is taken from the arms of the See of Trenton
from which the diocese was formed; the tongue of fire refers both to "metachen," Lenni Lenape for firewood, and the descent
of the Holy Spirit
; the crowned M refers to the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the diocesan patron, founding bishop Theodore McCarrick's arms, and Pope John Paul II
's arms. Its four quarters represent the four counties comprising the diocese.
The diocese counts 600,000 Catholics within its purview, distributed across more than one hundred parishes, serviced by 160 priests residing in the diocese, with 100 non-resident priests and 150 deacons assisting. Six hundred religious serve the schools and various organizations throughout the diocese.
In 2006, the twenty-fifth anniversary of the diocese's founding, it began preparations for a synod
, the First Synod of the Diocese of Metuchen.
† = deceased
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, centered in the borough
Borough
A borough is an administrative division in various countries. In principle, the term borough designates a self-governing township although, in practice, official use of the term varies widely....
of Metuchen
Metuchen, New Jersey
Metuchen is a Borough in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States, which is 8 miles northeast of New Brunswick, 18 miles southwest of Newark, 24 miles southwest of Jersey City, and 29 miles southwest of Manhattan, all part of the New York metropolitan area...
. It was erected on November 19, 1981, from the territory of the Diocese of Trenton
Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton is a diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in southern New Jersey, United States. Its ecclesiastic territory includes the counties of Burlington, Monmouth, Ocean, and Mercer ....
.
The Bishop of Metuchen presides from the Saint Francis of Assisi Cathedral in Metuchen.
The diocese encompasses the New Jersey counties of Middlesex
Middlesex County, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 750,162 people, 265,815 households, and 190,855 families residing in the county. The population density was 2,422 people per square mile . There were 273,637 housing units at an average density of 884 per square mile...
, Somerset
Somerset County, New Jersey
Somerset County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. In 2010, the population was 323,444. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Somerville....
, Hunterdon
Hunterdon County, New Jersey
Hunterdon County is a county located in the western section of the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 128,349. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Flemington....
and Warren
Warren County, New Jersey
Warren County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 108,692. Its county seat is Belvidere...
.
Its coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
is blazon
Blazon
In heraldry and heraldic vexillology, a blazon is a formal description of a coat of arms, flag or similar emblem, from which the reader can reconstruct the appropriate image...
ed Quarterly, Or and Argent, in dexter chief a tongue of fire Gules; in sinister base the letter "M" Azure, crowned Argent; overall a cross Moline Azure. The cross is taken from the arms of the See of Trenton
Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton is a diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in southern New Jersey, United States. Its ecclesiastic territory includes the counties of Burlington, Monmouth, Ocean, and Mercer ....
from which the diocese was formed; the tongue of fire refers both to "metachen," Lenni Lenape for firewood, and the descent
Pentecost
Pentecost is a prominent feast in the calendar of Ancient Israel celebrating the giving of the Law on Sinai, and also later in the Christian liturgical year commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples of Christ after the Resurrection of Jesus...
of the Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of the Hebrew Bible, but understood differently in the main Abrahamic religions.While the general concept of a "Spirit" that permeates the cosmos has been used in various religions Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of...
; the crowned M refers to the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the diocesan patron, founding bishop Theodore McCarrick's arms, and Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
's arms. Its four quarters represent the four counties comprising the diocese.
The diocese counts 600,000 Catholics within its purview, distributed across more than one hundred parishes, serviced by 160 priests residing in the diocese, with 100 non-resident priests and 150 deacons assisting. Six hundred religious serve the schools and various organizations throughout the diocese.
In 2006, the twenty-fifth anniversary of the diocese's founding, it began preparations for a synod
Synod
A synod historically is a council of a church, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. In modern usage, the word often refers to the governing body of a particular church, whether its members are meeting or not...
, the First Synod of the Diocese of Metuchen.
Bishops of the Diocese of Metuchen (terms of service)
- Theodore Edgar McCarrick (1981–1986) (appointed auxiliary bishop of New York on May 24, 1977; ordained a bishop on June 29, 1977; appointed founding bishop of Metuchen on November 19, 1981; installed on January 31, 1982; appointed Archbishop of NewarkRoman Catholic Archdiocese of NewarkThe Archdiocese of Newark is an archdiocese of the Catholic Church in northern New Jersey, United States. Its ecclesiastic territory includes all of the Catholic parishes and schools in the New Jersey counties of Bergen, Union, Hudson and Essex .-History:Originally established as the Diocese of...
on May 30, 1986; appointed Archbishop of Washington on November 21, 2000; created CardinalCardinal (Catholicism)A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
on February 21, 2001; retired on May 16, 2006) - Edward Thomas Hughes (1986–1997) (appointed auxiliary bishop of Philadelphia on June 14, 1976; ordained a bishop on July 21, 1976; appointed bishop of Metuchen on December 11, 1986; installed on February 5, 1987; retired on July 7, 1997)
- † Vincent DePaul BreenVincent DePaul BreenBishop Vincent DePaul Breen was the third bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen in central New Jersey from 1997 until his resignation in 2002. Bishop Breen was born in 1936 in Brooklyn, New York...
(1997–2002) (appointed bishop in July 1997; ordained a bishop in 1997; resigned in 2002; died on March 30, 2003) - Paul Gregory BootkoskiPaul Gregory BootkoskiPaul Gregory Bootkoski is the current bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen. He was appointed to the post in 2002....
(2002– ) (appointed auxiliary bishop of Newark on July 8, 1997; ordained a bishop on September 5, 1997; appointed bishop of Metuchen in 2002)
† = deceased
High schools
- Bishop George Ahr High SchoolBishop George Ahr High SchoolBishop George Ahr High School, also known as Bishop Ahr, Ahr or BGA, is a four-year, private, coeducational Roman Catholic high school located on a campus covering in the northern section in Edison, New Jersey. The school operates under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen. The...
, Edison - Cardinal McCarrick High SchoolCardinal McCarrick High SchoolCardinal McCarrick High School is a Catholic secondary school located in South Amboy, New Jersey.As of the 2007-08 school year, the school had an enrollment of 469 students and 31.3 classroom teachers , for a student–teacher ratio of 13.0....
, South Amboy - Immaculata High School, Somerville
- Mount St. Mary AcademyMount St. Mary AcademyMount Saint Mary Academy is a four-year private high school for girls, located in Watchung, New Jersey. Located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen, the school operates financially independent of the Diocese. The Academy was founded in 1908 by the Sisters of Mercy of New Jersey and opened...
, Watchung - St. Peter the Apostle High School, New Brunswick (closed 2007)
- St. Pius X High School, Piscataway (closed 1990)
Ecclesiastical province
See also
- List of the Catholic cathedrals of the United States
- List of the Catholic dioceses of the United States
- Plenary Councils of BaltimorePlenary Councils of BaltimoreThe Plenary Councils of Baltimore were three national meetings of Roman Catholic bishops in the 19th century in Baltimore, Maryland.During the early history of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States all of the dioceses were part of one ecclesiastical province under the Archbishop of Baltimore...
- Roman Catholicism in the United StatesRoman Catholicism in the United StatesThe Catholic Church in the United States is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, the Christian Church in full communion with the Pope. With more than 68.5 registered million members, it is the largest single religious denomination in the United States, comprising about 22 percent of the population...
- Catholicism and American politicsCatholicism and American politicsMembers of the Catholic Church have been active in the politics of the United States since the mid 19th century. The U.S. has never had an important religious party...
- History of Roman Catholicism in the United StatesHistory of Roman Catholicism in the United StatesCatholicism first came to the territories now forming the United States with the Spanish explorers and settlers in present-day Florida , Georgia , and the southwest...
External links
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen official website
- Synodal home page
- New Jersey Provincial Directory website