Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland
Encyclopedia
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese
of the Roman Catholic Church
in the New England
region of the United States
comprising the entire state
of Maine
. It is led by a bishop
, and its cathedral
, or motherchurch, is the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in the city of Portland
.
The Diocese of Portland was canonically erected on July 29, 1853, by Pope Pius IX
. Its territories were taken from the present-day Archdiocese of Boston
in the nearby state of Massachusetts
.
Richard. J. Malone
was installed March 31, 2004, as the eleventh and present bishop of the diocese.
is the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in the City of Portland
.
is the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul. Due to a wave of late 19th century immigration by French Canadians, the church was built and expanded until 1936, by which time it was the second largest church in New England
. In 1983, the church was added to the National Register of Historic Places
. In 2004, the church was named a minor basilica
by the Holy See
.
and is a member of All Saints Parish.
. Roughly 55% of the funds donated by the Diocese came from other out-of-state dioceses who donated money to the Diocese of Portland's PAC.
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...
of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
in the New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
region of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
comprising the entire state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
. It is led by a bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
, and its cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
, or motherchurch, is the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in the city of Portland
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
.
The Diocese of Portland was canonically erected on July 29, 1853, by Pope Pius IX
Pope Pius IX
Blessed Pope Pius IX , born Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti, was the longest-reigning elected Pope in the history of the Catholic Church, serving from 16 June 1846 until his death, a period of nearly 32 years. During his pontificate, he convened the First Vatican Council in 1869, which decreed papal...
. Its territories were taken from the present-day Archdiocese of Boston
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the New England region of the United States. It comprises several counties of the state of Massachusetts...
in the nearby state of Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
.
Richard. J. Malone
Richard Joseph Malone
Richard Joseph Malone is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the eleventh and current Bishop of Portland.-Biography:...
was installed March 31, 2004, as the eleventh and present bishop of the diocese.
Bishops
- David William BaconDavid William BaconDavid William Bacon was the first Roman Catholic bishop of Portland, Maine. Bacon was born in New York City. He majored in classical studies at the Sulpician College at Montreal and studied theology at Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland. He was ordained a priest in Baltimore,...
(1855-1874, Died) - James Augustine HealyJames Augustine HealyJames Augustine Healy was the first African-American Roman Catholic priest and the first African-American Roman Catholic bishop in the United States...
(1875-1900, Died) - William Henry O'ConnellWilliam Henry O'ConnellWilliam Henry O'Connell was an American cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Boston from 1907 until his death, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1911.-Early life:...
(1901-1906, Appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Boston) - Louis Sebastian WalshLouis Sebastian WalshLouis Sebastian Walsh was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Portland from 1906 until his death in 1924.-Biography:...
(1906-1924, Died) - John Gregory MurrayJohn Murray (archbishop)John Gregory Murray was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Saint Paul from 1931 until his death in 1956, having previously served as Auxiliary Bishop of Hartford and Bishop of Portland .-Early life and education:John Murray was born in Waterbury,...
(1925-1931, Appointed Archbishop of Saint Paul) - Joseph Edward McCarthyJoseph Edward McCarthyJoseph Edward McCarthy was the sixth Roman Catholic Bishop of Portland .McCarthy was born in Waterbury, Connecticut, and was a childhood friend of Bishop John Murray. After attending Holy Cross College in Worcester, Massachusetts, he was ordained to the priesthood on July 4, 1903. He then taught...
(1932-1955, Died) - Daniel Joseph FeeneyDaniel Joseph FeeneyDaniel Joseph Feeney was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Portland from 1955 until his death.-Biography:...
(1955-1969, Died) - Peter Leo GeretyPeter Leo GeretyPeter Leo Gerety is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He was Archbishop of Newark from 1974 to 1986, having previously served as Bishop of Portland...
(1969-1974, Appointed Archbishop of Newark) - Edward Cornelius O'LearyEdward Cornelius O'LearyEdward Cornelius O'Leary was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Portland from 1974 to 1988.-Biography:...
(1974-1988, Retired) - Joseph John GerryJoseph John GerryJoseph John Gerry, O.S.B., is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Portland from 1989 to 2004.-Biography:...
, O.S.B. (1988-2004, Retired) - Richard Joseph MaloneRichard Joseph MaloneRichard Joseph Malone is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the eleventh and current Bishop of Portland.-Biography:...
(2004-present)
High schools
- Catherine McAuley High SchoolCatherine McAuley High SchoolCatherine McAuley High School of Portland, Maine is an all-girls' college preparatory school that is run by the Sisters of Mercy. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland. McAuley is the only single-sex high school in the state of Maine. The school was established by the Sisters of...
, Portland - Cheverus High SchoolCheverus High SchoolCheverus High School is a private, Jesuit, college-preparatory school in Portland, Maine. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland. Cheverus High School was founded in 1917 as a Diocesan school and was named after French Roman Catholic Cardinal Jean-Louis Lefebvre de Cheverus...
, Portland - St. Dominic Regional High SchoolSt. Dominic Regional High SchoolSaint Dominic Academy is a Catholic grammar school and high school located in Lewiston, Maine, and Auburn, Maine, respectively, in the Diocese of Portland....
, Lewiston
Cathedral
The Diocese's CathedralCathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
is the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in the City of Portland
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
.
Basilica
Located in Lewiston, MaineLewiston, Maine
Lewiston is a city in Androscoggin County in Maine, and the second-largest city in the state. The population was 41,592 at the 2010 census. It is one of two principal cities of and included within the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine metropolitan New England city and town area and the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine...
is the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul. Due to a wave of late 19th century immigration by French Canadians, the church was built and expanded until 1936, by which time it was the second largest church in New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
. In 1983, the church was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. In 2004, the church was named a minor basilica
Minor basilica
Minor basilica is a title given to some Roman Catholic churches. By canon law no Catholic church can be honoured with the title of basilica unless by apostolic grant or from immemorial custom....
by the Holy See
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
.
St. Chucks
St. Charles Borromeo is located in Brunswick, MaineBrunswick, Maine
Brunswick is a town in Cumberland County, Maine, United States. The population was 20,278 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Portland-South Portland-Biddeford metropolitan area. Brunswick is home to Bowdoin College, the Bowdoin College Museum of Art, the Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum, , and the...
and is a member of All Saints Parish.
Public affairs
In November 2009 it was reported that the Diocese of Portland had contributed $550,000, or 20% of the total cash contributed to Stand For Marriage Maine, a successful campaign to prevent then-impending legalization of same-sex marriage in MaineSame-sex marriage in Maine
Same-sex marriage in Maine is currently unrecognized. A bill to allow same-sex marriages in Maine was signed into law on May 6, 2009, by Governor Baldacci following legislative approval, but opponents successfully petitioned for a referendum on the issue, putting the law on hold before it went into...
. Roughly 55% of the funds donated by the Diocese came from other out-of-state dioceses who donated money to the Diocese of Portland's PAC.