Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester
Encyclopedia
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester is a diocese
of the Catholic Church
in the Greater Rochester
region of New York State in the United States
. The region that the Diocese comprises extends from its northern border on the south shore of Lake Ontario
through the Finger Lakes
region to its southern border at the New York
-Pennsylvania
border. The current bishop
of the diocese is Bishop Matthew H. Clark
. The diocese comprises 12 counties in New York, with approximately 350,000 Catholics and over 125 faith communities (parishes), 39 diocesan elementary schools and 7 independent parochial high schools. The metropolitan for the diocese is the Archdiocese of New York. The cathedral
parish
for the diocese is Sacred Heart Cathedral
.
entrusted eight counties (Monroe, Livingston, Wayne, Ontario, Seneca, Cayuga, Yates, and Tompkins) within the Diocese of Buffalo to Bernard J. McQuaid, the first bishop of Rochester. The new diocese had about 54,500 Catholics in 35 parish churches and 29 mission churches.
In 1896, the counties of Schuyler, Tioga, Chemung, and Steuben were added to the Diocese of Rochester from the Diocese of Buffalo, forming the current boundaries.
The diocese grew as Catholic immigrants came to western New York, peaking in the 1960s. Since then, the Catholic population has stabilized while the numbers of ordained presbyters (priests) and women religious (sisters) has fallen.
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 Catholic Church
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
in the Greater Rochester
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
region of New York State in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The region that the Diocese comprises extends from its northern border on the south shore of Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded on the north and southwest by the Canadian province of Ontario, and on the south by the American state of New York. Ontario, Canada's most populous province, was named for the lake. In the Wyandot language, ontarío means...
through the Finger Lakes
Finger Lakes
The Finger Lakes are a pattern of lakes in the west-central section of Upstate New York in the United States. They are a popular tourist destination. The lakes are long and thin , each oriented roughly on a north-south axis. The two longest, Cayuga Lake and Seneca Lake, are among the deepest in...
region to its southern border at the New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
-Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
border. The current 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...
of the diocese is Bishop Matthew H. Clark
Matthew H. Clark
Matthew Harvey Clark is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the eighth and current Bishop of Rochester.-Early life and education:Matthew Clark was born in Waterford, New York, to Matthew and Grace Clark...
. The diocese comprises 12 counties in New York, with approximately 350,000 Catholics and over 125 faith communities (parishes), 39 diocesan elementary schools and 7 independent parochial high schools. The metropolitan for the diocese is the Archdiocese of New York. The cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
for the diocese is Sacred Heart Cathedral
Sacred Heart Cathedral (Rochester)
The Sacred Heart Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Rochester, New York, USA. The recently renovated Cathedral is Mother Church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester and seat of the diocesan bishop, as well as home to a parish community. The present parish is known as the Cathedral...
.
History
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester began on March 3, 1868, when Pope Pius IXPope 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...
entrusted eight counties (Monroe, Livingston, Wayne, Ontario, Seneca, Cayuga, Yates, and Tompkins) within the Diocese of Buffalo to Bernard J. McQuaid, the first bishop of Rochester. The new diocese had about 54,500 Catholics in 35 parish churches and 29 mission churches.
In 1896, the counties of Schuyler, Tioga, Chemung, and Steuben were added to the Diocese of Rochester from the Diocese of Buffalo, forming the current boundaries.
The diocese grew as Catholic immigrants came to western New York, peaking in the 1960s. Since then, the Catholic population has stabilized while the numbers of ordained presbyters (priests) and women religious (sisters) has fallen.
- In 1909, there were 121,000 Catholics in 93 parishes, 36 missions and 53 parish schools with 18,000 pupils. There were 164 priests and more than 500 sisters.
- In 1938, there were 223,657 Catholics in 129 parishes, 36 missions and 72 parish schools serving 23,796 pupils. There were 289 active diocesan priests.
- In 1966, there were 361,790 Catholics in 155 parishes, 36 mission churches and 99 elementary parish schools serving 45,540 pupils. There were 371 active diocesan priests and 1,549 sisters.
- In 1978, there were 358,850 Catholics in 161 parishes, 29 mission churches and 75 schools serving 19,526 pupils. There were 311 active diocesan priests and 1,095 women religious.
- In 1992, there were 361,384 Catholics in 162 parishes and 58 elementary schools serving 11,992 pupils. There were 208 active diocesan priests and 842 sisters.
Ordinaries
The following is a list of Bishops who served the Diocese of Rochester, along with their dates of service:- Bishop Bernard J. McQuaid: March 3, 1868 - 1909 (death)
- Bishop Thomas Francis HickeyThomas Francis HickeyThomas Francis Hickey was the second Roman Catholic Bishop of Rochester .Hickey was born in Rochester, New York, and studied at St. John's Seminary, Fordham, and at St. Joseph's Seminary, Troy. He was ordained to the priesthood on March 25, 1884...
: 1909 - 1928 - Bishop John Francis O'HernJohn Francis O'HernJohn Francis O'Hern was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Rochester from 1929 until his death in 1933....
: 1928 - May 1933 (death) - Archbishop (later 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...
) Edward Mooney: August 1933 - May 1937 (transfer to Archdiocese of Detroit) - Bishop James E. KearneyJames E. KearneyJames Edward Kearney was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Salt Lake City and Bishop of Rochester .-Biography:...
: 1937 - 1966 - Bishop (later Archbishop) Fulton J. SheenFulton J. SheenServant of God Fulton John Sheen, born Peter John Sheen was an American archbishop of the Catholic Church known for his preaching and especially his work on television and radio...
: 1966 - 1969 (retired and appointed to titular see of NewportNewportNewport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
, Wales) - Bishop Joseph Lloyd HoganJoseph Lloyd HoganJoseph Lloyd Hogan was the seventh Roman Catholic bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester, New York....
: October 1969 - November 28, 1978 (retired due to health) - Bishop Matthew H. ClarkMatthew H. ClarkMatthew Harvey Clark is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the eighth and current Bishop of Rochester.-Early life and education:Matthew Clark was born in Waterford, New York, to Matthew and Grace Clark...
: June 26, 1979 - present (current bishop)
High schools
- Aquinas InstituteAquinas InstituteThe Aquinas Institute is a co educational catholic school Rochester, New York established in 1902. Aquinas Institute was founded as an all boys christian academy, but became an co-educational school in 1982. It is located within City of Rochester. It has stood at its current location on Dewey...
, Rochester - Bishop Kearney High School, Irondequoit near Rochester
- DeSales High School, Geneva
- McQuaid Jesuit High SchoolMcQuaid Jesuit High SchoolMcQuaid Jesuit High School is an all-male, Jesuit college preparatory high school located in Rochester, New York, USA. Named after Bernard J. McQuaid, the first bishop of the Rochester diocese, McQuaid is located at 1800 Clinton Avenue South, in the suburb of Brighton.McQuaid was founded in 1954 in...
, Rochester - Nazareth AcademyNazareth Academy (Rochester, New York)Nazareth Academy is a private all-girls Catholic school teaching grades 9-12 in Rochester, New York, USA. It is located within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester.-History:Nazareth Academy was founded by the Sisters of Saint Joseph in 1871...
, Rochester - Notre Dame High School, Elmira
- Our Lady of Mercy High School, Rochester
Counties
This is a list of the counties in New York State that fall into the Diocese of Rochester:- MonroeMonroe County, New YorkMonroe County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 744,344. It is named after James Monroe, fifth President of the United States of America. Its county seat is the city of Rochester....
- LivingstonLivingston County, New YorkAs of the census of 2000, there were 64,328 people, 22,150 households, and 15,349 families residing in the county. The population density was 102 people per square mile . There were 24,023 housing units at an average density of 38 per square mile...
- WayneWayne County, New YorkWayne County is a county located in the US state of New York. It is part of the Rochester, New York Metropolitan Statistical Area and lies on the south shore of Lake Ontario, forming part of the northern border of the United States with Canada. The name honors General Anthony Wayne, an American...
- OntarioOntario County, New YorkAs of the census of 2000, there were 100,224 people, 38,370 households, and 26,360 families residing in the county. The population density was 156 people per square mile . There were 42,647 housing units at an average density of 66 per square mile...
- SenecaSeneca County, New YorkAs of the census of 2000, there were 33,342 people, 12,630 households, and 8,626 families residing in the county. The population density was 103 people per square mile . There were 14,794 housing units at an average density of 46 per square mile...
- CayugaCayuga County, New YorkCayuga County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It was named for one of the tribes of Indians in the Iroquois Confederation. Its county seat is Auburn.- History :...
- YatesYates County, New YorkYates County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 25,348. The county seat is Penn Yan. The name is in honor of Joseph C. Yates, who as Governor of New York signed the act establishing the county....
- TompkinsTompkins County, New YorkTompkins County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, and comprises the whole of the Ithaca metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 101,564. The county seat is Ithaca, and the county is home to Cornell University, Ithaca College and Tompkins Cortland Community...
- SchuylerSchuyler County, New YorkAs of the census of 2000, there were 19,224 people, 7,374 households, and 5,191 families residing in the county. The population density was 58 people per square mile . There were 9,181 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile...
(added in 1896) - TiogaTioga County, New YorkAs of the census of 2010, there were 51,125 people residing in the county, with 22,203 housing units, of these 20,350 occupied, 1,853 vacant. The population density was 98 people per square mile...
(added in 1896) - ChemungChemung County, New YorkChemung County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It is part of the 'Elmira, New York Metropolitan Statistical Area' which encompasses all of Chemung County. As of the 2010 census, the population was 88,830. Its name is derived from the name of a Delaware Indian village . Its...
(added in 1896) - SteubenSteuben County, New YorkSteuben County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 98,990. Its name is in honor of Baron von Steuben, a German general who fought on the American side in the American Revolutionary War, though it is not pronounced the same...
(added in 1896)