Roman Catholic Diocese of Allentown
Encyclopedia
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...
comprising the 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...
counties of Berks
Berks County, Pennsylvania
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 373,638 people, 141,570 households, and 98,532 families residing in the county. The population density was 435 people per square mile . There were 150,222 housing units at an average density of 175 per square mile...
, Carbon
Carbon County, Pennsylvania
As of the census of 2000, there were 58,802 people, 23,701 households, and 16,424 families residing in the county. The population density was 154 people per square mile . There were 30,492 housing units at an average density of 80 per square mile...
, Lehigh
Lehigh County, Pennsylvania
-Climate:Most of the county's climate is considered to fall in the humid continental climate zone. Summers are typically hot and muggy, fall and spring are generally mild, and winter is cold. Precipitation is almost uniformly distributed throughout the year....
, Northampton
Northampton County, Pennsylvania
As of the 2010 census, the county was 86.3% White, 5.0% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American or Alaskan Native, 2.4% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 2.2% were two or more races, and 3.8% were some other race. 10.5% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry.As of the census of...
and Schuylkill
Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania
-Notable people:*Boxing heavyweight great Muhammad Ali had his training camp in Deer Lake.*Charles Justin Bailey, commanding general of the 81st Division in World War I, was born in Tamaqua on June 21, 1859....
, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Its cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
is the Cathedral Church of Saint Catharine of Siena
Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena
The Cathedral Church of St. Catharine of Siena is the home of the Diocese of Allentown. It is located at 1825 Turner Street, Allentown, Pennsylvania.-History of the Parish:...
, located in Allentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown is a city located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is Pennsylvania's third most populous city, after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and the 215th largest city in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 118,032 and is currently...
. The diocese has a Catholic population of 273,599 as of 2006, approximately 23.5% of the total population; it maintains 104 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...
es, 48 Catholic elementary schools
Catholic school
Catholic schools are maintained parochial schools or education ministries of the Catholic Church. the Church operates the world's largest non-governmental school system...
, eight Catholic high schools and two Catholic colleges, as well as 291 priests (Active & Retired & Religious).
The diocese was founded on January 28, 1961 by Pope John XXIII
Pope John XXIII
-Papal election:Following the death of Pope Pius XII in 1958, Roncalli was elected Pope, to his great surprise. He had even arrived in the Vatican with a return train ticket to Venice. Many had considered Giovanni Battista Montini, Archbishop of Milan, a possible candidate, but, although archbishop...
by splitting the Archdiocese of Philadelphia
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in southeastern Pennsylvania, in the United States. It covers the City and County of Philadelphia as well as Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties. The diocese was...
; the first bishop, Joseph Mark McShea, was installed on April 11 of that year. The 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...
s of the diocese have been:
- Joseph Mark McSheaJoseph Mark McSheaJoseph Mark McShea was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Allentown from 1961 to 1983.-Early life and education:...
(1961–1983) - Thomas Jerome WelshThomas Jerome WelshThomas Jerome Welsh was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Arlington and as Bishop of Allentown .-Early life and education:...
(1983–1997) - Edward Peter CullenEdward Peter CullenEdward Peter Cullen is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He was the third Bishop of Allentown. His resignation was accepted on 27 May 2009 by Pope Benedict. . At the same time, Pope Benedict named Msgr...
(1998–July 30, 2009) - John Oliver BarresJohn BarresJohn Oliver Barres is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He currently serves as Bishop of Allentown, Pennsylvania.-Early life and education:...
(July 30, 2009–)
Also, Joseph Edward Kurtz, current Archbishop of Louisville
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Louisville
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Louisville consists of twenty-four counties in Central Kentucky, USA, covering . It is the seat of the Metropolitan Province of Louisville, which comprises the states of Kentucky and Tennessee...
, and Ronald William Gainer
Ronald William Gainer
Ronald William Gainer is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the second and current Bishop of Lexington.-Biography:...
, current Bishop of Lexington
Roman Catholic Diocese of Lexington
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Lexington is a Roman Catholic diocese in Kentucky. It was founded on January 14, 1988.The past bishops of the diocese are:*James Kendrick Williams *Ronald William Gainer...
, both began as priests in Allentown. The Vicar General of the Diocese is the Reverend Monsignor Alfred A. Schlert, J.C.L., V.G. The Judicial Vicar of the Diocese is the Very Rev. John J. Paul, V.J., M.S.C., S.T.L., J.C.D.
Currently, the Diocese of Allentown is undergoing the implementation phase of their Synod. The desire of the Synod is to strengthen the life of the Catholic Church in Allentown for the future. Among the numerous topics being studied are the Restructuring and Consolidation of Parishes, Fiscal Feasibility of Catholic Schools, Catholic Youth, Vocations, Family Life, and Catechetical Programs. The Vicar for the Implementation of the Synod is the Reverend Monsignor David L. James, V.E.
On June 1 2008, the Diocese of Allentown unveiled the first section of restructuring of parishes for the five counties. Due to the shift in population, waning number of priestly vocations, and other reasons, the Diocese closed 47 parishes effective reducing its parishes from 151 to 104. The Diocese plans to finish its efforts with restructuring over the next year where 15 or more parishes will be consolidated or merged.
Deaneries & Vicars Forane
- Schuylkill Deanery: The Reverend Monsignor Edward J. O'Connor, V.F.
- Berks Deanery: The Reverend Monsignor Dennis T. Hartgen, V.F.
- Carbon Deanery: The Reverend Monsignor John G. Chizmar, V.F.
- Lehigh Deanery: The Reverend Monsignor Daniel J. Yenushosky, V.F.
- Northampton Deanery: The Reverend Monsignor Stephen J. Radocha,V.F.
Parishes (As of July 16, 2008)
A cross (+) indicates a new parish formed from the merger or consolidation of two or more parishes.Carbon Deanery
- St. Joseph, Summit Hill
- +St. Katherine Drexel, Lansford
- +St. Francis of Assisi, Nesquehoning
- +Our Lady of Lourdes, Weatherly
- Immaculate Conception, Jim Thorpe
- St. Joseph, Jim Thorpe
- St. Peter the Fisherman, Lake Harmony
- Ss. Peter and Paul, Lehighton
- Sacred Heart, Palmerton
Lehigh Deanery
- Cathedral of Saint Catharine of SienaCathedral of Saint Catharine of SienaThe Cathedral Church of St. Catharine of Siena is the home of the Diocese of Allentown. It is located at 1825 Turner Street, Allentown, Pennsylvania.-History of the Parish:...
, Allentown - St. Francis of Assisi, Allentown
- St. Paul, Allentown
- Sacred Heart, Allentown
- St. Stephen of Hungary, Allentown
- Our Lady, Help of Christians, Allentown
- Immaculate Conception, Allentown
- St. John the Baptist, Allentown
- Ss. Peter and Paul, Allentown
- St. Thomas More, Allentown
- St. Joseph the Worker, Orefield
- St. Ann, Emmaus
- +Queenship of Mary, Northampton
- Assumption BVM, Northampton
- +St. John Neumann, Catasauqua
- Assumption BVM, Slatington
- St. Peter, Coplay
- St. John the Baptist, Whitehall
- Holy Trinity, Whitehall
- St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Whitehall
Northampton Deanery
- Sacred Heart, Bath
- Holy Family, Nazareth
- St. Nicholas, Berlinsville
- St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Pen Argyl
- Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Roseto
- Our Lady of Good Counsel, Bangor
- St. Rocco, Martins Creek
- +Incarnation of our Lord, Bethlehem
- Holy Ghost, Bethlehem
- Holy Infancy, Bethlehem
- St. Ursula, Fountain Hill
- +Our Lady of Mercy, Easton
- St. Bernard Public Oratory, Easton
- St. Anthony of Padua, Easton
- Saint Joseph, Limeport
- Assumption BVM, Colesville
- Notre Dame, Bethlehem
- Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Bethlehem Township
- Sacred Heart, Bethlehem Township
- Saint Anne, Bethlehem
- Saint Theresa, Hellertown
- Saint Jane Frances de Chantal, Palmer Township
- Saints Simon and Jude, Bethlehem
Berks Deanery
- Saint Joseph, Reading
- Saint Peter the Apostle, Reading
- Saint Margaret, Reading
- Saint Paul, Reading
- Holy Guardian Angels, Hyde Park
- Saint Mary, Kutztown
- Saint Mary, Hamburg
- Saints Cyril and Methodius, Reading
- Saint Mary, Reading
- Holy Rosary, Reading
- Sacred Heart, West Reading
- Saint Ignatius Loyola, Whitfield
- Saint Francis de Sales, Robesonia
- Saint John Baptist de La Salle, Shillington
- Saint Anthony, Millmont
- Saint Benedict, Mohnton
- Saint Catharine of Siena, Reading
- Immaculate Conception, Douglasville
- Saint Columbkill, Boyertown
- Most Blessed Sacrament, Bally
Schuylkill Deanery
- St. Jerome, Tamaqua
- Ss. Peter and Paul, Tamaqua
- +All Saints, McAdoo
- +Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, Mahanoy City
- Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Shenandoah
- Saint Casmir, Shenandoah
- Saint George, Shenandoah
- Saint Stephen, Shenandoah
- Saint Stanislaus, Shenandoah
- Annunciation, Shenandoah
- Saint Mary Magdalene, Lost Creek
- Saint Joseph, Sheppton
- Saint Mary, Ringtown
- Saint Joseph, Girardville
- Saint Vincent de Paul, Girardville
- Saint Joseph, Ashland
- Saint Mauritius, Ashland
- Our Lady of Good Counsel, Gordon
- Saint Ann, Frackville
- Annunciation, Frackville
- Saint Joseph, Frackville
- St. Patrick, Pottsville
- St. John the Baptist, PottsvilleSt. John the Baptist Church, Pottsville, PASt. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic church in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. It is located at Tenth & Mahantongo Streets. The current structure was built in 1872.-History:...
- St. Ambrose, Schuylkill Haven
- St. Stephen, Port Carbon
- +St. Michael the Archangel, Minersville
- +St. Matthew, Minersville
- +St. Clare of Assisi, St. Clair
- +Holy Cross, New Philadelphia
- +Most Holy Trinity, Tremont
High schools
- Allentown Central Catholic High SchoolAllentown Central Catholic High SchoolAllentown Central Catholic High School is a private, parochial school located at 301 North Fourth Street in Allentown, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
- Bethlehem Catholic High School
- Berks Catholic High School, Reading
- Marian Catholic High SchoolMarian Catholic High School (Pennsylvania)Marian Catholic High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Tamaqua, Pennsylvania. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Allentown....
, Tamaqua - Nativity BVM High SchoolNativity BVM High SchoolNativity B. V. M. High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Allentown.-Background:...
, Pottsville - Notre Dame High SchoolNotre Dame High School (Easton, Pennsylvania)Notre Dame High School also known as Notre Dame Green Pond, is a private, Roman Catholic high school near Easton, Pennsylvania, United States, in Bethlehem Township. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Allentown.-Background:...
, Easton - Pius X High SchoolPius X High School (Pennsylvania)Pius X High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Bangor, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley region of the state. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Allentown.-Background:...
, Bangor