Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie
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...
in western 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...
. It was founded on July 29, 1853. It is one of seven suffragan sees in Pennsylvania that make up the Ecclesiastical Province of Philadelphia, which is headed by the Roman Catholic 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...
.
Size of diocese
Erie is geographically the largest diocese in Pennsylvania, covering 9936 square miles (25,734.12 km²). Erie diocese covers 13 counties in Northwestern Pennsylvania. About 220,000 Catholics (74,000 families) reside in the diocese. They educate 14,000 children and youth in their religious education programs.Vicariates and parishes
The diocese is divided into three vicariatesDeanery
A Deanery is an ecclesiastical entity in both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England. A deanery is either the jurisdiction or residence of a Dean.- Catholic usage :...
:
- The Eastern Vicariate consists of parishes in CameronCameron County, PennsylvaniaAs of the census of 2000, there were 5,974 people, 2,465 households, and 1,624 families residing in the county. The population density was 15 people per square mile . There were 4,592 housing units at an average density of 12 per square mile...
, ClearfieldClearfield County, PennsylvaniaClearfield County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 81,642.Clearfield County was created on March 26, 1804, from parts of Huntingdon and Lycoming Counties but was administered as part of Centre County until 1812...
, ElkElk County, PennsylvaniaElk County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 31,946.Elk County was created on April 18, 1843, from parts of Jefferson, Clearfield and McKean Counties, and is named for the Eastern elk that historically inhabited the region. Its county...
, JeffersonJefferson County, PennsylvaniaJefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. In 2010, its population was 45,200. It was established on March 26, 1804, from part of Lycoming County and named for then-President Thomas Jefferson. Its county seat is Brookville...
, McKeanMcKean County, PennsylvaniaAs of the census of 2000, there were 45,936 people, 18,024 households, and 12,094 families residing in the county. The population density was 47 people per square mile . There were 21,644 housing units at an average density of 22 per square mile...
, and PotterPotter County, PennsylvaniaPotter County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is in the Allegheny Plateau region. As of 2010, the population was 17,457. Its county seat is Coudersport. Potter County was named after James Potter, who was a general from Pennsylvania in the Continental Army during the...
counties. It has deaneries at BradfordBradford, PennsylvaniaBradford is a small city located in rural McKean County, Pennsylvania, in the United States 78 miles south of Buffalo, New York. Settled in 1823, Bradford was chartered as a city in 1879 and emerged as a wild oil boomtown in the Pennsylvanian oil rush in the late 19th century...
, ClearfieldClearfield, PennsylvaniaClearfield is a borough in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 6,631 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Clearfield County.-Geography:Clearfield is located at ....
, DuboisDuBois, PennsylvaniaDuBois is a city in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, northeast of Pittsburgh. It is the principal city in the DuBois, Pa Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, and St. Mary's. - The Northern Vicariate consists of parishes in ErieErie County, PennsylvaniaErie County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 280,566. Its county seat is the City of Erie.- Geography :...
, part of ForestForest County, PennsylvaniaForest County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population is 7,716. Forest County is famous as a rural retreat. Nearly 75% of all dwellings in the county are second or vacation homes . Forest County does not have a single traffic light, the only county in the...
, and WarrenWarren County, PennsylvaniaWarren County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 41,815. It was formed in 1800 from parts of Allegheny and Lycoming counties; attached to Crawford County until 1805 and then to Venango County until Warren was formally organized in 1819. Its county...
counties. It has Erie East and Erie West deaneries in Erie, Pennsylvania, plus a deanery in WarrenWarren, PennsylvaniaWarren is a city in Warren County, Pennsylvania, United States, located along the Allegheny River. The population was 9,710 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Warren County. It is home to the headquarters of the Allegheny National Forest and the Cornplanter State Forest... - The Western Vicariate consists of parishes in ClarionClarion County, PennsylvaniaAs of the census of 2000, there were 41,765 people, 16,052 households, and 10,738 families residing in the county. The population density was 69 people per square mile . There were 19,426 housing units at an average density of 32 per square mile...
, CrawfordCrawford County, PennsylvaniaCrawford County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 88,765.Crawford County was created on March 12, 1800, from part of Allegheny County and named for Colonel William Crawford...
, part of ForestForest County, PennsylvaniaForest County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population is 7,716. Forest County is famous as a rural retreat. Nearly 75% of all dwellings in the county are second or vacation homes . Forest County does not have a single traffic light, the only county in the...
, MercerMercer County, PennsylvaniaMercer County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 116,638. Its county seat is Mercer; Sharon is its largest city....
, and VenangoVenango County, PennsylvaniaVenango County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 54,984. Its county seat is Franklin.-History:Venango County was created on March 12, 1800 from parts of Allegheny and Lycoming Counties...
. It has deaneries in MeadvilleMeadville, PennsylvaniaMeadville is a city in and the county seat of Crawford County, Pennsylvania, United States. The city is generally considered part of the Pittsburgh Tri-State and is within 40 miles of Erie, Pennsylvania. It was the first permanent settlement in northwest Pennsylvania...
, Oil CityOil City, PennsylvaniaOil City is a city in Venango County, Pennsylvania that is known in the initial exploration and development of the petroleum industry. After the first oil wells were drilled nearby in the 1850s, Oil City became central in the petroleum industry while hosting headquarters for the Pennzoil, Quaker...
, and SharonSharon, PennsylvaniaSharon is a city in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, in the United States, northwest of Pittsburgh. It is part of the Youngstown–Warren–Boardman, OH-PA Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
.
Historically significant parishes include:
Oldest Existing Parishes by Church Dedication Dates:
- St. Francis Assisi, Clearfield (Oldest parish community in diocese; original church dedicated by Bishop Francis Patrick Kenrick of Philadelphia in 1832)
- St. Philip, Crossingville (Original church dedicated by Bishop Kenrick, 1834)
- St. Nicholas of Tolentino, Crates (Original church dedicated by Bishop Kenrick, 1835)
- St. Michael, the Archangel, Fryburg (Original church dedicated by Bishop Kenrick, 1836)
- St. Hippolyte, Frenchtown (Original church dedicated by Bishop Kenrick, 1837)
Other Historically-significant Parishes:
- St. Mary's, Erie (German origins, pioneer parish)
- St. Patrick's Pro-Cathedral, Erie (Pioneer parish)
- St. Peter Cathedral, ErieSt. Peter Cathedral, ErieSt. Peter Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church located in at 230 West 10th Street in Erie, Pennsylvania.-History:Plans for the building of St. Peter Cathedral were initiated in 1873 by Bishop Tobias Mullen of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie. The cornerstone was laid in a formal ceremony held on...
(Significant edifice) - St. Stanislaus, Erie (Polish origins)
- St. Mary, St. Marys (Bavarian German origins, over 150 years old)
There are 120 parishes in the Erie diocese today, encompassing 151 churches.
Administrative offices
The diocesan offices are located at St. Mark Catholic Center in Erie, PennsylvaniaErie, Pennsylvania
Erie is a city located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the United States. Named for the lake and the Native American tribe that resided along its southern shore, Erie is the state's fourth-largest city , with a population of 102,000...
.
Bishops
Below are the bishopBishop
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 and their tours of service:
- Michael O'ConnorMichael O'Connor (bishop)Michael O'Connor, S.J. was an Irish-born clergyman of Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Pittsburgh and Bishop of Erie .-Early life and education:...
(1853–1854) http://www.eriercd.org/history1.asp - Joshua Maria YoungJoshua Maria YoungJoshua Maria Young was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Erie from 1854 until his death in 1866.-Biography:...
(1854–1866) http://www.eriercd.org/history1.asp - Tobias MullenTobias MullenTobias Mullen was an Irish-born clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Erie from 1868 to 1899.-Biography:...
(1868–1899) http://www.eriercd.org/history1.asp - John Edmund FitzmauriceJohn Edmund FitzmauriceJohn Edmund Fitzmaurice was the fourth Roman Catholic Bishop of Erie .Fitzmaurice was born in Newtown-Sandes, County Kerry, and began studying law at age fifteen. In 1858 he came to the United States, where he began his studies for the priesthood at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Overbrook,...
(1899–1920) http://www.eriercd.org/history2.asp - John Mark GannonJohn Mark GannonJohn Mark Gannon was an American clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Erie from 1920 to 1966, and was given the personal title of Archbishop in 1953.-Biography:...
(1920–1966) http://www.eriercd.org/history3.asp - John Francis Whealon (1966–1968) http://www.eriercd.org/history4.asp
- Alfred Michael WatsonAlfred Michael WatsonAlfred Michael Watson was the seventh Roman Catholic Bishop of Erie .Watson was born in Erie, Pennsylvania, and ordained a priest on May 10, 1934. On May 17, 1965, he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Erie and Titular Bishop of Nationa by Pope Paul VI...
(1969–1982) http://www.eriercd.org/history5.asp - Michael Joseph Murphy (1982–1990) http://www.eriercd.org/history5.asp
- Donald Walter TrautmanDonald Walter TrautmanDonald Walter Trautman is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who serves as Bishop of Erie.-Biography:Donald Trautman was born in Buffalo, New York, and attended Niagara University in Lewiston. He studied theology under Karl Rahner at the University of Innsbruck in Austria, from...
(1990—) http://www.eriercd.org/history6.asp
Religious orders
- Benedictines (22 July 1852)
- BridgettinesBridgettinesThe Bridgettine or Birgittine Order is a monastic religious order of Augustinian nuns, Religious Sisters and monks founded by Saint Birgitta of Sweden in approximately 1350, and approved by Pope Urban V in 1370...
- FeliciansFelician SistersThe Sisters of St. Felix of Cantalice, or Felician Sisters, are one branch of the Third Order of St. Francis. The active-contemplative order was founded in Warsaw, Poland, in 1855, by Sophia Truszkowska, and named for a shrine of St. Felix, a 16th century Franciscan saint especially devoted to...
- FranciscanFranciscanMost Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
s - MaristsMarist BrothersThe Marist Brothers, or Little Brothers of Mary, are a Catholic religious order of brothers and affiliated lay people. The order was founded in France, at La Valla-en-Gier near Lyon in 1817 by Saint Marcellin Champagnat, a young French priest of the Society of Mary...
- RedemptoristsCongregation of the Most Holy RedeemerThe Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer is a Roman Catholic missionary Congregation founded by Saint Alphonsus Liguori at Scala, near Amalfi, Italy for the purpose of labouring among the neglected country people in the neighbourhood of Naples.Members of the Congregation, priests and brothers,...
(1875) - Sisters of the Humility of Mary
- Sisters of St. JosephSisters of St. JosephThe title Sisters of St. Joseph applies to several Roman Catholic religious congregations of women. The largest and oldest of these was founded in Le Puy-en-Velay, France...
(1860) - Sisters of MercySisters of MercyThe Religious Order of the Sisters of Mercy is an order of Catholic women founded by Catherine McAuley in Dublin, Ireland, in 1831. , the order has about 10,000 members worldwide, organized into a number of independent congregations....
(24 /September 1870)
Charities
Erie Diocese has many charities throughout all of the parishes. There are 9 main charities within the diocese.Better Homes for Erie,
Christ the King Manor,
Foreign Missions,
Harborcreek Youth Services,
Donate to Mission of Friendship,
Parish Care and Concern,
Prince of Peace Center,
Refugee Ministry,
St. Martin Center
Elementary and Middle Schools
Having Catholic schools allows the best way to pass on the Catholic religion through generations. They teach their students the most important values of ever lasting peace and happiness. The focus on teaching the spiritual and secular dimensions of their lives. The schools allow their student to have a place of belonging in a global community. They focus on service within and outside of the school commutnity. The diocese has 33 elementary schools and 2 middle schools.High schools
- Cathedral Preparatory SchoolCathedral Preparatory SchoolCathedral Preparatory School is an all-male college prep school in Erie, Pennsylvania run by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie and was established in 1921 by Archbishop John Mark Gannon. The school boasts a 97%-100% college acceptance rate among graduating classes...
, Erie - Central Catholic High SchoolCentral Catholic High School (DuBois, Pennsylvania)Central Catholic High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in DuBois, Pennsylvania. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie. Their nickname is the "Cardinals". Their colors are cardinal red, white, and blue.-Background:...
, DuBois - Elk County Catholic High SchoolElk County Catholic High SchoolElk County Catholic High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in St. Marys, Pennsylvania. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie.-Background:...
, St. Marys - Kennedy Catholic High SchoolKennedy Catholic High School (Hermitage, Pennsylvania)Kennedy Catholic High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Hermitage, Pennsylvania. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie.-Background:...
, Hermitage - Mercyhurst Preparatory SchoolMercyhurst Preparatory SchoolMercyhurst Preparatory School, commonly called Mercyhurst Prep or MPS, is a Catholic, coeducational secondary school located in Erie, Pennsylvania. In the Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie, the school is located behind Mercyhurst College on East Grandview Boulevard...
, Erie - Venango Catholic High SchoolVenango Catholic High SchoolVenango High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Oil City, Pennsylvania. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie....
, Oil City - Villa Maria AcademyVilla Maria Academy (Erie, Pennsylvania)Villa Maria Academy is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Erie, Pennsylvania. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie.-History:...
, Erie
Cemeteries
- Calvary Cemetery and Mausoleum, 3325 West Lake Road, Erie
- Gate of Heaven Cemetery and Mausoleum, 5711 West Lake Road, Erie
- Mary, Queen of Peace Cemetery and Mausoleum, 6000 Lake Pleasant Road, Erie
- Trinity CemeteryTrinity CemeteryTrinity Cemetery was founded on Trinity Sunday in 1869 as the first cemetery of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie. It is located on West Lake Road in Erie, Pennsylvania. The parish cemeteries of Holy Trinity and St...
2971 West Lake Road, Erie
See also Erie Diocesan Cemeteries