Jump to content

Archdiocese of Philadelphia

From Catholicism Wiki
Archdiocese of Philadelphia
Archidiœcesis Philadelphiensis
Catholic
Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia
Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia
Location
Country United States
Territory Philadelphia and the counties of Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia
Ecclesiastical province Metropolitan Province of Philadelphia
Headquarters 222 North 17th St, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Coordinates 39°57′26″N 75°10′04″W / 39.95722°N 75.16778°W
Statistics
Area 2,183 sq mi (5,650 km2)
Population
Total
Catholics 		(as of 2019)
4,119,268
1,437,400 (34.9%)
Parishes 214
Information
Denomination Catholic
Sui iuris church Latin Church
Rite Roman Rite
Established April 8, 1808
Cathedral Cathedral-Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul
Patron saint Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception[1] (Primary)
Peter and Paul (Titular)
Secular priests 274
Current leadership
Pope Leo XIV
Metropolitan Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez
Auxiliary Bishops John J. McIntyre
Keith J. Chylinski
Christopher R. Cooke
Efren V. Esmilla
Vicar General Reverend Philip G. Bochanski
Bishops emeritus Justin Rigali
Charles Joseph Chaput
Edward Michael Deliman
Michael J. Fitzgerald
Map
Location of the Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania
Website
archphila.org

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia (Latin: Archidiœcesis Philadelphiensis) is a diocese of the Catholic Church in southeastern Pennsylvania in the United States. The seat of the archbishop is the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia. Nelson J. Pérez is the archbishop.

Territory

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia covers five Pennsylvania counties: Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia. It is the metropolitan see of the Ecclesiastical Province of Philadelphia.

The archdiocese includes the following suffragan dioceses:

History

The history of the Catholic Church in the area dates back to William Penn when Mass was said publicly as early as 1707.[2]

19th century

In 1808, Pope Pius VII erected the suffragan dioceses of Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, and Bardstown, Kentucky, from the territory of the Diocese of Baltimore.[3] The pope appointed Michael Francis Egan as the first bishop of Philadelphia.[4]

In 1868, the Vatican erected the dioceses of Harrisburg, Scranton, and Wilmington, taking territory from the Diocese of Philadelphia.[2]

The Vatican elevated the Diocese of Philadelphia to Archdiocese on February 12, 1875.[2]

20th century

In 1961, Pope John XXIII erected the Diocese of Allentown, taking several northern counties from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.[5] By 1969, the archdiocese had grown to 1,351,704 parishioners, 1,096 diocesan priests, 676 priests of religious institutes and 6,622 religious women.[2]

21st century

In February 2012, the diocese announced the largest reorganization of their elementary and high school education system, with numerous recommended school closings or mergers. In August 2012, the archdiocese announced that the Faith in the Future Foundation would assume management of the 17 archdiocesan high schools and the four special education schools.[6]

Bishops

Bishops of Philadelphia

  1. Michael Francis Egan, O.F.M. (1808–1814)[7]
    (Ambrose Maréchal, P.S.S. appointed in 1816; did not take effect.)[8]
  2. Henry Conwell (1819–1841)[9]
  3. Francis Patrick Kenrick (1842–1851; coadjutor bishop 1830–1842), appointed Archbishop of Baltimore[10]
  4. John Nepomucene Neumann (1852–1860)[11]
  5. James Frederick Wood (1860–1875; coadjutor bishop 1857–1860), elevated to archbishop[12]

Archbishops of Philadelphia

  1. James Frederick Wood (1875–1883)
  2. Patrick John Ryan (1884–1911)
  3. Edmond Francis Prendergast (1911–1918)
  4. Cardinal Dennis Joseph Dougherty (1918–1951)
  5. Cardinal John Francis O'Hara, C.S.C. (1951–1960)
  6. Cardinal John Joseph Krol (1961–1988)
  7. Cardinal Anthony Joseph Bevilacqua (1988–2003)
  8. Cardinal Justin Francis Rigali (2003–2011)
  9. Charles Joseph Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. (2011–2020)
  10. Nelson J. Perez (2020–present)

Current auxiliary bishops

Former auxiliary bishops

Other living priests of this diocese who became bishops

Note: Year range in parentheses indicates the time of service as a priest of the diocese prior to appointment to the episcopacy.
  • Edward Joseph Adams (1970–1996), appointed nuncio and titular archbishop[13]
  • Michael Joseph Bransfield (1971–2004), appointed Bishop of Wheeling-Charleston
  • Joseph Lawrence Coffey (1996–2019), appointed auxiliary bishop of U.S. Military
  • James Patrick Green (1976–2006), appointed nuncio and titular archbishop[13]
  • Joseph A. Pepe (1970–2001), appointed Bishop of Las Vegas
  • Nelson J. Perez (1989–2012), appointed auxiliary bishop of Rockville Centre; appointed Archbishop of Philadelphia in 2020

Other deceased priests of this diocese who became bishops

Note: Year range in parentheses indicates the time of service as a priest of the diocese prior to appointment to the episcopacy.
  • Herbert Bevard (1972–2008), appointed Bishop of St. Thomas
  • Francis Brennan (1920–1940), appointed official of the Roman Rota; appointed titular archbishop and Cardinal in 1967
  • Edwin Byrne (1915–1925), appointed Bishop of Ponce
  • George Aloysius Carrell, SJ (ordained 1827; Philadelphia native but not priest of this diocese), appointed Bishop of Covington in 1853
  • James Jordan Carroll (1889–1908), appointed Bishop of Nueva Segovia, Philippines
  • Hubert James Cartwright (1927–1956), appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Wilmington
  • Joseph M. Corrigan (1903–1940), appointed titular bishop
  • Joseph Thomas Daley (1941–1963), appointed auxiliary bishop of Harrisburg
  • Francis Xavier DiLorenzo (1968–1988), appointed auxiliary bishop of Scranton[14]
  • Dennis Joseph Dougherty (1890–1903), appointed Bishop of Nueva Segovia, Philippines; appointed Archbishop of Philadelphia in 1918 (Cardinal in 1921)
  • Edmond John Fitzmaurice (1904–1925), appointed Bishop of Wilmington
  • John Edmund Fitzmaurice (1862–1897), appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Erie
  • John Patrick Foley (1962–1984), appointed titular archbishop (Cardinal in 2007)
  • Joseph Anthony Galante (1964–1992), appointed auxiliary bishop of San Antonio
  • Francis Xavier Gartland (1832–1850), appointed Bishop of Savannah
  • Daniel James Gercke (1901–1923), appointed Bishop of Tucson
  • Ignatius Frederick Horstmann (1865–1891), appointed Bishop of Cleveland
  • John Joseph Hughes (1826–1837), appointed Coadjutor Bishop of New York
  • Francis Edward Hyland (1927–1949), appointed auxiliary bishop of Savannah-Atlanta
  • Thomas Francis Kennedy (1887–1907), appointed titular bishop
  • James Paul McCloskey (1898–1917), appointed Bishop of Zamboanga, Philippines
  • Philip R. McDevitt (1885–1916), appointed Bishop of Harrisburg
  • Thomas Joseph McDonough (1938–1947), appointed auxiliary bishop of St. Augustine
  • Thomas McGovern (1861–1888), appointed Bishop of Harrisburg
  • Eugene J. McGuinness (1915–1937), appointed Bishop of Raleigh
  • John Joseph O'Connor (1945–1979), appointed auxiliary bishop of U.S. military; future Cardinal
  • William O'Hara (1842–1868), appointed Bishop of Scranton
  • Jeremiah F. Shanahan (1859–1868), appointed Bishop of Harrisburg
  • John W. Shanahan (1869–1899), appointed Bishop of Harrisburg
  • David B. Thompson (1950–1961), appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Charleston in 1989

Education

Circa 1912 there were about 68,000 students in Catholic schools within the archdiocesan territory. This increased to 250,000 in 1961, but the figures decreased after that year. Enrollment was down to 68,000 in 2012.[15] There were about 50,000 students in Catholic schools in the city of Philadelphia in 2000, and this figure decreased to 30,000 in 2010. In that span one Catholic high school and 23 Catholic elementary schools closed or merged, and the proliferation of charter schools in that period meant that the number of students combined in that type of school outnumbered that of the remaining Philadelphia Catholic schools.[16]

In 2012 the archdiocese proposed closing or merging 18 schools in Philadelphia and 31 schools outside of Philadelphia; the Philadelphia Inquirer stated this would further weaken Philadelphia's middle class.[17] The proposal would affect 24% and 29% of the senior high and K-8 schools, respectively.[18]

Elementary schools

(this category only includes schools notable enough for their own Wikipedia articles)

The first Catholic school established in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia was at St. Mary Parish in Philadelphia during the late eighteenth century. During the nineteenth century, Bishop Kenrick encouraged the establishment of Catholic schools. Subsequently, John Neumann (1851–1860) made the establishment of parish elementary schools a priority and by 1860 there were seventeen parish elementary schools in Philadelphia. Between 1900 and 1930, Catholic elementary schools increased to 124 schools in Philadelphia and 78 schools in the four suburban counties. Between 1945 and 1965, 62 new Catholic elementary schools were established.

In 2012, about 25% of the students in Philadelphia Catholic elementary schools were not Catholic.[16] In 2010 South Philadelphia Catholic elementary schools had 2,572 students, a decline by 27% from the 2006 figure.[15]

Special needs schools

These three schools for special needs children are supported by the Catholic Charities Appeal.

  • Saint Katherine School (1953) in Wynnewood and Radnor serves children with intellectual disabilities[19]
  • Our Lady of Confidence School (1954) in Willow Grove and Warminster serves children with unique learning styles[20]
  • Saint Lucy School (1955) in Philadelphia for children with visual impairment[21]

High schools within the archdiocese

Diocesan high schools

The first free diocesan high school in the United States was the Roman Catholic High School of Philadelphia, founded for the education of boys in 1890.[22] The Catholic Girls High School, the first diocesan high school for girls, was founded in 1912. The school became the JW Hallahan Catholic Girls High School and closed in 2020.[23]

West Catholic Boys and Girls High School opened in 1916.[24] Northeast Catholic School for Boys opened in 1926 and closed in 2010,[25] Despite the economic hardships of the 1930s and 1940s, seven more diocesan high schools were founded. Between 1945 and 1967, fifteen high schools were opened.

As of 2023, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia has 15 diocesan high schools.

Seminaries

Colleges and universities within the archdiocese

Note: Each Catholic college and university within the archdiocese is affiliated with a religious institute, rather than the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

Controversies

Sexual abuse scandal

Like several other major archdioceses in the United States, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia was embroiled in a major sexual abuse scandal beginning in the late 20th century. Grand jury reports from the District Attorney of Philadelphia in 2003, 2005, and 2011 revealed dozens of archdiocesan priests with credible sexual abuse allegations. In total, 13 priests and one archdiocesan teacher were convicted of some form of a sexual abuse crime. The archdiocese created the Independent Reconciliation and Reparations Program (IRRP) in 2018, and an estimated total of $130 million has been spent to compensate for over 400 victims.[26]

Firing of Margie Winters for same-sex marriage

In 2015, it was reported that Waldron Mercy Academy's director of religious education, Margie Winters, had been fired from the school after a parent had reported her directly to the archdiocese for marrying her lesbian partner in a civil ceremony in 2007. Archbishop Chaput called the dismissal "common sense."[27][28]

Catholic Social Services

The archdiocese has had a foster care agency for more than 100 years. It sued Philadelphia after the city stopped referring foster care cases to the agency after it refused to use same-sex couples to foster children.[29] The case went to the US Supreme Court with the name Fulton v. City of Philadelphia, Pa.[30]

Saints of Philadelphia

  • Frances Xavier Cabrini, for whom the suburban college is named and who visited on numerous occasions. She started an orphanage and an Italian national parish that still is functioning today, St. Donato's in West Philadelphia.
  • Katharine Drexel
  • John Nepomucene Neumann – A Redemptorist; became the fourth Bishop of Philadelphia (1852–60) and the first U.S. bishop to be canonized; as bishop of Philadelphia, he founded the first Catholic diocesan school system in the U.S.

Shrines of Philadelphia

Publications

See also

Canonical status and jurisdiction

Archdiocese of Philadelphia is a metropolitan archdiocese of the Catholic Church.[33]

From the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia

Archdiocese of Philadelphia — (Philadelphiensis). A diocese established in 1808; made an archdiocese, 12 Feb., 1875, comprises all the city and county of Philadelphia, and the counties of Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Chester, Delaware, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northampton, and Schuylkill, an area of 5043 square miles, in the southeastern portion of the State of Pennsylvania. The population of this area, according to the United States Census, in 1910, was 2,712,708, of which number 1,549,008 belonged to the City of Philadelphia. This city, the capital of the archdiocese, was, until 1800, the capital of the United States. It is the third city in the United States in population; its wealth invested in manufacturing industries exceeds $500,000,000, and it is the leading American city in shipbuilding, the manufacture of locomotive engines, street-railway cars, carpets, leather, oilcloth, and several other important commodities. In 1909 the foreign commerce of Philadelphia amounted to $150,504,095.

History

Penn's colony, founded in 1682, as a "holy experiment", by which each man could without molestation worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience (see PENNSYLVANIA), soon became a welcome haven of refuge to the persecuted Catholics of the neighbouring colonies. Since the missionary priests, mainly Jesuits, watched over the movements of the members of their scattered flocks, it is not surprising that in their frequent journeyings between New York and Maryland they should find opportunity to gather the faithful in the house of a Catholic for the celebration of the sacred mysteries and preaching the Word of God. There was a steady growth in the number of Catholics throughout the colony, including some distinguished converts. Repeated complaints were made to London, that the "Popish Mass" was read publicly at Philadelphia; but Penn's "Fundamental" shielded the Catholics in his province from molestation. The first resident priest in Philadelphia was Father Joseph Greaton, S.J., who began his labours among the missions of Maryland and Pennsylvania in 1720. His first concern was to build a chapel and rectory. With this object he bought the ground where the first public chapel was erected in Philadelphia, and where still stands old St. Joseph's church, near Fourth and Walnut Streets. In 1741 Father Greaton received an assistant in the person of Rev. Henry Neale, S.J. Welcome financial aid came to the Pennsylvania missions through the bounty of Sir John James, of London, who made a bequest in their favour. The German immigrants were looked after by two missionaries from the Fatherland, Rev. Theodore Schneider of Heidelberg, who resided in Berks Co., at Goshenhoppen, and Father Wappeler of Westphalia, who attended the Catholics of Conewago and Lancaster. Father Neale died 5 May, 1748; and the aged Greaton retired to Maryland, where he ended his saintly career, 19 Aug., 1753.

The second pastor of Philadelphia was Father Robert Harding, born in Nottinghamshire, England, 6 Oct., 1701, who, having entered the Society of Jesus, came to America in 1732. He assumed charge of Philadelphia in 1749 and laboured with intelligence and success for twenty-three years. During the excitement of the French and Indian War charges of disloyalty were brought against the Catholics, but passed away without causing suffering. Father Harding estimated the Catholics of Philadelphia as about 2000. Another deserving labourer in the vineyard was the German Jesuit, Father Steinmeyer, known in the colony as Ferdinand Farmer. He laboured first at Lancaster among the Germans, afterwards as assistant to Father Harding. He is described as a philosopher and astronomer, and in 1779 was a trustee of the University of Pennsylvania. Father Harding purchased land for a new church and cemetery. The church was opened in 1763 as St. Mary's; it became the parish church, St. Joseph's remaining a chapel. Father Harding died 1 Sept., 1772, and was interred at St. Mary's. He was succeeded by the Rev. Robert Molyneux, who, together with Father Farmer, skilfully guided the infant Church during the stormy days of the Revolution. Like the majority of their flock, they remained neutral, till the coming of the French allies called for repeated services on occasions of joy or sorrow; the addresses, however, were mostly delivered by the chaplain to the French ambassador.

At the end of the war Father Molyneux opened the first Catholic parish school. In Oct., 1785, the sacrament of Confirmation was administered for the first time in Philadelphia by the Very Rev. John Carroll, prefect Apostolic. On 17 Aug. of the following year Father Farmer passed to his reward. His funeral was attended by the American Philosophical Society, the professors and trustees of the University of Pennsylvania, and by large numbers of non-Catholics. No one had done so much to make the Catholic religion respected by the residents of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Father Molyneux soon after retired from active service and was succeeded by the Rev. Francis Beeston, who built the presbytery of St. Joseph's which is still occupied by the clergy. In 1788 a number of German Catholics agitated for a new distinctively German church: Dr. Carroll reluctantly consented, warning them against a feeling of separatism and admonishing them that they could not be permitted to name their own pastors. In 1795 the German church was ready for occupancy and was named Holy Trinity, being, it is said, the last building for public purposes erected in Philadelphia of alternate red and black glazed brick. This church gave great trouble to Bishop Carroll, on account of the pretensions of the trustees, and had to be placed under interdict. The three churches now built, St. Joseph's, St. Mary's, and Holy Trinity, were all in the southern part of the city. Provision had to be made for the Catholics living in what was then the extreme northern section. Opportunely, the Augustinians were seeking to found a house in the United States, and to them the new congregation was entrusted. In 1796 the Rev. Matthew Carr, O.S.A., issued an appeal to the inhabitants of Philadelphia and received a generous response. President Washington figures in the list of subscribers, for $50, Commodore Barry, for $150, and Stephen Girard, for $40. After many vicissitudes, "the largest church in Philadelphia" was dedicated under the invocation of St. Augustine, 7 June, 1801. When Father Carr removed to his new residence near St. Augustine's, the trustees of St. Mary's petitioned the bishop to send them a pastor capable of sustaining the dignity of "the leading church in the United States". The bishop found them the priest they were looking for in the person of the Rev. Michael Egan, a Franciscan stationed at Lancaster. He had come to America in order to establish in this country a house of his order, but found the time premature and became a missionary priest under the jurisdiction of Bishop Carroll. He was ably assisted at St. Mary's by Father Rossiter.

The time having arrived when Philadelphia should be erected into an episcopal see, Pius VII, by Bulls dated 8 April, 1808, designated the diocese as including "the entire two States of Pennsylvania and Delaware, and the western and southern part of the State of New Jersey". An accompanying Brief appointed Father Michael Egan (q. v.) to be the first occupant of the see. Owing to the existing political conditions in Europe, the Briefs did not reach Baltimore until 1810, and during the interval Father Egan remained in Philadelphia as vicar-general to Bishop Carroll. On 10 Nov., 1808, there arrived in Philadelphia the Dominican Father William Vincent Harold, who came from Ireland recommended by the Archbishop of Dublin and other dignitaries. Bishop Egan accepted him with eagerness, and the eloquent preacher soon became a great favourite. Bishop Egan having been consecrated at Baltimore, 28 Oct., 1810, made Father Harold his vicar-general and took up his residence at St. Joseph's with him and an uncle of his, the Rev. James Harold, who had arrived from Ireland in March, 1811. Relations between the bishop and the Harolds became strained for domestic reasons not well explained. Trouble arose between the clergy and the trustees, and the Harolds returned to Europe. After a troubled administration of three years and nine months Bishop Egan died at the age of fifty-three. The trustees of St. Mary's had acquired for themselves such a reputation for insubordination, that it was no easy matter to find any one willing to take up the burden of the episcopate. Fathers Maréchal, DeBarth and David declined to accept.

Finally, after an interval of five years, the Holy See selected the vicar-general of Armagh, Ireland, the Very Rev. Henry Conwell, seventy-two years old. He was consecrated in London by Bishop Poynter, 24 Sept., 1820, and arrived in Philadelphia on 25 Nov., of that year. A very disagreeable duty was awaiting him in the case of the Rev. William Hogan, a priest of Albany whom the administrator had imprudently admitted to the diocese without sufficient inquiry or credentials. Bishop England states that he was "deficient in the most common branches of an English education". But he was a man of fine personal presence, affluent talker, a born demagogue, and able to preach in topics which tickled the ears of men whose religion was a matter of fashion. A clear and impartial narrative of the Hogan Schism is found in Father Kirlin's excellent work, "Catholicity in Philadelphia". (See also CONWELL, HENRY.) It remains a question whether the Hogan schism, which engrossed the interest of Catholics throughout the entire nation, did not do more good than harm. It focussed the attention of Catholics and non-Catholics on the important question of episcopal rights. While some lukewarm Catholics fell away from the Church, the body of the faithful rallied to their pastors with ardour and increased intelligence. The question of lay interference in the administration of the affairs of the Church was settled for all time in Philadelphia. The repudiation by the Holy See and by the hierarchy of the United States of the compromise of 9 Oct., 1826, in which Bishop Conwell surrendered to the already beaten trustees several episcopal rights, ended forever in these States the tyranny of trusteeism.

On 7 July, 1830, there arrived in the city of Philadelphia a man who was to shed lustre on the diocese and on the United States, Francis Patrick Kenrick (q. v.). Having been appointed coadjutor of the diocese, he found a valuable lieutenant in the person of the Rev. John Hughes, a man five or six months his junior, who remained Bishop Kenrick's right hand and secretary until his own elevation to the See of New York. After fruitless admonitions to the trustees of St. Mary's, the administrator, on 16 April, 1831, closed the church and cemeteries of St. Mary's. On 18 May the trustees surrendered, and on 28 May the church was reopened. In 1832 Bishop Kenrick opened what eventually became the diocesan seminary of St. Charles Borromeo, the beneficent results of which were soon apparent. During the first two years of this administration the number of churches was doubled, the first addition being the church of St. John the Evangelist built by Father John Hughes and dedicated 8 April, 1832, which was soon followed by that of St. John Baptist, Manayunk, with the Rev. Thomas Gegan as first pastor. On 8 April, 1833, was laid the cornerstone of St. Michael's church at kensington, organized by the Rev. Terence J. Donoghue.

When the awful cholera scourge visited Philadelphia in 1832, the intrepidity of the priests and sisters presented an example of heroic Christian charity which was long remembered. On 14 May, 1837, death called away one of the most valiant priests of the city, Father Michael Hurley, O.S.A., who almost from the beginning of the century had given great edification by his zeal and saintly life. Later in the same year the Rev. John Hughes was elevated to the episcopal See of New York. About the same time St. John's became the cathedral. In 1839 the parish of St. Francis Xavier was founded for the Fairmount district, and St. Patrick's church was organized for the Schuylkill suburb. The following year saw the founding of St. Philip's in the extreme south. Its first pastor was the Rev. John P. Dunn. In 1842 the Germans of Kensington were provided for by the building of St. Peter's and the installation of the Redemptorist Fathers. In 1843 the church of St. Paul was opened in Moyamensing by the Rev. Patrick F. Sheridan. To the north, the church of St. Stephen was built near the spot in Nicetown where the first Masses were celebrated by itinerant missionaries. On 15 Nov., 1846, St. Anne's church at Port Richmond was dedicated by Father Gartland of St. John's, Bishop Hughes of New York preaching the sermon. During the year 1845, St. Joachim's was founded at Frankford by the Rev. Dominic Forrestal. On the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, 29 June, 1846, the bishop issued a pastoral letter announcing his determination to build a cathedral. He chose for the site a plot of ground adjoining the seminary at Eighteenth and Race Streets. The architect was Napoleon Lebrun. It was the bishop's intention to avoid running into debt, so the cathedral was long in building. In 1848 he founded the church of the Assumption, with the convert, Charles I. H. Carter, for pastor. The ancient suburb of Germantown contained very few Catholics, but the Lazarist Fathers, who conducted the seminary, were willing to assume the risk of building a church in that section, and the church of St. Vincent de Paul was opened for worship on 13 July, 1851, the first pastor being the Rev. M. Domenec, afterwards Bishop of Pittsburg. In 1849 a church was built at Holmesburg and named St. Dominic, the Rev. Charles Dominic Berrill, O.P., being appointed pastor. In 1850 the parish of St. James, in West Philadelphia, was founded by the Rev. J. V. O'Keefe, who took a census and discovered forty Catholic adults in the district. The last evidence in Philadelphia of Bishop Kenrick's activity was the church of St. Malachy, the cornerstone of which he blessed 25 May, 1851. Before its completion he was transferred to the metropolitan See of Baltimore. The western portion of Pennsylvania was formed into the Diocese of Pittsburg, 8 Aug., 1843, with the Rt. Rev. M. O'Connor, D.D., for its first bishop. (For the burning of Catholic churches in the Philadelphia riots of 1844, see KNOWNOTHINGISM.)

The fourth Bishop of Philadelphia, John Nepomucene Neumann, was consecrated 28 March, 1852. (See NEUMANN, JOHN NEPOMUCENE, VENERABLE.) Ten churches sprang up during the first year of his episcopate. The constant topic of his exhortations was the necessity of parish schools. Failing to bring the contumacious trustees of Holy Trinity to their senses, he undermined their influence by putting up the church of St. Alphonsus. On 19 Oct., 1854, he left for Rome to assist at the proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception, and he returned in March, 1855. On 26 April, 1857, the Rt. Rev. James Frederick Wood was consecrated in the cathedral of Cincinnati as coadjutor to the Bishop of Philadelphia. Bishop Wood was acknowledged by the financial world as thoroughly acquainted with every phase of the banking business, which had been the occupation of his earlier years. At a meeting of the clergy, Bishop Neumann announced that the work of completing the cathedral had been committed to his coadjutor. In October, 1857, he held his last synod: there were 114 priests present, and 32 had been excused from attendance.

James Frederick Wood, the fifth bishop of the diocese, was born at Philadelphia 27 April, 1813. His father, James Wood, was an English merchant and had his child baptized by a minister of the Unitarian sect. In 1827 James Wood and his family removed to Cincinnati, where the boy obtained a position as clerk in a bank. Eleven years later (7 April, 1838), in his twenty-fifth year, the future bishop was received into the Catholic Church by Bishop Purcell, and next year he was sent to Rome to prosecute his studies at the College of the Propaganda, where he was ordained to the priesthood by Cardinal Fransoni, 25 March, 1844. After a short term as assistant at the cathedral of Cincinnati, he was appointed pastor of St. Patrick's church. Though the main object of his appointment to Philadelphia was to relieve Bishop Neumann of the temporal cares of the diocese, yet he by no means confined his efforts to that sphere. He was zealous in preaching the Word of God and gave confirmation in all the churches. On the death of Bishop (Venerable John Nepomucene) Neumann, which took place on 5 January, 1860, the Catholic population of the diocese, which still included Delaware, was estimated at 200,000 souls. There were 157 churches (besides in course of erection) and 7 chapels, attended by 147 priests. The preparatory seminary at Glen Riddle, under the Rev. J. F. Shanahan, and the theological seminary adjoining the cathedral, under the Rev. Wm. O'Hara, D.D., were in a flourishing condition. There were 36 parish schools, attended by 8710 pupils. The diocese was well supplied with colleges, academies, asylums, hospitals, and religious orders of both sexes. In the first year of his administration Bishop Wood established, at the two extreme ends of the city the parishes of the Annunciation and All Saints, Bridesburg.

The bishop had the erection of the cathedral well in hand, when the outbreak of the Civil War came to retard its completion. Nothing daunted, however, he continued his efforts and on 20 Nov., 1864, had the happiness to sing the first Mass in the immense edifice. Scarcely had he finished the cathedral, when he purchased a large tract of land just outside the city limits, as the site of a new seminary. The pastoral letter in which he announced the purchase at Overbrook is dated 8 Dec., 1865; on 16 Sept., 1871, the beautiful building was filled with 128 students from the two old seminaries. During his visit to Rome, in 1867, he petitioned the Holy See for the creation of the Dioceses of Scranton and Harrisburg, and his wish was granted 3 March, 1868. He was prominent at the Second Plenary Council of Baltimore, and, indeed, at every assembly of the hierarchy his counsels were reverently listened to. He attended the Council of the Vatican, but being in poor health left Rome early in March. He took a great interest in the newly established North American College, wisely insisted that the funds of the college should be kept in America, and was unanimously appointed treasurer of the board.

On 15 Oct., 1873, with all possible pomp, Bishop Wood consecrated the diocese to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In 1875 he was prostrated by rheumatism; a journey to the South gave him slight relief; and when the instruments arrived creating him archbishop and making Philadelphia a metropolitan see, it was with evident pain he went through the long ceremony of the conferring of the pallium. He had wonderful recuperative powers, however, and in 1877 went to Rome with $30,000 Peter's pence to assist at the celebration of the golden jubilee of Pius IX's episcopate. Recovering from another bad attack in Rome, he returned home. On 23 May, 1880, he presided over the First Provincial Council of Philadelphia. After this he was for the most part confined to his room, where, however, he continued to transact business with his usual energy. His end came on 20 June, 1883. The entire City of Philadelphia turned out to show its affection for one whom it regarded as its most distinguished citizen. Archbishop Wood is buried with the other bishops of the diocese in the crypt beneath the cathedral. He had administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to 105,000 persons. In 1868, in the curtailed diocese, there were 76 churches and 21 chapels; at his death there were 127 churches and 53 chapels. He found, in 1858, 33 parish schools in this section; he left 58.

The choice of a successor to Archbishop Wood demanded thought on the part of the Roman authorities, and they took a year to come to a decision. At first they seemed to consider favourably the venerable Bishop O'Hara of Scranton, who, as rector of the seminary and vicar-general of the diocese had done valuable service in Philadelphia. There is little doubt that he would have been selected, had it not been for his seventy odd years. The deliberations of Propaganda finally concluded with the choice of the coadjutor of St. Louis; the Rt. Rev. Patrick John Ryan, who was in his fifty-second year, had administered an important diocese for ten years, and seemed to lack no qualification demanded by so eminent a metropolitan see as Philadelphia. (See RYAN, PATRICK J.)

On 20 Aug., 1884, he took formal possession of his archiepiscopal see and received the homage of 250 priests of the diocese. In November of that year he opened the proceedings of the Third Plenary Council, and on 4 January, 1885, was invested with the pallium. After 24 Feb., 1897, he was ably assisted by his auxiliary bishop, the Rt. Rev. Edmond F. Prendergast. On the death of Archbishop Ryan, which took place on 11 February, 1911, Bishop Prendergast assumed the administration of the diocese.

Philadelphia is also the residence of the Rt. Rev. Soter Stephen Ortynski, the Ruthenian Greek Catholic bishop for the United States (see GREEK CATHOLICS IN THE UNITED STATES).

There is probably no diocese in the world better provided with institutions of religion, education, and charity than Philadelphia. The parish school system is admirably organized. There are 141 schools teaching 63,612 children. There are 149 ecclesiastical students preparing for the priesthood, and there is never a lack of vocations. The Catholic population of the diocese was estimated in 1910 at 525,000, whose spiritual needs are supplied by 582 priests, regular and secular. There are 434 churches, chapels, and stations. The religious institutes established in the diocese are: Redemptorist Fathers (14), Augustinian Fathers (Villanova and six other establishments, 33 fathers), Congregation of the Holy Ghost (4 houses, 1 novitiate, 1 industrial school, 15 fathers), Vincentian Fathers (3 houses, 1 seminary, 24 fathers), Society of Jesus (2 houses, 1 college, 22 fathers), Christian Brothers (10 houses, 89 brothers). There are in the diocese (1911) 2565 religious women, novices, and postulants and 11 schools for girls under the care of religious women. The religious institutes for women are: Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, Sisters of Charity, Sisters of Christian Charity, Felician Sisters, Franciscan Tertiaries, Missionary Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis, Sisters of the Good Shepherd, Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus, Sisters of the Most Holy Family of Nazareth, Sisters-Servants of the Immaculate Heart, Discalced Carmelites, Sisters of St. Joseph, Sisters of Mercy (Philadelphia foundation and Scranton foundation), School Sisters of Notre Dame, Sisters of Notre Dame (Namur), Little Sisters of the Poor, Religious of the Sacred Heart, Sisters of St. Dominic, Bernardine, Sisters of St. Francis (Polish), Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart, Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, Filiæ Mariæ.

SHEA, Hist. of the Cath. Church in the U. S. (New York, 1886-92); MAHONY, Historical Sketches of the Cath. Churches and Institutions of Philadelphia; KIRLIN, Catholicity in Philadelphia (Philadelphia, 1909); Catholic Standard and Times, files; Am. Cath. Hist. Researches; Official Cath. Directory (1911).

References

  1. Back to citation Bochanski, Philip G (February 14, 2020). "Heraldic Achievement of Most Reverend Nelson J. Perez Tenth Archbishop of Philadelphia" (PDF). Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 2, 2021. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  2. Back to citation occurrence 2.0 Back to citation occurrence 2.1 Back to citation occurrence 2.2 Back to citation occurrence 2.3 "About – Archdiocese of Philadelphia". archphila.org. Archived from the original on 2023-09-18. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
  3. Back to citation "Baltimore (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Archived from the original on 2023-12-03. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
  4. Back to citation "Bishop Michael Francis Egan, O.F.M." Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved March 11, 2010.
  5. Back to citation "Allentown (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Archived from the original on 2023-09-25. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
  6. Back to citation Baldwin, Lou (August 23, 2012). "Philadelphia Archdiocese, foundation sign pact on school management". Catholic News Service. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
  7. Back to citation Friend, Christine (February 2010). "Philadelphia's First Bishop". Philadelphia Archdiocesan Historical Research Center. Archived from the original on 2017-06-11. Retrieved 2023-03-07.
  8. Back to citation "CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Ambrose Marechal". www.newadvent.org. Archived from the original on 2023-09-25. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
  9. Back to citation Griffin, Martin I.J. (1913). "Life of Bishop Conwell of Philadelphia [part]". Records of the American Catholic Historical Society of Philadelphia. 23 (1): 16–42.
  10. Back to citation "CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Francis and Peter Kenrick". www.newadvent.org. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
  11. Back to citation "Saint John Neumann: Biography, Legacy, & Facts". Encyclopedia Britannica. Archived from the original on 2021-04-12. Retrieved 2021-03-15.
  12. Back to citation "CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Philadelphia". www.newadvent.org. Archived from the original on 2023-10-01. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
  13. Back to citation occurrence 13.0 Back to citation occurrence 13.1 See: List of the Catholic bishops of the United States#American bishops serving outside the United States.
  14. Back to citation Times-Dispatch, ELLEN ROBERTSON Richmond (18 August 2017). "The Most Rev. Francis X. DiLorenzo, bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, dies at 75". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Archived from the original on 27 July 2019. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  15. Back to citation occurrence 15.0 Back to citation occurrence 15.1 Campisi, Anthony (2012-01-09). "Catholic school closings hit South Philadelphia especially hard". Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on 2014-10-21. Retrieved 2019-11-30.
  16. Back to citation occurrence 16.0 Back to citation occurrence 16.1 Tierney, Joseph P. (2012-01-30). "Catholic School Closings Need More Than A Miracle". Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on 2015-12-25. Retrieved 2019-11-30.
  17. Back to citation "School closings continue assault on city's middle class". Philadelphia Inquirer. 2012-01-17. Archived from the original on 2015-12-29. Retrieved 2019-11-30.
  18. Back to citation O'Reilly, David (2012-01-09). "Schools panel head: Catholic school changes long overdue". Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on 2012-01-14. Retrieved 2019-11-30.
  19. Back to citation "About". Saint Katherine School. Retrieved 2025-05-18.
  20. Back to citation "About". Our Lady of Confidence. Retrieved 2025-05-18.
  21. Back to citation "Saint Lucy School". Saint Lucy School. Retrieved 2025-05-18.
  22. Back to citation "History & Mission - Roman Catholic High School". www.romancatholichs.com. Retrieved 2025-05-18.
  23. Back to citation "With Hallahan closure, Philly loses historic institution and alum lose cherished school". WHYY. Retrieved 2025-05-18.
  24. Back to citation "About - West Catholic High School". www.westcatholic.org. Retrieved 2025-05-18.
  25. Back to citation "Long closed, North Catholic HS still gives $500K a year in aid". CatholicPhilly. Retrieved 2025-05-18.
  26. Back to citation Gambino, Matthew. "Report: $78 million paid to sex abuse victims in Philadelphia Archdiocese". National Catholic Reporter. Retrieved 2025-04-13; Brubaker, Harold (May 5, 2019). "Philly archdiocese expects to pay $126 million in priest sex-abuse reparations". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on May 8, 2020. Retrieved May 5, 2020; "OFFICE of the ARCHBISHOP" (PDF). abclocal.go.com. May 5, 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 6, 2020. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  27. Back to citation Gibson, David (July 20, 2015). "Gay Priest Fired From Chaplain Job Asks Pope To Meet LGBT Catholics In U.S". Huffington Post. Archived from the original on January 15, 2016. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  28. Back to citation "Archives | The Philadelphia Inquirer". Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2020-01-23.
  29. Back to citation Vielmetti, Bruce. "Milwaukee Archdiocese weighs in on U.S. Supreme Court case on same-sex foster parents in Philadelphia". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved 2020-06-11.
  30. Back to citation "Fulton v. City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania". SCOTUSblog. 19 July 2021. Archived from the original on 7 March 2024. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  31. Back to citation See Miraculous Medal and Miraculous Medal Shrine and Art Museum webpage. Central Association of the Miraculous Medal website. Retrieved 2011-01-28.
  32. Back to citation See St. Rita of Cascia and National Shrine of Saint Rita of Cascia Archived 2009-03-23 at the Wayback Machine official website. Retrieved 2011-01-28.
  33. Back to citation Archdiocese of Philadelphia, official website

Further reading

Retrieved from "https://catholicism.wiki/index.php?title=Archdiocese_of_Philadelphia&oldid=48894"