Archdiocese of Omaha

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Bishop(s) Elden Francis Curtiss, Archbishop Suffragan Dioceses Grand Island Lincoln

General Information Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese Elevated: 4 August 1945 Metropolitan See Rite: Latin (or Roman) State: Nebraska Country: United States of America Square Kilometers: 36,378 (14,051 Square Miles) Description: Boyd, Holt, Merrick, Nance, Boone, Antelope, Know, Pierce, Madison, Platte, Colfax, Stanton, Wayne, Cedar, Dixon, Dakota, Thurston, Cuming, Dodge, Burt, Washington, Douglas, and Sarpy Counties. Conference Region: IX (IA, KS, MO, NE) Catholic Directory Abbreviation: OM Official Web Site: http://www.archomaha.com/ Mailing Address: 100 North 62nd St., Omaha, NE 68132-2795 Telephone: (402)558-3100 Fax: 558-3026

Historical Details

• Vicariate Apostolic of Nebraska
  • Erected: 6 January 1857
  • Vicariate
  • State: Nebraska
  • Country: United States of America

• Diocese of Omaha
  • Latin Name: Omahensis
  • Elevated: 2 October 1885
  • Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Dubuque
  • State: Nebraska
  • Country: United States of America
  • Square Miles: 14,998
  • Description: Boyd, Holt, Wheeler, Greeley, Howard, Merrick, Nance, Boone, Antelope, Know, Pierce, Madison, Platte, Colfax, Stanton, Wayne, Cedar, Dixon, Dakota, Thurston, Cuming, Dodge, Burt, Washington, Douglas, and Sarpy Counties plus parts of Hall County.

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Past and Present Ordinaries

• James Michael Myles O'Gorman, O.C.S.O. † (18 Jan 1859 Appointed - 4 Jul 1874 Died)
• John Ireland † (12 Feb 1875 Appointed - 28 Jul 1875 Appointed, Coadjutor Bishop of Saint Paul)
• James O'Connor † (26 Jun 1876 Appointed - 27 May 1890 Died)
• Richard Scannell † (30 Jan 1891 Appointed - 8 Jan 1916 Died)
• Jeremiah James Harty † (16 May 1916 Appointed - 29 Oct 1927 Died)
• Joseph Francis Rummel † (30 Mar 1928 Appointed - 9 Mar 1935 Appointed, Archbishop of New Orleans)
• James Hugh Ryan † (3 Aug 1935 Appointed - 23 Nov 1947 Died)
• Gerald Thomas Bergan † (7 Feb 1948 Appointed - 11 Jun 1969 Retired)
• Daniel Eugene Sheehan † (11 Jun 1969 Appointed - 4 May 1993 Retired)
• Elden Francis Curtiss (4 May 1993 Appointed - )

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Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Vicariate Apostolic of Nebraska
6 January 1857	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Indian Territory East of the Rocky Mountains	Vicariate Apostolic of Nebraska (erected)
5 March 1883	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Idaho and Montana Vicariate Apostolic of Nebraska	Vicariate Apostolic of Montana (erected)
Diocese of Omaha
2 October 1885	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Nebraska	Diocese of Omaha (Name changed and Vicariate raised to a Diocese)
2 August 1887	Territory Lost	Diocese of Omaha	Diocese of Cheyenne (erected)
2 August 1887	Territory Lost	Diocese of Omaha	Diocese of Lincoln (erected)
8 March 1912	Territory Lost	Diocese of Omaha	Diocese of Kearney (erected)
13 May 1916	Territory Lost	Diocese of Omaha (Arthur, Wheeler, Greeley, and Howard Counties)	Diocese of Kearney
Archdiocese of Omaha
4 August 1945	Elevated	Diocese of Omaha	Archdiocese of Omaha

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Statistics

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Archdiocese of Omaha
1950	125,842	543,856	23.1%	205	109	314	400		114	991	162	ap1951
1966	184,929	630,890	29.3%	226	169	395	468		223	1,295	144	ap1967
1970	192,415	630,890	30.5%	231	169	400	481		218	1,199	140	ap1971
1976	198,372	713,284	27.8%	235	153	388	511	28	205	1,034	155	ap1977
1980	216,779	758,125	28.6%	210	180	390	555	63	227	844	154	ap1981
1990	201,638	781,700	25.8%	209	151	360	560	119	204	530	159	ap1991
1999	214,574	822,892	26.1%	229	120	349	614	143	22	340	139	ap2000
2000	220,179	827,608	26.6%	217	121	338	651	157	147	373	157	ap2001
2001	214,046	830,522	25.8%	223	115	338	633	142	139	306	154	ap2002
2002	219,897	853,300	25.8%	231	99	330	666	155	122	361	138	ap2003
2003	222,938	853,300	26.1%	233	96	329	677	163	118	361	138	ap2004
2004	239,112	867,531	27.6%	221	100	321	744	176	123	337	138	ap2005

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

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Affiliated Bishops

• Gerald Thomas Bergan † (Archbishop: 7 Feb 1948 to 11 Jun 1969)
• Blase Joseph Cupich (Priest: 16 Aug 1975 to 6 Jul 1998)
• Elden Francis Curtiss (Archbishop: 4 May 1993 - )
• William Joseph Dendinger (Priest: 29 May 1965 to 14 Oct 2004)
• Jeremiah James Harty † (Archbishop (Personal Title): 16 May 1916 to 29 Oct 1927)
• Edward Joseph Hunkeler † (Priest: 14 Jun 1919 to 10 Mar 1945)
• John Ireland † (Vicar Apostolic: 12 Feb 1875 to 28 Jul 1875)
• Patrick Aloysius Alphonsus McGovern † (Priest: 18 Aug 1895 to 19 Jan 1912)
• Anthony Michael Milone (Priest: 15 Dec 1957; Auxiliary Bishop: 10 Nov 1981 to 14 Dec 1987)
• James O'Connor † (Vicar Apostolic: 26 Jun 1876; Bishop: 2 Oct 1885 to 27 May 1890)
• James Michael Myles O'Gorman, O.C.S.O. † (Vicar Apostolic: 18 Jan 1859 to 4 Jul 1874)
• John Linus Paschang † (Priest: 12 Jun 1921 to 28 Jul 1951)
• Joseph Francis Rummel † (Bishop: 30 Mar 1928 to 9 Mar 1935)
• James Hugh Ryan † (Bishop: 3 Aug 1935; Archbishop: 4 Aug 1945 to 23 Nov 1947)
• Richard Scannell † (Bishop: 30 Jan 1891 to 8 Jan 1916)
• Daniel Eugene Sheehan † (Priest: 23 May 1942; Auxiliary Bishop: 4 Jan 1964; Archbishop: 11 Jun 1969 to 4 May 1993)