Worcester (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Robert Joseph McManus, Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 14 January 1950
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Boston
Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
State: Massachusetts
Country: United States of America
Square Kilometers: 3,966 (1,531 Square Miles)
Conference Region: I (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT)
Catholic Directory Abbreviation: WOR
Official Web Site: http://www.worcesterdiocese.org/
Mailing Address: Chancery Office, 49 Elm Street, Worcester, MA 01609, USA
Telephone: (508)929-4346; 791-7171
Fax: 754-2768

Past and Present Ordinaries

John Joseph Wright † (28 Jan 1950 Appointed - 23 Jan 1959 Appointed, Bishop of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
Bernard Joseph Flanagan † (8 Aug 1959 Appointed - 31 Mar 1983 Retired)
Timothy Joseph Harrington † (1 Sep 1983 Appointed - 27 Oct 1994 Retired)
Daniel Patrick Reilly † (27 Oct 1994 Appointed - 9 Mar 2004 Retired)
Robert Joseph McManus (9 Mar 2004 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
14 January 1950	Erected	Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts (Worcester county)	Diocese of Worcester (erected)

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

1950 266,723 541,247 49.3% 259 130 389 685 169 715 99 ap1951

1966 348,274 612,000 56.9% 325 219 544 640 389 1,178 128 ap1967

1970 345,096 633,500 54.5% 313 208 521 662 322 1,144 131 ap1971

1976 344,674 637,969 54.0% 336 165 501 687 272 778 128 ap1977

1980 331,000 646,000 51.2% 301 301 1,099 29 94 770 128 ap1981

1990 327,968 654,000 50.1% 274 128 402 815 54 224 634 128 ap1991

1999 302,000 790,705 38.2% 242 117 359 841 107 491 126 ap2000

2000 308,327 790,705 39.0% 273 116 389 792 77 196 446 129 ap2001

2001 306,213 790,705 38.7% 273 116 389 787 76 195 446 126 ap2002

2002 304,930 750,960 40.6% 275 109 384 794 66 192 461 126 ap2003

2003 390,657 762,207 51.3% 265 108 373 1,047 76 191 459 126 ap2004

2004 369,096 762,207 48.4% 210 113 323 1,142 74 198 461 126 ap2005

2010 392,404 807,000 48.6% 180 101 281 1,396 94 169 334 116 ap2011

2014 404,000 831,000 48.6% 168 88 256 1,578 105 150 217 102 ap2015

2017 279,749 821,125 34.1% 176 80 256 1,092 112 131 222 97 ap2018

2020 285,630 838,430 34.1% 166 72 238 1,200 106 131 191 96 ap2021

2022 294,000 862,111 34.1% 163 64 227 1,295 102 123 169 96 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1950	266,723	541,247	49.3%	259	130	389	685		169	715	99	ap1951
1966	348,274	612,000	56.9%	325	219	544	640		389	1,178	128	ap1967
1970	345,096	633,500	54.5%	313	208	521	662		322	1,144	131	ap1971
1976	344,674	637,969	54.0%	336	165	501	687		272	778	128	ap1977
1980	331,000	646,000	51.2%	301		301	1,099	29	94	770	128	ap1981
1990	327,968	654,000	50.1%	274	128	402	815	54	224	634	128	ap1991
1999	302,000	790,705	38.2%	242	117	359	841		107	491	126	ap2000
2000	308,327	790,705	39.0%	273	116	389	792	77	196	446	129	ap2001
2001	306,213	790,705	38.7%	273	116	389	787	76	195	446	126	ap2002
2002	304,930	750,960	40.6%	275	109	384	794	66	192	461	126	ap2003
2003	390,657	762,207	51.3%	265	108	373	1,047	76	191	459	126	ap2004
2004	369,096	762,207	48.4%	210	113	323	1,142	74	198	461	126	ap2005
2010	392,404	807,000	48.6%	180	101	281	1,396	94	169	334	116	ap2011
2014	404,000	831,000	48.6%	168	88	256	1,578	105	150	217	102	ap2015
2017	279,749	821,125	34.1%	176	80	256	1,092	112	131	222	97	ap2018
2020	285,630	838,430	34.1%	166	72	238	1,200	106	131	191	96	ap2021
2022	294,000	862,111	34.1%	163	64	227	1,295	102	123	169	96	ap2023