Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia

As of 2006, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia covers the City and County of Philadelphia as well as Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties in Pennsylvania.

The Diocese of Philadelphia, erected on April 8, 1808, was elevated to Archdiocese on February 12, 1875. It is the metropolitan see of the Province of Pennsylvania, which includes the suffragan bishopric sees of Allentown, Altoona-Johnstown, Erie, Greensburg, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, and Scranton.

The seat of the bishop is in the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul.

As of a 2004, the Archdiocese numbered 1,486,058 Catholics, which was 38.4% of the total estimated population.

• Bishop Michael Francis Egan, O.F.M. (1808-1814)
• Bishop Henry Conwell (1819-1842)
• Bishop Francis Patrick Kenrick (1842-1851)
• Bishop Saint John Nepomucene Neumann, C.SS.R. (1852-1860)
• Archbishop James Frederick Bryan Wood (1860-1883)
• Archbishop Patrick John Ryan (1884-1911)
• Archbishop Edmond Francis Prendergast (1911-1918)
• Archbishop Dennis Joseph Cardinal Dougherty (1918-1951)
• Archbishop John Francis Cardinal O'Hara, C.S.C. (1951-1960)
• Archbishop John Joseph Cardinal Krol (1961-1988)
• Archbishop Anthony Joseph Cardinal Bevilacqua (1988-2003); Archbishop Emeritus(2003-present)
• Archbishop Justin Francis Cardinal Rigali (2003-present)

(Their terms of service)

• The Most Reverend Martin N. Lohmuller, D.D., J.C.D.(Retired)
• The Most Reverend Louis A. DeSimone, D.D.(Retired)
• The Most Reverend Robert P. Maginnis, D.D., V.G.
• The Most Reverend Joseph R. Cistone, D.D., V.G.
• The Most Reverend Joseph P. McFadden, D.D., V.G.
• The Most Reverend Daniel E. Thomas, D.D., S.T.L., V.G.

(As of 8/14/06)

The diocese is sub-divided into 6 Vicariates, each administered by a Regional Vicar (Presently each Vicar is a Monsignor.)

List of Present Vicariates and their Adminsitrators:

• Philadelphia North - Rev. Msgr. Francis Beach
• Philadelphia South - Rev. Msgr. Daniel J. Sullivan
• Bucks County - Rev. Msgr. James Beisel
• Chester County - Rev. Msgr. James T. McDonough
• Delaware County - Rev. Msgr. John E Breslin
• Montgomery County - Rev. Msgr. Arthur E. Rodgers

• It is the only Metropolitan See in the United States that had two members, Bishop John Neumann and Mother Katherine Drexel, elevated to sainthood. Philadelphia can also lay partial claim to Mother Cabrini, for whom the suburban college is named and who visited on numerous occasions. She started an orphanege and the Italian National parish that still is functioning today, St. Donato's in West Philadelphia.
• Every Bishop, Archbishop, or Cardinal before 1961 had a high school named in their honor.
• Through the tireless work of Bishop St. John Neumann, the first unified system of Catholic Education under a diocesan board began in Philadelphia in 1852.
• Philadelphia is site of the first free Catholic high school for boys, and girls, in the United States. The "Roman Catholic High School of Philadelphia" was founded for the education of boys in 1890 (now known as "Roman Catholic", "Catholic High", or most commonly "Roman"). The "Catholic Girls High School" was founded in 1911. Mrs. Mary McMichan, one of the schools founders, requested in her last will that the school be renamed in honor of her brother. The school became "John W. Hallahan Catholic Girls High School" after her death. Both schools are still in existence.
• In 1934 Cardinal Dennis Dougherty banned all Catholics in the Archdiocese from entering a movie theatre "under pain of mortal sin." The ban has never officially been lifted. (As found in, "A faith in flux," Philadelphia Inquirer, Sun, Jun. 04, 2006.

• Archdiocese of Philadelphia Website
• Roman Catholic High School
• John W. Hallahan Catholic Girls High School
• Listing on Catholic-Heirarchy.org