Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hartford
Encyclopedia
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hartford is a particular church
of the Latin Rite in Hartford
, Litchfield
and New Haven
counties in Connecticut
. The archdiocese includes about 700,000 Catholics, more than 500 priests, 216 parishes and almost 300 deacons. This is roughly one-half the population of the three counties. It also publishes The Catholic Transcript
.
of Boston expressed concern that there should be separate dioceses for Connecticut
and Rhode Island
in keep with the growing Catholic population in those states.
On November 28, 1843, the Diocese of Hartford was established by Pope Gregory XVI
with Reverend Willam Tyler
as its first bishop. At the time of its creation, there were 10,000 Catholics in the area. Bishop Tyler was able to petition successfully to move the See of Hartford to Providence, Rhode Island
in order to be nearer to the majority of the Catholics. Having served for 5 years, Bishop Tyler died in 1849. The second bishop, Reverend Bernard O'Reilly, spent his time securing priests for the still young diocese all the while helping to curb the anti-Catholic movements of the time propagated by the Know Nothing Party. On January 1856, O'Reilly was lost at sea onboard the ship Pacific. It wasn't until two years later when the third bishop of the diocese was installed, the Reverend Francis Patrick McFarland
who was known as the "Civil War Bishop". It was during his time that the Diocese of Providence
was created in 1872. Despite ill health, McFarland was able to participate in the First Vatican Council
(1869-1870).
Reverend Thomas Galberry
, O.S.A., an Augustinian friar
was installed as the 4th bishop of Hartford in 1877. Galberry only served for two years before an abrupt death but he was able to lay down the cornerstone of the original cathedral. Galberry was followed by Reverend Lawrence S. McMahon
. Under his leadership of 14 years, 48 parishes as well as 16 school parishes were established. The sixth bishop, Father Michael Tierney
, helped with the creation of 5 diocesan hospitals which are still around to this day.
Father John Joseph Nilan
became the seventh bishop while Father John Murray became the first auxiliary bishop
of Hartford. Murray would later become the Archbishop of St. Paul. In 1945, Henry Joseph O'Brien
was installed as the ninth bishop of Hartford. It was during his tenure that the diocese became an archdiocese under Pope Pius XII
, and thus O'Brien became the first archbishop of Hartford.
, had the distinction of being the place in which the Catholic "Mass was first celebrated, continuously and for a long period, within the limits of the State of Connecticut." On June 26, 1881, St. Peter's parish, Hartford, celebrated "the centenary of the first Mass in Connecticut."
† = deceased
† = deceased
† = deceased
Particular Church
In Catholic canon law, a Particular Church is an ecclesial community headed by a bishop or someone recognised as the equivalent of a bishop.There are two kinds of particular Churches:# Local particular Churches ...
of the Latin Rite in Hartford
Hartford County, Connecticut
Hartford County is a county located in the north central part of the US state of Connecticut. The 2010 Census records show that the county population is at 894,014 making it the second most populated county in Connecticut....
, Litchfield
Litchfield County, Connecticut
Litchfield County is a county located in the northwestern corner of the U.S. state of Connecticut. Litchfield County has the lowest population density of any county in Connecticut but is geographically the state's largest county. As of 2010 the population was 189,927...
and New Haven
New Haven County, Connecticut
New Haven County is a county located in the south central part of the U.S. state of Connecticut. As of the 2010 Census, the county population is 862,477 making it the third most populated county in Connecticut. There are 1,340 people per square mile...
counties in Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. The archdiocese includes about 700,000 Catholics, more than 500 priests, 216 parishes and almost 300 deacons. This is roughly one-half the population of the three counties. It also publishes The Catholic Transcript
The Catholic Transcript
The Catholic Transcript is a monthly newspaper of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hartford, Connecticut, serving Hartford, New Haven and Litchfield Counties. It is the largest catholic newspaper in Connecticut.-History:...
.
History
The present territory of the archdiocese of Hartford was originally part of the Diocese of Boston until Bishop Benedict Joseph FenwickBenedict Joseph Fenwick
Benedict Joseph Fenwick, S.J. was an American prelate of the Catholic Church. A Jesuit, he served as Bishop of Boston from 1825 until his death in 1846.-Early life and education:...
of Boston expressed concern that there should be separate dioceses for Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
and Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
in keep with the growing Catholic population in those states.
On November 28, 1843, the Diocese of Hartford was established by Pope Gregory XVI
Pope Gregory XVI
Pope Gregory XVI , born Bartolomeo Alberto Cappellari, named Mauro as a member of the religious order of the Camaldolese, was Pope of the Catholic Church from 1831 to 1846...
with Reverend Willam Tyler
William Tyler (bishop)
William Tyler was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He was the first Bishop of Hartford ....
as its first bishop. At the time of its creation, there were 10,000 Catholics in the area. Bishop Tyler was able to petition successfully to move the See of Hartford to Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
in order to be nearer to the majority of the Catholics. Having served for 5 years, Bishop Tyler died in 1849. The second bishop, Reverend Bernard O'Reilly, spent his time securing priests for the still young diocese all the while helping to curb the anti-Catholic movements of the time propagated by the Know Nothing Party. On January 1856, O'Reilly was lost at sea onboard the ship Pacific. It wasn't until two years later when the third bishop of the diocese was installed, the Reverend Francis Patrick McFarland
Francis Patrick McFarland
Francis Patrick McFarland was an American Catholic bishop, the third Bishop of Hartford.-Life:...
who was known as the "Civil War Bishop". It was during his time that the Diocese of Providence
Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence is a diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. The diocese was erected by Pope Pius IX on February 17, 1872 and originally comprised the entire state of Rhode Island and the counties of Bristol, Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket in the state...
was created in 1872. Despite ill health, McFarland was able to participate in the First Vatican Council
First Vatican Council
The First Vatican Council was convoked by Pope Pius IX on 29 June 1868, after a period of planning and preparation that began on 6 December 1864. This twentieth ecumenical council of the Roman Catholic Church, held three centuries after the Council of Trent, opened on 8 December 1869 and adjourned...
(1869-1870).
Reverend Thomas Galberry
Thomas Galberry
Thomas Galberry O.S.A. was an Irish Augustinian friar and the fourth Bishop of Hartford, Connecticut, serving from 1876 until his death in 1878.-Biography:...
, O.S.A., an Augustinian friar
Friar
A friar is a member of one of the mendicant orders.-Friars and monks:...
was installed as the 4th bishop of Hartford in 1877. Galberry only served for two years before an abrupt death but he was able to lay down the cornerstone of the original cathedral. Galberry was followed by Reverend Lawrence S. McMahon
Lawrence Stephen McMahon
Lawrence Stephen McMahon was a Canadian-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Hartford from 1879 until his death in 1893.-Biography:...
. Under his leadership of 14 years, 48 parishes as well as 16 school parishes were established. The sixth bishop, Father Michael Tierney
Michael Tierney (bishop)
Michael Tierney was an Irish-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Hartford, Connecticut from 1894 until his death in 1908.-Biography:...
, helped with the creation of 5 diocesan hospitals which are still around to this day.
Father John Joseph Nilan
John Joseph Nilan
John Joseph Nilan was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Hartford from 1910 until his death in 1934.-Biography:...
became the seventh bishop while Father John Murray became the first auxiliary bishop
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of Hartford. Murray would later become the Archbishop of St. Paul. In 1945, Henry Joseph O'Brien
Henry Joseph O'Brien
Henry Joseph O'Brien was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Hartford from 1945 to 1968.-Biography:...
was installed as the ninth bishop of Hartford. It was during his tenure that the diocese became an archdiocese under Pope Pius XII
Pope Pius XII
The Venerable Pope Pius XII , born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli , reigned as Pope, head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City State, from 2 March 1939 until his death in 1958....
, and thus O'Brien became the first archbishop of Hartford.
History of Catholics in Connecticut
In 1780-1781, the small town of Lebanon, ConnecticutLebanon, Connecticut
Lebanon is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 6,907 at the 2000 census. The town lies just to the northwest of Norwich, north of New London, and east of Hartford...
, had the distinction of being the place in which the Catholic "Mass was first celebrated, continuously and for a long period, within the limits of the State of Connecticut." On June 26, 1881, St. Peter's parish, Hartford, celebrated "the centenary of the first Mass in Connecticut."
Bishops of the Diocese of Hartford
- † William TylerWilliam Tyler (bishop)William Tyler was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He was the first Bishop of Hartford ....
(1843–1849) - † Bernard O'Reilly (1849–1856)
- † Francis Patrick McFarlandFrancis Patrick McFarlandFrancis Patrick McFarland was an American Catholic bishop, the third Bishop of Hartford.-Life:...
(1858–1875) - † Thomas GalberryThomas GalberryThomas Galberry O.S.A. was an Irish Augustinian friar and the fourth Bishop of Hartford, Connecticut, serving from 1876 until his death in 1878.-Biography:...
, O.S.A. (1877–1879) - † Lawrence S. McMahonLawrence Stephen McMahonLawrence Stephen McMahon was a Canadian-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Hartford from 1879 until his death in 1893.-Biography:...
(1879–1894) - † Michael TierneyMichael Tierney (bishop)Michael Tierney was an Irish-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Hartford, Connecticut from 1894 until his death in 1908.-Biography:...
(1894–1908) - † John J. NilanJohn Joseph NilanJohn Joseph Nilan was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Hartford from 1910 until his death in 1934.-Biography:...
(1910–1934) - † Maurice F. McAuliffeMaurice F. McAuliffeMaurice Francis McAuliffe was an American clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Hartford from 1934 until his death in 1944.-Biography:...
(1934–1944)
Archbishops of the Archdiocese of Hartford
- † Henry J. O'BrienHenry Joseph O'BrienHenry Joseph O'Brien was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Hartford from 1945 to 1968.-Biography:...
(1945–1969) - † John F. WhealonJohn F. WhealonJohn Francis Whealon was an American clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Erie and Archbishop of Hartford .-Biography:...
(1969–1991) - Daniel Anthony CroninDaniel Anthony CroninDaniel Anthony Cronin is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Fall River from 1970 to 1992, and Archbishop of Hartford from 1992 to 2003.-Early life and priesthood:...
(1992–2003) - Henry J. Mansell (2003–present)
† = deceased
Former
- † John MurrayJohn Murray (archbishop)John Gregory Murray was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Saint Paul from 1931 until his death in 1956, having previously served as Auxiliary Bishop of Hartford and Bishop of Portland .-Early life and education:John Murray was born in Waterbury,...
- Paul S. LoverdePaul LoverdePaul Stephen Loverde is the bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Arlington in Northern Virginia.-Early life:Bishop Loverde was born in Framingham, Massachusetts on September 3, 1940. He received his secondary school education at La Salle Academy in Providence, Rhode Island, followed by an...
† = deceased
Bishops who once were priests of the Archdiocese of Hartford
The following men began their service as priests in Hartford before being appointed bishops elsewhere:- †Most Reverend Maurice F. McAuliffeMaurice F. McAuliffeMaurice Francis McAuliffe was an American clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Hartford from 1934 until his death in 1944.-Biography:...
- Bishop of Hartford (1934-1945) - Peter Leo GeretyPeter Leo GeretyPeter Leo Gerety is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He was Archbishop of Newark from 1974 to 1986, having previously served as Bishop of Portland...
– Appointed coadjutor bishop of Portland (Maine) in 1966; ordained a bishop in ; became diocesan bishop by right of succession in 1968; appointed archbishop of Newark (N.J.) in 1974; retired in 1986. - †Most Reverend Francis P. Keough, R.J. - Bishop of ProvidenceRoman Catholic Diocese of ProvidenceThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence is a diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. The diocese was erected by Pope Pius IX on February 17, 1872 and originally comprised the entire state of Rhode Island and the counties of Bristol, Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket in the state...
(1934-1947); Archbishop of BaltimoreRoman Catholic Archdiocese of BaltimoreThe Metropolitan Archdiocese of Baltimore is a particular church of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. The archdiocese comprises the City of Baltimore as well as Allegany, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, Harford, Howard, and Washington Counties in Maryland...
(1948-1961) - †Most Reverend Henry J. O'BrienHenry Joseph O'BrienHenry Joseph O'Brien was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Hartford from 1945 to 1968.-Biography:...
- Auxilery Bishop of Hartford (1934-1945); Bishop of Hartford (1945-1953); Archbishop of Hartford (1953-1968) - †Most Reverend Joseph F. Donnelly - Auxilery Bishop of Hartford (1964-1977)
- †Most Reverend John F. HackettJohn Francis HackettJohn Francis Hackett was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Hartford from 1953 to 1986.-Biography:...
- Auxilery Bishop of Hartford (1953-1986) - Most Reverend Peter A. RosazzaPeter A. RosazzaPeter Anthony Rosazza is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is an auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese of Hartford.-Early life and ministry:...
- Auxilery Bishop of Hartford and Titular BishopTitular bishopA titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Oppidum Novum (1978-Present) - Most Reverend Christie A. MacalusoChristie MacalusoChristie Albert Macaluso is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He currently serves as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Hartford.-Early life and education:...
- Auxilery Bishop of Hartford and Titular BishopTitular bishopA titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Grass ValleyRoman Catholic Diocese of Grass ValleyThe Diocese of Grass Valley was a diocese of the Latin Church of the Catholic Church located in northeastern California, United States. The diocese also included most of Nevada, and, early in its history, Utah and part of Colorado.-History:...
(1997-Present)
† = deceased
High schools
- Academy of Our Lady of Mercy, Lauralton HallAcademy of Our Lady of Mercy, Lauralton HallAcademy of Our Lady of Mercy, Lauralton Hall is a private, Roman Catholic, all-girls high school in Milford, Connecticut, United States. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hartford....
, Milford - Canterbury School, New Milford
- East Catholic High SchoolEast Catholic High SchoolEast Catholic High School is a college preparatory high school in Manchester, Connecticut. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hartford. The parochial school was founded in 1961...
, Manchester - Holy Cross High School, Waterbury
- Northwest Catholic High School, West Hartford
- Notre Dame High School, West Haven
- Sacred Heart Academy, Hamden
- Sacred Heart High SchoolSacred Heart High School (Connecticut)Sacred Heart High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Waterbury, Connecticut. It is in the jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hartford.-Background:...
, Waterbury - St. Paul Catholic High School, Bristol
Province of Hartford
- See: List of the Catholic bishops of the United States#Province of Hartford