Boston (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Richard Garth Henning, Archbishop
Cristiano Guilherme Borro Barbosa, Auxiliary Bishop
Robert Francis Hennessey, Auxiliary Bishop
Mark William O’Connell, Auxiliary Bishop
Robert Philip Reed, Auxiliary Bishop
Peter John Uglietto, Auxiliary Bishop
Seán Patrick O’Malley, O.F.M. Cap., Cardinal, Archbishop Emeritus
John Anthony Dooher, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus
Arthur Leo Kennedy, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 12 February 1875
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
State: Massachusetts
Country: United States of America
Square Kilometers: 6,386 (2,466 Square Miles)
Description: Comprises Essex, Middlesex, Suffolk, Norfolk, and Plymouth counties in the State of Massachusetts, the towns of Mattapoisett, Marion, and Wareham excepted
Conference Region: I (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT)
Catholic Directory Abbreviation: BO
Official Web Site: https://www.bostoncatholic.org
Cardinal’s Blog: http://www.cardinalseansblog.org/
The Pilot (Newspaper): https://www.thebostonpilot.com
Mailing Address: 66 Brooks Dr., Braintree, MA 02184-3839, USA
Telephone: (617)254-0100
Fax: 779-4571

Historical Details

Diocese of Boston
- Latin Name: Bostoniensis
- Erected: 8 April 1808
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of New York
- State: Massachusetts
- Country: United States of America

Past and Present Ordinaries

Jean-Louis Anne Madelain Lefebvre de Cheverus † (8 Apr 1808 Appointed - 3 May 1823 Confirmed, Bishop of Montauban)
Benedict Joseph Fenwick, S.J. † (10 May 1825 Appointed - 11 Aug 1846 Died)
John Bernard Fitzpatrick † (11 Aug 1846 Succeeded - 13 Feb 1866 Died)
John Joseph Williams † (13 Feb 1866 Succeeded - 30 Aug 1907 Died)
William Henry O’Connell † (30 Aug 1907 Succeeded - 22 Apr 1944 Died)
Richard James Cushing † (25 Sep 1944 Appointed - 8 Sep 1970 Retired)
Humberto Sousa Medeiros † (8 Sep 1970 Appointed - 17 Sep 1983 Died)
Bernard Francis Law † (11 Jan 1984 Appointed - 13 Dec 2002 Resigned)
Seán Patrick O’Malley, O.F.M. Cap. (1 Jul 2003 Appointed - 5 Aug 2024 Retired)
Richard Garth Henning (5 Aug 2024 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Diocese of Boston
8 April 1808	Erected	Diocese of Baltimore	Diocese of Boston (erected) (Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Vermont) Diocese of Bardstown (erected) (States of Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, and the Old Northwest Territory) Diocese of New York (erected) (State of New York plus Sussex, Bergen, Morris, Essex, Somerset, Middlesex, and Monmouth counties in New Jersey) Diocese of Philadelphia (erected) (Pennsylvania, Delaware, and 7 counties of New Jersey)
18 June 1834	Territory Added		Diocese of Boston (MA, ME, NH, RI, CT, and VT)
28 November 1843	Territory Lost	Diocese of Boston	Diocese of Hartford (erected) (Connecticut and Rhode Island)
19 July 1850	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Albany (from Baltimore to New York) Diocese of Boston (from Baltimore to New York) Diocese of Buffalo (from Baltimore to New York) Diocese of Hartford (from Baltimore to New York)
29 July 1853	Territory Lost	Diocese of Boston	Diocese of Burlington (erected) (Vermont) Diocese of Portland (erected) (Maine and New Hampshire)
14 June 1870	Territory Lost	Diocese of Boston	Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts (erected) (Counties of Berkshire, Franklin, Hampshire, Hamden, and Worcester)
16 February 1872	Territory Lost	Diocese of Boston Diocese of Hartford	Diocese of Providence (erected) (RI plus the Counties of Bristol, Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket along with part of Plymouth in Massachusetts)
Archdiocese of Boston
12 February 1875	Elevated	Diocese of Boston	Archdiocese of Boston

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

Diocese of Boston

Archdiocese of Boston

1907 850,000 488 110 598 1,421 140 1,567 194 ce

1950 1,302,985 2,954,301 44.1% 991 878 1,869 697 878 4,659 364 ap1951

1959 1,582,577 3,035,168 52.1% 1,287 984 2,271 696 1,731 5,543 391 ap1960

1966 1,815,113 3,335,895 54.4% 1,429 1,075 2,504 724 1,971 6,080 411 ap1967

1970 1,200 1,058 2,258 0 1,269 5,715 401 ap1971*

1976 2,018,034 4,313,394 46.8% 1,376 984 2,360 855 1,292 5,664 469 ap1977

1980 2,017,133 5,789,478 34.8% 1,241 923 2,164 932 92 1,277 4,797 407 ap1981

1990 1,872,435 3,742,600 50.0% 986 919 1,905 982 171 1,231 4,069 402 ap1991

1999 2,042,688 3,761,400 54.3% 958 707 1,665 1,226 212 110 2,646 382 ap2000

2000 2,017,451 3,754,200 53.7% 830 678 1,508 1,337 215 866 2,812 373 ap2001

2001 2,038,032 3,857,751 52.8% 827 842 1,669 1,221 184 1,002 2,877 369 ap2002

2002 2,069,225 3,888,944 53.2% 864 814 1,678 1,233 209 1,032 2,727 362 ap2003

2003 2,083,899 3,951,377 52.7% 867 715 1,582 1,317 246 929 2,841 360 ap2004

2004 2,077,487 3,970,026 52.3% 856 670 1,526 1,361 238 864 2,601 357 ap2005

2006 1,845,758 3,974,846 46.4% 822 587 1,409 1,309 234 803 2,265 303 ap2007

2012 1,921,000 4,209,000 45.6% 721 505 1,226 1,566 265 693 1,760 289 ap2013

2013 1,906,372 4,240,000 45.0% 625 477 1,102 1,729 274 653 1,765 288 ap2014

2015 1,949,219 4,147,275 47.0% 685 403 1,088 1,791 280 550 1,489 289 ap2016

2018 1,946,413 4,266,903 45.6% 635 409 1,044 1,864 279 553 1,374 286 ap2019

2020 1,925,117 4,255,803 45.2% 638 449 1,087 1,771 283 580 1,113 282 ap2021

2022 1,989,396 4,420,879 45.0% 600 352 952 2,089 292 478 995 266 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Diocese of Boston
Archdiocese of Boston
1907	850,000			488	110	598	1,421		140	1,567	194	ce
1950	1,302,985	2,954,301	44.1%	991	878	1,869	697		878	4,659	364	ap1951
1959	1,582,577	3,035,168	52.1%	1,287	984	2,271	696		1,731	5,543	391	ap1960
1966	1,815,113	3,335,895	54.4%	1,429	1,075	2,504	724		1,971	6,080	411	ap1967
1970				1,200	1,058	2,258	0		1,269	5,715	401	ap1971*
1976	2,018,034	4,313,394	46.8%	1,376	984	2,360	855		1,292	5,664	469	ap1977
1980	2,017,133	5,789,478	34.8%	1,241	923	2,164	932	92	1,277	4,797	407	ap1981
1990	1,872,435	3,742,600	50.0%	986	919	1,905	982	171	1,231	4,069	402	ap1991
1999	2,042,688	3,761,400	54.3%	958	707	1,665	1,226	212	110	2,646	382	ap2000
2000	2,017,451	3,754,200	53.7%	830	678	1,508	1,337	215	866	2,812	373	ap2001
2001	2,038,032	3,857,751	52.8%	827	842	1,669	1,221	184	1,002	2,877	369	ap2002
2002	2,069,225	3,888,944	53.2%	864	814	1,678	1,233	209	1,032	2,727	362	ap2003
2003	2,083,899	3,951,377	52.7%	867	715	1,582	1,317	246	929	2,841	360	ap2004
2004	2,077,487	3,970,026	52.3%	856	670	1,526	1,361	238	864	2,601	357	ap2005
2006	1,845,758	3,974,846	46.4%	822	587	1,409	1,309	234	803	2,265	303	ap2007
2012	1,921,000	4,209,000	45.6%	721	505	1,226	1,566	265	693	1,760	289	ap2013
2013	1,906,372	4,240,000	45.0%	625	477	1,102	1,729	274	653	1,765	288	ap2014
2015	1,949,219	4,147,275	47.0%	685	403	1,088	1,791	280	550	1,489	289	ap2016
2018	1,946,413	4,266,903	45.6%	635	409	1,044	1,864	279	553	1,374	286	ap2019
2020	1,925,117	4,255,803	45.2%	638	449	1,087	1,771	283	580	1,113	282	ap2021
2022	1,989,396	4,420,879	45.0%	600	352	952	2,089	292	478	995	266	ap2023

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Robert Joseph Banks (Priest: 20 Dec 1952; Auxiliary Bishop: 26 Jun 1985 to 16 Oct 1990)
Cristiano Guilherme Borro Barbosa (Priest: 5 Nov 2021; Auxiliary Bishop: 9 Dec 2023)
Mark Edward Brennan
Arthur Joseph Colgan, C.S.C.
Christopher James Coyne (Priest: 7 Jun 1986 to 14 Jan 2011)
Daniel Anthony Cronin (Priest: 20 Dec 1952; Auxiliary Bishop: 10 Jun 1968 to 30 Oct 1970)
Robert Peter Deeley (Priest: 14 Jul 1973; Auxiliary Bishop: 9 Nov 2012 to 18 Dec 2013)
John Anthony Dooher (Priest: 21 May 1969; Auxiliary Bishop: 12 Oct 2006 to 30 Jun 2018)
Roberto Octavio González Nieves, O.F.M. (Auxiliary Bishop: 19 Jul 1988 to 16 May 1995)
Robert Francis Hennessey (Deacon: 30 Apr 1977; Priest: 20 May 1978; Auxiliary Bishop: 12 Oct 2006)
Richard Garth Henning (Archbishop: 5 Aug 2024 - )
Alfred Clifton Hughes (Priest: 15 Dec 1957; Auxiliary Bishop: 21 Jul 1981 to 7 Sep 1993)
William Joseph Justice
Arthur Leo Kennedy (Priest: 17 Dec 1966; Auxiliary Bishop: 30 Jun 2010 to 30 Jun 2017)
Paul Stephen Loverde
Richard Joseph Malone (Priest: 20 May 1972; Auxiliary Bishop: 27 Jan 2000 to 10 Feb 2004)
William Francis Murphy (Priest: 16 Dec 1964; Auxiliary Bishop: 21 Nov 1995 to 26 Jun 2001)
Mark William O’Connell (Deacon: 27 Jan 1990; Priest: 16 Jun 1990; Auxiliary Bishop: 3 Jun 2016)
Seán Patrick O’Malley, O.F.M. Cap. (Archbishop: 1 Jul 2003 to 5 Aug 2024)
Robert Philip Reed (Deacon: 3 Jun 1984; Priest: 6 Jul 1985; Auxiliary Bishop: 3 Jun 2016)
Paul Fitzpatrick Russell (Deacon: 31 Jan 1987; Priest: 20 Jun 1987 to 19 Mar 2016)
Peter John Uglietto (Deacon: 1976; Priest: 21 May 1977; Auxiliary Bishop: 30 Jun 2010)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Edward Patrick Allen † (Priest: 17 Dec 1881 to 26 Jan 1897)
Emilio Simeón Allué Carcasona, S.D.B. † (Auxiliary Bishop: 24 Jul 1996 to 30 Jun 2010)
Joseph Gaudentius Anderson † (Priest: 20 May 1892; Auxiliary Bishop: 29 Apr 1909 to 2 Jul 1927)
Paul Francis Anderson † (Priest: 6 Jan 1943 to 19 Jul 1968)
Thomas Daniel Beaven †
John Patrick Boles † (Priest: 2 Feb 1955; Auxiliary Bishop: 14 Apr 1992 to 12 Oct 2006)
John Brady † (Priest: 4 Dec 1864; Auxiliary Bishop: 19 Jun 1891 to 6 Jan 1910)
John William Comber, M.M. †
Philippe Côté, S.J. †
Richard James Cushing † (Priest: 26 May 1921; Auxiliary Bishop: 10 Jun 1939; Archbishop: 25 Sep 1944 to 8 Sep 1970)
Thomas Vose Daily † (Priest: 10 Jan 1952; Auxiliary Bishop: 28 Dec 1974 to 17 Jul 1984)
Edward Celestin Daly, O.P. †
John Michael D’Arcy † (Priest: 2 Feb 1957; Auxiliary Bishop: 28 Dec 1974 to 18 Feb 1985)
John Bernard Delany (Delaney) †
Daniel Francis Desmond † (Priest: 9 Jun 1911 to 16 Dec 1932)
Joseph Nicholas Dinand, S.J. †
Walter James Edyvean † (Priest: 16 Dec 1964; Auxiliary Bishop: 29 Jun 2001 to 29 Jun 2014)
Thomas Addis Emmet, S.J. †
Daniel Francis Feehan †
Thomas John Feeney, S.J. †
Benedict Joseph Fenwick, S.J. † (Bishop: 10 May 1825 to 11 Aug 1846)
John Bernard Fitzpatrick † (Priest: 13 Jun 1840; Coadjutor Bishop: 21 Nov 1843; Bishop: 11 Aug 1846 to 13 Feb 1866)
Maurice Patrick Foley †
William Charles Philip Gaudreau, C.SS.R. †
John Joseph Glynn † (Priest: 11 Apr 1951 to 10 Dec 1991)
Matthew A. Harkins † (Priest: 22 May 1869 to 11 Feb 1887)
Daniel Anthony Hart † (Priest: 2 Feb 1953; Auxiliary Bishop: 24 Aug 1976 to 12 Sep 1995)
James Augustine Healy † (Priest: 10 Jun 1854 to 12 Feb 1875)
Francis Xavier Irwin † (Priest: 2 Feb 1960; Auxiliary Bishop: 24 Jul 1996 to 20 Oct 2009)
Louis Francis Kelleher † (Priest: 3 Apr 1915; Auxiliary Bishop: 21 Apr 1945 to 26 Nov 1946)
Vincent Ignatius Kennally, S.J. †
Raymond Aloysius Lane, M.M. †
Bernard Francis Law † (Archbishop: 11 Jan 1984 to 13 Dec 2002)
Edward Thaddeus Lawton, O.P. †
Jean-Louis Anne Madelain Lefebvre de Cheverus † (Bishop: 8 Apr 1808 to 3 May 1823)
Leo Lemay, S.M. †
Richard Gerard Lennon † (Priest: 19 May 1973; Auxiliary Bishop: 29 Jun 2001 to 4 Apr 2006; Apostolic Administrator: 13 Dec 2002 to 1 Jul 2003)
Eric Francis MacKenzie † (Priest: 20 Oct 1918; Auxiliary Bishop: 11 Jul 1950 to 20 Aug 1969)
Joseph Francis Maguire † (Priest: 29 Jun 1945; Auxiliary Bishop: 1 Dec 1971 to 13 Apr 1976)
George Marin, S.J. †
Thomas Francis Markham † (Priest: 2 Jun 1917; Auxiliary Bishop: 18 Jul 1950 to 9 Jul 1952)
John Brendan McCormack † (Priest: 2 Feb 1960; Auxiliary Bishop: 21 Nov 1995 to 21 Jul 1998)
Lawrence Stephen McMahon † (Priest: 24 Mar 1860 to 16 Feb 1872)
John Richard McNamara † (Priest: 10 Jan 1952; Auxiliary Bishop: 14 Apr 1992 to 12 Oct 1999)
William John McNaughton, M.M. †
Humberto Sousa Medeiros † (Archbishop: 8 Sep 1970 to 17 Sep 1983)
Jeremiah Francis Minihan † (Priest: 21 Dec 1929; Auxiliary Bishop: 21 May 1954 to 14 Aug 1973)
Roger Paul Morin †
John Joseph Mulcahy † (Priest: 1 May 1947; Auxiliary Bishop: 28 Dec 1974 to 21 Jul 1992)
Tomás Andrés Mauro (Maurus) Muldoon, O.F.M. †
Robert Edward Mulvee †
John Joseph Nilan † (Priest: 21 Dec 1878 to 17 Feb 1910)
William Henry O’Connell † (Priest: 7 Jun 1884 to 14 May 1901; Coadjutor Archbishop: 7 Feb 1906; Archbishop: 30 Aug 1907 to 22 Apr 1944)
Edward John O’Dea †
Thomas O’Gorman †
William Francis O’Hare, S.J. †
Patrick Thomas O’Reilly † (Priest: 15 Aug 1857 to 23 Jun 1870)
Joseph Louis André Ouellette †
John Bertram Peterson † (Priest: 15 Sep 1899; Auxiliary Bishop: 7 Oct 1927 to 13 May 1932)
Tomás Francisco Reilly, C.SS.R. †
William Aloysius Rice, S.J. †
Lawrence Joseph Riley † (Priest: 21 Sep 1940; Auxiliary Bishop: 7 Dec 1971 to 22 Jan 1990)
Thomas Joseph Riley † (Priest: 20 May 1927; Auxiliary Bishop: 31 Oct 1959 to 28 Jun 1976)
Joseph John Ruocco † (Priest: 6 May 1948; Auxiliary Bishop: 28 Dec 1974 to 26 Jul 1980)
Edward Francis Ryan † (Priest: 10 Aug 1905 to 11 Nov 1944)
Geraldo Daniel Joseph Scarpone Caporale, O.F.M. †
Gerald Shaughnessy, S.M. †
Eustace John Smith, O.F.M. †
Philip Francis Smith, O.M.I. †
Francis Joseph Spellman † (Priest: 14 May 1916; Auxiliary Bishop: 30 Jul 1932 to 15 Apr 1939)
John Patrick Treacy †
William Barber Tyler † (Priest: 3 Jun 1829 to 28 Nov 1843)
James Anthony Walsh, M.M. † (Priest: 20 May 1892 to 29 Jun 1911)
Louis Sebastian Walsh † (Priest: 23 Dec 1882 to 22 Aug 1906)
John Joseph Williams † (Priest: 17 May 1845; Coadjutor Bishop: 9 Jan 1866; Bishop: 13 Feb 1866; Archbishop: 12 Feb 1875 to 30 Aug 1907)
John Joseph Wright † (Priest: 8 Dec 1935; Auxiliary Bishop: 10 May 1947 to 28 Jan 1950)
Joshua Maria (Moody) Young †

Source(s)

Diocese of Boston
- Series Episcoporum Ecclesiae Catholicae, Volume 1, Page 172

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Archdiocese of Boston

Archidioecesis Bostoniensis