Harrisburg (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Timothy Christian Senior, Bishop
Ronald William Gainer, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 3 March 1868
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Philadelphia
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
State: Pennsylvania
Country: United States of America
Square Kilometers: 19,839 (7,662 Square Miles)
Description: Dauphin, Lebanon, Lancaster, York, Adams, Franklin, Cumberland, Perry, Juniata, Mifflin, Snyder, Northumberland, Union, Montour, and Columbia Counties.
Conference Region: III (NJ, PA)
Catholic Directory Abbreviation: HBG
Official Web Site: http://www.hbgdiocese.org/
Mailing Address: Chancery Office, 4800 Union Deposit Road, Harrisburg, PA 17111-3710, USA
Telephone: (717)657-4804
Fax: 657-2453

Past and Present Ordinaries

Jeremiah Francis Shanahan † (3 Mar 1868 Appointed - 24 Sep 1886 Died)
Thomas McGovern † (9 Jan 1888 Appointed - 25 Jul 1898 Died)
John Walter Shanahan † (7 Jan 1899 Appointed - 19 Feb 1916 Died)
Philip Richard McDevitt † (10 Jul 1916 Appointed - 11 Nov 1935 Died)
George Leo Leech † (19 Dec 1935 Appointed - 19 Oct 1971 Retired)
Joseph Thomas Daley † (19 Oct 1971 Succeeded - 2 Sep 1983 Died)
William Henry Keeler † (10 Nov 1983 Appointed - 11 Apr 1989 Appointed, Archbishop of Baltimore, Maryland)
Nicholas Carmen Dattilo † (21 Nov 1989 Appointed - 5 Mar 2004 Died)
Kevin Carl Rhoades (14 Oct 2004 Appointed - 14 Nov 2009 Appointed, Bishop of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Indiana)
Joseph Patrick McFadden † (22 Jun 2010 Appointed - 2 May 2013 Died)
Ronald William Gainer (24 Jan 2014 Appointed - 25 Apr 2023 Retired)
Timothy Christian Senior (25 Apr 2023 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
3 March 1868	Erected	Diocese of Philadelphia	Diocese of Harrisburg (erected) Diocese of Scranton (erected) (Counties of Bradford, Lucerne, Wyoming, Monroe, Pike, Sullivan. Susquehanna, Tioga, Wayne, and Lycoming)
12 February 1875	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Erie (from Baltimore to Philadelphia) Diocese of Harrisburg (from Baltimore to Philadelphia) Diocese of Pittsburgh (from Baltimore to Philadelphia) Diocese of Scranton (from Baltimore to Philadelphia)
30 May 1901	Territory Lost	Diocese of Harrisburg (Counties of Lycoming and Center) Diocese of Pittsburgh (Counties of Cambria, Blair, Bedford, Huntingdon, and Somerset)	Diocese of Altoona (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 116,488 1,246,815 9.3% 126 59 185 629 44 819 86 ap1951

1966 184,927 1,483,124 12.5% 204 25 229 807 37 1,078 100 ap1967

1970 186,665 1,575,000 11.9% 179 53 232 804 76 1,056 102 ap1971

1976 193,580 1,607,000 12.0% 179 69 248 780 1 81 927 103 ap1977

1980 211,000 1,636,000 12.9% 174 70 244 864 42 83 871 121 ap1981

1990 221,327 1,833,000 12.1% 173 63 236 937 62 75 657 117 ap1991

1999 234,831 1,940,954 12.1% 162 38 200 1,174 60 1 529 89 ap2000

2000 238,157 1,940,954 12.3% 161 33 194 1,227 60 33 528 89 ap2001

2001 240,495 2,027,835 11.9% 155 40 195 1,233 60 40 491 92 ap2002

2002 242,726 2,027,726 12.0% 159 34 193 1,257 52 34 492 92 ap2003

2003 247,861 2,027,835 12.2% 159 32 191 1,297 45 35 465 92 ap2004

2004 247,194 2,027,835 12.2% 155 32 187 1,321 42 32 447 93 ap2005

2006 247,492 2,027,835 12.2% 150 42 192 1,289 46 44 411 89 ap2007

2013 234,822 2,236,085 10.5% 130 35 165 1,423 66 36 316 89 ap2014

2016 233,325 2,278,555 10.2% 121 33 154 1,515 64 34 260 89 ap2017

2019 247,660 2,294,400 10.8% 123 31 154 1,608 59 32 244 89 ap2020

2021 248,600 2,304,000 10.8% 127 33 160 1,553 94 34 283 89 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1950	116,488	1,246,815	9.3%	126	59	185	629		44	819	86	ap1951
1966	184,927	1,483,124	12.5%	204	25	229	807		37	1,078	100	ap1967
1970	186,665	1,575,000	11.9%	179	53	232	804		76	1,056	102	ap1971
1976	193,580	1,607,000	12.0%	179	69	248	780	1	81	927	103	ap1977
1980	211,000	1,636,000	12.9%	174	70	244	864	42	83	871	121	ap1981
1990	221,327	1,833,000	12.1%	173	63	236	937	62	75	657	117	ap1991
1999	234,831	1,940,954	12.1%	162	38	200	1,174	60	1	529	89	ap2000
2000	238,157	1,940,954	12.3%	161	33	194	1,227	60	33	528	89	ap2001
2001	240,495	2,027,835	11.9%	155	40	195	1,233	60	40	491	92	ap2002
2002	242,726	2,027,726	12.0%	159	34	193	1,257	52	34	492	92	ap2003
2003	247,861	2,027,835	12.2%	159	32	191	1,297	45	35	465	92	ap2004
2004	247,194	2,027,835	12.2%	155	32	187	1,321	42	32	447	93	ap2005
2006	247,492	2,027,835	12.2%	150	42	192	1,289	46	44	411	89	ap2007
2013	234,822	2,236,085	10.5%	130	35	165	1,423	66	36	316	89	ap2014
2016	233,325	2,278,555	10.2%	121	33	154	1,515	64	34	260	89	ap2017
2019	247,660	2,294,400	10.8%	123	31	154	1,608	59	32	244	89	ap2020
2021	248,600	2,304,000	10.8%	127	33	160	1,553	94	34	283	89	ap2022