Diocese of Providence

Dioecesis Providentiensis

Bishop(s)

Vacant
Albert A. Kenney, Administrator
Thomas Joseph Tobin, Bishop Emeritus
Robert Charles Evans, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 16 February 1872
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Hartford
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
State: Rhode Island
Country: United States of America
Square Kilometers: 3,247 (1,254 Square Miles)
Description: Comprises the State of Rhode Island.
Conference Region: I (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT)
Catholic Directory Abbreviation: PRO
Official Web Site: https://www.dioceseofprovidence.org
Mailing Address: 1 Cathedral Square, Providence, RI 02903, USA
Telephone: (401)278-4500
Fax: 278-4623

Past and Present Ordinaries

Thomas Francis Hendricken † (16 Feb 1872 Appointed - 11 Jun 1886 Died)
Matthew A. Harkins † (11 Feb 1887 Appointed - 25 May 1921 Died)
William Augustine Hickey † (25 May 1921 Succeeded - 4 Oct 1933 Died)
Francis Patrick Keough † (10 Feb 1934 Appointed - 29 Nov 1947 Appointed, Archbishop of Baltimore, Maryland)
Russell Joseph McVinney † (29 May 1948 Appointed - 10 Aug 1971 Died)
Louis Edward Gelineau † (6 Dec 1971 Appointed - 11 Jun 1997 Resigned)
Robert Edward Mulvee † (11 Jun 1997 Succeeded - 31 Mar 2005 Retired)
Thomas Joseph Tobin (31 Mar 2005 Appointed - 1 May 2023 Retired)
Richard Garth Henning (1 May 2023 Succeeded - 5 Aug 2024 Appointed, Archbishop of Boston, Massachusetts)

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
16 February 1872	Erected	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)
12 February 1875	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Burlington (from New York to Boston) Diocese of Hartford (from New York to Boston) Diocese of Portland (from New York to Boston) Diocese of Providence (from New York to Boston) Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts (from New York to Boston)
12 March 1904	Territory Lost	Diocese of Providence	Diocese of Fall River (erected)
6 August 1953	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Providence (from Boston)

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

1950 431,240 786,850 54.8% 338 186 524 822 361 1,824 133 ap1951

1966 548,141 859,488 63.8% 410 207 617 888 406 2,058 156 ap1967

1970 587,685 892,709 65.8% 383 219 602 976 479 1,513 154 ap1971

1976 602,467 927,000 65.0% 309 192 501 1,202 368 1,318 155 ap1977

1980 610,000 943,000 64.7% 384 179 563 1,083 63 352 1,256 156 ap1981

1990 631,223 1,004,100 62.9% 331 141 472 1,337 71 286 953 159 ap1991

1999 629,891 987,429 63.8% 308 150 458 1,375 92 124 769 158 ap2000

2000 635,590 987,429 64.4% 306 133 439 1,447 96 266 688 157 ap2001

2001 623,752 1,048,319 59.5% 292 116 408 1,528 96 238 682 157 ap2002

2002 639,962 1,048,319 61.0% 304 125 429 1,491 96 254 655 157 ap2003

2003 649,188 1,063,200 61.1% 281 126 407 1,595 107 241 654 157 ap2004

2004 679,275 1,069,725 63.5% 279 121 400 1,698 108 195 605 152 ap2005

2013 677,000 1,130,000 59.9% 253 96 349 1,939 97 170 390 142 ap2014

2016 691,848 1,154,086 59.9% 247 73 320 2,162 91 140 357 141 ap2017

2019 623,815 1,057,315 59.0% 229 75 304 2,052 96 137 352 133 ap2020

2021 627,000 1,062,750 59.0% 217 75 292 2,147 99 136 337 130 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	431,240	786,850	54.8%	338	186	524	822		361	1,824	133	ap1951
1966	548,141	859,488	63.8%	410	207	617	888		406	2,058	156	ap1967
1970	587,685	892,709	65.8%	383	219	602	976		479	1,513	154	ap1971
1976	602,467	927,000	65.0%	309	192	501	1,202		368	1,318	155	ap1977
1980	610,000	943,000	64.7%	384	179	563	1,083	63	352	1,256	156	ap1981
1990	631,223	1,004,100	62.9%	331	141	472	1,337	71	286	953	159	ap1991
1999	629,891	987,429	63.8%	308	150	458	1,375	92	124	769	158	ap2000
2000	635,590	987,429	64.4%	306	133	439	1,447	96	266	688	157	ap2001
2001	623,752	1,048,319	59.5%	292	116	408	1,528	96	238	682	157	ap2002
2002	639,962	1,048,319	61.0%	304	125	429	1,491	96	254	655	157	ap2003
2003	649,188	1,063,200	61.1%	281	126	407	1,595	107	241	654	157	ap2004
2004	679,275	1,069,725	63.5%	279	121	400	1,698	108	195	605	152	ap2005
2013	677,000	1,130,000	59.9%	253	96	349	1,939	97	170	390	142	ap2014
2016	691,848	1,154,086	59.9%	247	73	320	2,162	91	140	357	141	ap2017
2019	623,815	1,057,315	59.0%	229	75	304	2,052	96	137	352	133	ap2020
2021	627,000	1,062,750	59.0%	217	75	292	2,147	99	136	337	130	ap2022