The Roman Catholic Diocese of Worcester is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the New England region of the United States. The geographic boundaries of the diocese are the same as those of Worcester County, Massachusetts, the geographically largest county of the state of Massachusetts. It is led by a prelate bishop who is pastor of the Cathedral of Saint Paul in the city of Worcester.
Pope Pius XII erected the diocese by canon on January 14, 1950, in territories taken from the neighboring Diocese of Springfield. The fifth and current bishop is Robert Joseph McManus.
Maps, Directions, and Place Reviews
List of Bishops
Bishops of Worcester and their terms of service:
- John Joseph Wright, DD (1950-1959) appointed Bishop of Pittsburgh, later elevated to Cardinal in 1969 and appointed Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy (1969-1979)
- Bernard Joseph Flanagan, DD (1959-1983) retired
- Timothy Joseph Harrington, DD (1983-1994) retired
- Daniel Patrick Reilly, DD (1994-2004) retired
- Robert Joseph McManus, DD, STD (2004-present)
The list of Auxiliary Bishops and their terms of service:
- Timothy Joseph Harrington, DD (1968-1983) appointed Bishop of this diocese
- George Edward Rueger, DD (1988-2005) retired
Bishops who once were priests of the Diocese of Worcester
The following men began their service as priests in Worcester before being appointed bishops elsewhere:
Deceased
Living
- Archbishop Michael Wallace Banach, Apostolic Nuncio to Papua New Guinea and Apostolic Nuncio to Solomon Islands
Organization of parishes
In 2004, Bishop Reilly grouped parishes into "clusters". The purpose of this system is to allow communities to come together for regional events. Also, priests may substitute for one another at a particular parish.
High schools
- Holy Name Central Catholic High School, Worcester
- Immaculate Heart of Mary*, Harvard
- Magnificat Academy, Warren (closed)
- Notre Dame Academy, Worcester
- Notre Dame Preparatory School, Fitchburg
- St. Bernard's High School, Fitchburg
- St. John's High School, Shrewsbury
- St. Mary's Central Catholic High School, Worcester
- Saint Peter-Marian High School, Worcester
- Trivium School*, Lancaster
Administrators
- Most Rev. Robert Joseph McManus, STD, Bishop
- Most Rev. Daniel P. Reilly, DD, Bishop Emeritus
- Most Rev. George E. Rueger, DD, Retired Auxiliary Bishop
- Rev. Richard F. Reidy, Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia
- Rev. Msgr. F. Stephen Pedone, JCL, Judicial Vicar
- Rev. Paul T. O'Connell, JCD, Associate Judicial Vicar
- Raymond L. Delisle, Chancellor of Operations
- Rev. Walter J. Riley, Director of Priest Personnel
- Sister Paula Kelleher, SSJ, Vicar for Religious
- Rev. Msgr. Robert K. Johnson, Diocesan Master of Ceremonies
- Rev. James S. Mazzone, Director of Vocations
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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