A Brief History
A ‘Holy Experiment’
William Penn’s “holy experiment” welcomed persecuted Catholics to Pennsylvania in 1682. The public celebration of Mass began in the city as early as 1707. Old Saint Joseph’s Church became the first Catholic parish in Philadelphia in 1733, and by 1790, about 8,000 Catholics called the region home.
Foundations
The Diocese of Philadelphia was established in 1808 with Bishop Michael Egan overseeing 30,000 Catholics across Pennsylvania, Delaware, and parts of New Jersey. The early decades were filled with challenging growing pains that were resolved over the course of two decades. By the early 1830s, Bishop Francis Kenrick laid the foundation for the Catholic Church of Philadelphia to grow and flourish. He also opened Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary so that the local Church could form priests to serve an ever-growing Catholic population.
School Growth
Saint John Neumann, the fourth bishop, championed Catholic education during his tenure from 1852 to 1860 and established the first system of Catholic parish schools in the United States of America. This Bohemian immigrant became the first American bishop to be canonized. His successor, Archbishop James Wood, proved a skilled financial manager and saw Philadelphia elevated to a Metropolitan Archdiocese in 1875.
Saintly Pioneer
Under Archbishop Patrick Ryan’s leadership, the Archdiocese opened the first free Catholic high schools in America. He also supported Saint Katharine Drexel’s work with Black Americans and Native Americans. This Philadelphia native, who dedicated her fortune to serving marginalized communities through the religious order she founded, the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, was canonized in 2000.
“Love one another with brotherly affection.
Outdo one another in showing honor.”
Romans 12:10
Building Boom
The early 1900s brought massive growth under Cardinal Dennis Dougherty, who called himself “God’s Bricklayer.” During his 33-year tenure, he built 112 parishes, 145 schools, and four colleges, while ordaining over 2,000 priests.
Change & Renewal
Vatican II brought sweeping changes, which Cardinal John Krol navigated skillfully while promoting racial harmony. His successors, Cardinals Anthony Bevilacqua and Justin Rigali, emphasized spiritual renewal and brought extensive Vatican experience to Philadelphia.
Papal Visit
In 2011, Archbishop Charles Chaput became the first Native American archbishop in the United States. He guided the Archdiocese through a number of significant challenges while championing religious liberty and hosting the historic 2015 World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia, along with the accompanying visit by Pope Francis. The closing Mass of this landmark event drew over one million people to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
A Servant Leader
In 2020, Archbishop Nelson Pérez became the first Hispanic Archbishop of Philadelphia. A seminary graduate who had served parishes throughout the Archdiocese, he launched the “Arise” initiative to sustain Catholic life during the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, the Archdiocese serves 1.5 million Catholics in 214 parishes across five southeastern Pennsylvania counties.
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