Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester is a diocese of the Catholic Church in the Upstate region of New York State in the United States. The diocese extends from Lake Ontario through Rochester, New York and the Finger Lakes region to part of the Southern Tier region near the New York-Pennsylvania border.

Diocese of Rochester

Dioecesis Roffensis
Sacred Heart Cathedral
Coat of arms
Location
Country United States
TerritoryCounties of Monroe, Cayuga, Livingston, Wayne, Tioga, Tompkins, Ontario, Seneca, Schuyler, Yates, Steuben and Chemung, New York
Ecclesiastical provinceArchdiocese of New York
Statistics
Area8,772 sq mi (22,720 km2)
Population
- Total
- Catholics (including non-members)		(as of 2014)
1,570,000
350,000 (23%)
Parishes106
Churches172
Congregations172
Schools27
Information
DenominationCatholic
Sui iuris churchLatin Church
RiteRoman Rite
EstablishedMarch 3, 1868
CathedralSacred Heart Cathedral
Patron saintSt. John Fisher[1]
Secular priests251
Current leadership
PopeFrancis
BishopSalvatore Ronald Matano
Metropolitan ArchbishopTimothy M. Dolan
Vicar GeneralVery Rev. Paul J. Tomasso
Bishops emeritusMatthew H. Clark
Map
Website
dor.org

The Diocese of Rochester comprises 12 counties with approximately 350,000 Catholics and over 125 faith communities (parishes and chapels), 22 diocesan elementary schools and seven independent parochial high schools. The bishop of the diocese is currently Salvatore Matano. The metropolitan for the diocese is the archbishop of the Archdiocese of New York, currently Cardinal Timothy Dolan. The cathedral parish for the diocese is Sacred Heart Cathedral in Rochester.

History

Founding
St. Patrick's Cathedral in Rochester (1868-1937)

The Diocese of Rochester was erected on March 3, 1868, by Pope Pius IX. He transferred eight counties (Monroe, Livingston, Wayne, Ontario, Seneca, Cayuga, Yates, and Tompkins) from the Diocese of Buffalo to the new Diocese of Rochester. The pope appointed Monsignor Bernard J. McQuaid, from what was then the Diocese of New York, as the first bishop of Rochester. The new diocese included approximately 54,500 Catholics in 35 parish churches and 29 mission churches.

In 1896, Pope Leo XIII transferred four more southern counties (Schuyler, Tioga, Chemung, and Steuben) from the Diocese of Buffalo to the Diocese of Rochester, forming its current boundaries.

Population growth

The Diocese of Rochester grew as more Catholic immigrants moved to Rochester, peaking in the 1960s. Since then, the Catholic population has stabilized while the numbers of ordained presbyters (priests) and religious sisters has fallen.[2]

  • In 1909, there were 121,000 Catholics in 93 parishes, 36 missions and 53 parish schools with 18,000 pupils. There were 164 priests and more than 500 sisters.
  • In 1938, there were 223,657 Catholics in 129 parishes, 36 missions and 72 parish schools serving 23,796 pupils. There were 289 active diocesan priests.
  • In 1966, there were 361,790 Catholics in 155 parishes, 36 mission churches and 99 elementary parish schools serving 45,540 pupils. There were 371 active diocesan priests and 1,549 sisters.
  • In 1978, there were 358,850 Catholics in 161 parishes, 29 mission churches and 75 schools serving 19,526 pupils. There were 311 active diocesan priests and 1,095 sisters.
  • In 1992, there were 361,384 Catholics in 162 parishes and 58 elementary schools serving 11,992 pupils. There were 208 active diocesan priests and 842 sisters.

On September 22, 2017, the Diocese of Rochester inaugurated its sesquicentennial anniversary marked by a solemn mass at Sacred Heart Cathedral. This event marks a year long celebration of the 150 year anniversary and the year of the Eucharist which was proclaimed by Bishop Matano on the Feast of Corpus Christi.

Sex abuse allegations

in May 2002, two men sued the Diocese of Rochester, alleging that they had been sexually abused by Robert O'Neil, pastor of St. Christopher Parish in Chili, New York. The plaintiffs said that O'Neil took them in the 1970's to his cottage in Chaumont, New York, where he would ply them with alcohol and abuse them. Two parishioners complained about O'Neil during that time to Auxiliary Bishop Dennis Hickey. O'Neil was sent away for treatment at some point, then returned to pastoral work. A week before the lawsuit, the diocese stripped O'Neil of his ministerial duties and banned him from diocesan housing.[3]

The Diocese of Rochester revealed in June 2018 that it had paid $1.6 million in compensation since 1950 to 20 individuals who had been sexually abused by diocesan clergy.[4] Most of the payments occurred after 2002, although some were decades old. On June 10, 2019, a Rochester sued the diocese alleging sexual abuse by Francis Vogt. between 1969 and 1971. The plaintiff said that Vogt started abusing him when he was five years old and that the diocese shielded Vogt from potential prosecution.[5]

On September 12, 2019, the Diocese of Rochester filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the wake of lawsuits against clergy who served in the diocese.[6][7] It was the first diocese in New York State to file for bankruptcy and the 20th diocese in the United States.[7]

By August 3, 2020, 70 people had filed lawsuits against the diocese, claiming sexual by priests, nuns and lay people. The new wave of lawsuits 21 clergy who had not been identified before by the diocese.[8] By August 19, 2020, 503 people had filed sex abuse lawsuits against the diocese under the 2019 New York Child Victims Act.[9] The diocese announced on April 6, 2021, that 300 more sex abuse lawsuits were filed against the diocese between August 14, 2019, and December 31, 2020 under the 2019 New York Child Victims Act.[10]

Bishops

The following are lists of bishops and their years of service:

Bishops of Rochester
  1. Bernard J. McQuaid (1868–1909)
  2. Thomas F. Hickey (1909–1928; coadjutor bishop 1905-1909), appointed archbishop (ad personam) upon retirement
  3. John Francis O'Hern (1929–1933)
  4. Edward A. Mooney (1933–1937), archbishop (ad personam), appointed archbishop of Detroit (Cardinal in 1946)
  5. James E. Kearney (1937–1966)
  6. Fulton J. Sheen (1966-–1969), appointed archbishop (ad personam) upon retirement
  7. Joseph Lloyd Hogan (1969–1978)
  8. Matthew H. Clark (1979–2012)
  9. Salvatore Ronald Matano (2013–present)

Former auxiliary bishops

Other diocesan priests who became bishops

Schools
Superintendents of the Monroe County Catholic School System
NameTenure
Sr. Roberta Tierney, SSND[11] 1976–1978
Timothy Leahy 1978–1979
Rev. Richard C. Kinsky, CSB 1979–1981
Sr. Edwardine Weaver, RSM 1981–1986
Br. Brian Walsh, CFC[12] July 1986–1 July 1991
Sr. Mary Ann Binsack, RSM[13] 1991–1992
Timothy W. Dwyer[13]1992–2001
Sr. Elizabeth Meegan, OP[12]2001–2006
Sr. Elaine Poitras, CSC[12]2006–January 2008
Sr. Janice Morgan, CSJ[14]January 2008–August 2008
Anne Willkens LeachAugust 2008–July 2013
Anthony S. Cook III[15]1 July 2013–August 2019
James Tauzel[16]September 2019 – Present

Primary schools
Schools[17]
SchoolParishLocationEstablishedGrades
All Saints AcademySt. MaryCorningPre-K through Grade 8
Holy Cross SchoolHoly CrossRochester2011Pre-K through Grade 6
Holy Family Primary SchoolSt. MaryElmiraPre-K through Grade 6
St. Agnes SchoolSt. AgnesAvon1878Pre-K through Grade 6
St. Francis de Sales - St. Stephen SchoolOur Lady of PeaceGenevaPre-K through Grade 8
St. Ambrose AcademySt. John the EvangelistIrondequoitPre-K through Grade 6
St. Joseph Elementary SchoolSt. JosephAuburnPre-K through Grade 5
St. Joseph SchoolSt. JosephPenfield1960Pre-K through Grade 6
St. Kateri SchoolChrist the KingIrondequoitPre-K through Grade 6
St. Lawrence SchoolSt. LawrenceGreecePre-K through Grade 6
St. Louis SchoolSt. LouisPittsfordPre-School through Grade 6
St. Mary SchoolSt. MaryCanandaigua1849K through Grade 8
St. Mary Our Mother SchoolSt. Mary Our MotherHorseheadsPre-K through Grade 6
St. Michael SchoolSt. MichaelPenn Yan1882Pre-K through Grade 5
St. Pius X SchoolSt. Pius XChili1954Pre-K through Grade 5
St. Rita SchoolSt. RitaWebster1957Pre-K through Grade 5
Seton Catholic SchoolOur Lady of Lourdes/St. AnneBrighton1948Pre-K through Grade 6
Siena Catholic AcademySt. Thomas MoreBrighton1993Grades 6, 7, and 8

Former primary schools

Over the years, as Catholic populations moved to the suburbs, the Diocese of Rochester has closed parishes and their schools. These include the former Holy Apostles, Holy Redeemer, Holy Rosary, Immaculate Conception, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Our Lady of Victory, Sacred Heart, St. Anthony of Padua, St. Augustine, St. Casimir, St. Francis Xavier, St. Helen, St. John the Evangelist, St. Joseph, St. Lucy, St. Mary, St. Michael, St. Patrick, Ss. Peter and Paul, St. Stanislaus, and St. Theresa.

In 2008, facing growing deficits and declining enrollments, the diocese closed the following schools:[18]

  • Holy Family School, Dansville
  • All Saints Catholic Academy, Gates
  • Catherine McAuley, Greece
  • St. Margaret Mary, Irondequoit
  • Holy Trinity, Webster
  • St. John of Rochester, Fairport
  • St. John the Evangelist, Spencerport
  • Good Shepherd, Henrietta
  • Holy Cross, Rochester (reopened in 2011)
  • Holy Family, Rochester
  • Corpus Christi, Rochester
  • St. Andrews, Rochester
  • St. Boniface, Rochester
  • St. Monica, Rochester

In May 2020, the diocese announced that Siena Catholic Academy would close at the end of the 2019-2020 school year.[19]

High schools

The diocese has five traditionally Catholic high schools (or combined junior/senior high schools). These schools were founded by various religious orders and operate independently of the diocese itself.

Schools
SchoolFounding Religious OrderLocationEstablishedGrades
Aquinas InstituteBasilianRochester1902Grades 6 to 12
Bishop Kearney High SchoolChristian Brothers, Sisters of Notre DameIrondequoit1962Grades 7 to 12
McQuaid Jesuit High SchoolJesuitsBrighton1954Grades 6 to 12
Notre Dame High SchoolSisters of MercyElmira,1955Grades 7 to 12
Our Lady of Mercy School for Young WomenSisters of MercyBrighton1928Grades 6 to 12
  • Aquinas Institute
  • Bishop Kearney High School
  • McQuaid Jesuit High School
  • The former Cardinal Mooney High School

Former high schools
  • Academy of the Sacred Heart, Rochester, 1855–1969
  • Cardinal Mooney High School, Greece, 1962–1989
  • DeSales High School, Geneva, 1912–2012
  • Nazareth Academy, Rochester, 1871–2010
  • St. Agnes High School, Rochester, 1954–1982
  • King's Preparatory, Rochester, 1967–1970
  • St. Anthony of Padua College Prep School, Watkins Glen, 1949–1970
  • Holy Family High School, Auburn, 1904–1957
  • Mt. Carmel High School, Auburn, 1957–1970

Former seminaries

Former liberal arts colleges

Former charitable institutions
  • St. Ann's Home (now St. Ann's Community)
  • St. Joseph's Orphan Asylum (later St. Joseph's Villa, now Villa of Hope)[20]
  • St. Mary's Boys' Home
  • St. Mary's Hospital, Rochester, Monroe County
  • St. Patrick's Girls' Home

Counties

This is a list of the counties in New York State that fall into the Diocese of Rochester:

Arms
Coat of arms of Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester
Notes
Arms was designed in the 1930s by Pierre LaRose
Escutcheon
The arms of the diocese are composed of a saltire with a crescent in the center.
Symbolism
The St. Andrew's Cross (saltire) was taken from the coat of arms of the original Diocese of Rochester in England (now an Anglican diocese). The new design is distinguished from the original, by changing a scallop shell in the center to the crescent symbol of the Immaculate Conception.[21]

References
  1. https://www.stmartinrochester.org/documents/thomas-more-and-john-fisher
  2. "Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester - Diocesan History". Retrieved Jul 1, 2020.
  3. Tokasz, Jay (May 8, 2002). ""Several new calls" accuse priest" (PDF). Rochester Democrat & Chronicle. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  4. Andreatta, David. "Andreatta: Diocese of Rochester has paid $1.6 million to 20 sex abuse victims". Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
  5. WHAM (2019-06-11). "Victim sues Diocese of Rochester over claims of sexual abuse by priest". WHAM. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
  6. Orr, Steve (September 12, 2019). "Diocese bankruptcy: Matano says it was 'a very difficult and painful decision'". Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  7. Orr, Steve. "Rochester diocese, facing flood of sex-abuse claims, files for bankruptcy protection". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
  8. "Democrat and Chronicle".
  9. "More than 500 sex abuse claims filed against Diocese of Rochester". 19 August 2020.
  10. "More than 300 sex abuse claims against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester".
  11. "Sr. Roberta Tierney; directed education - Catholic Courier". www.catholiccourier.com. Retrieved 2015-11-25.
  12. "New schools head brings fresh ideas - Catholic Courier". www.catholiccourier.com. Retrieved 2015-11-25.
  13. Cullivan, Rob (May 28, 1992). "Schools superintendent to stress long view" (PDF). Catholic Courier. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
  14. "DOR Catholic: Update on Sister Janice Morgan". DOR Catholic. 2009-02-27. Retrieved 2015-11-25.
  15. http://www.dor.org/index.cfm/news/news-docs/new-schools-superintendent-named/
  16. "Diocese of Rochester names James Tauzel as Catholic schools leader". 18 February 2020.
  17. "Discover Our Schools". Catholic Schools Diocese of Rochester. Rochester, New York: Diocese of Rochester. 2012. Retrieved 2013-01-02.
  18. "As Bishop Announces Closures, Catholic High Schools Plan to Expand", Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, New York, 2008-01-19, ISSN 1088-5153, retrieved 2013-01-02 Alt URL
  19. "Enrollment woes intensified by pandemic to shutter Siena Academy". May 2020.
  20. "Villa of Hope History". Organization website. Rochester, New York: Villa of Hope. 2020. Retrieved 2020-02-28.
  21. "Bishop Clark". Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester. 21 March 2018. Retrieved 2 January 2021.

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