Diocese of Phoenix

Diocese of Phoenix
Jurisdiction	Diocese
Name	Phoenix
Latin	Dioecesis Phoenicensis
Country	United States
Territory	Maricopa, Mohave, Yavapai, and Coconino counties
Province	Ecclesiastical Province of San Francisco
Metropolitan	Archdiocese of San Francisco
Rite	Roman Rite
Established	December 2, 1969
Cathedral	Saints Simon and Jude Cathedral
Patron	Our Lady of Guadalupe
Bishop	John P. Dolan
Metropolitan archbishop	Salvatore Cordileone

Diocese of Phoenix. The Diocese of Phoenix is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory of the Catholic Church in the southwestern United States. It was erected in 1969 from territory of the Diocese of Tucson and is a suffragan diocese in the Ecclesiastical Province of San Francisco. The diocese's cathedral is Saints Simon and Jude Cathedral, dedicated to the apostles Saint Simon and Jude the Apostle.

History

The region's Catholic history began with Spanish missionary efforts in the 17th and 18th centuries, including expeditions by Eusebio Kino. Following the Gadsden Purchase, the area was under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Santa Fe. The Diocese of Tucson was established in 1897, governing the Arizona Territory until the Second Vatican Council era. Due to rapid population growth in central Arizona, Pope Paul VI erected the Diocese of Phoenix on December 2, 1969, via the papal bull *"Ex quo spirituali"*. Its first bishop was Edward A. McCarthy, previously an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. Significant events include the 1987 visit of Pope John Paul II to Phoenix and the 2003 construction of the new Cathedral of Saints Simon and Jude.

Leadership

The diocese is led by the Bishop of Phoenix, who serves as the ordinary and is appointed by the Pope. The founding bishop was Edward A. McCarthy, who was succeeded by James Stafford in 1976. Thomas J. O'Brien served from 1982 until his resignation in 2003 following a controversial legal incident. Thomas Olmsted was installed in 2003 and served until 2022, known for his doctrinal stances including a 2010 decree on Holy Communion. The current bishop is John P. Dolan, a former auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of San Diego, installed in 2022. The diocese also has several emeritus bishops and is assisted by vicar generals and an diocesan curia.

Parishes and institutions

The diocese comprises 92 parishes and 23 missions spread across its four counties. Notable parishes include the historic St. Mary's Basilica in downtown Phoenix and the San Francisco de Asís mission church in Flagstaff. The diocese operates numerous charitable institutions through Catholic Charities, including the St. Vincent de Paul network. Other significant facilities are the Diocesan Pastoral Center, the Mount Claret Retreat Center, and the All Saints Cemetery and Mausoleum. The diocese also maintains the Office of Worship and a Tribunal for canonical matters.

Demographics

The Catholic population of the diocese is approximately 1.2 million faithful, served by over 300 diocesan priests, 150 religious order priests, and hundreds of deacons and religious sisters. The demographic profile reflects the broader Southwest, with a large and growing Hispanic community, for whom Our Lady of Guadalupe is the diocesan patron. The territory includes diverse landscapes from the Sonoran Desert to the Colorado Plateau, encompassing major urban centers like Phoenix and Prescott, as well as rural areas and Native American communities, including the Navajo Nation.

Catholic education

The diocese oversees a robust educational system, including 29 elementary schools and 6 high schools. Prominent secondary institutions are Brophy College Preparatory, run by the Jesuits, and Xavier College Preparatory, a school for girls operated by the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic School is also notable. Higher education is served through the affiliation with University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota, which offers programs at the Diocesan Pastoral Center. The Office of Catholic Schools provides oversight, and faith formation is further supported by the Kino Catechetical Institute.

Ecclesiastical province

The Diocese of Phoenix is a suffragan see within the Ecclesiastical Province of San Francisco. Its metropolitan bishop is the Archbishop of San Francisco, currently Salvatore Cordileone. Other suffragan dioceses in the province include the Diocese of Honolulu, the Diocese of Las Vegas, the Diocese of Oakland, the Diocese of Sacramento, the Diocese of Salt Lake City, the Diocese of San Jose in California, the Diocese of Santa Rosa in California, and the Diocese of Stockton. The province covers a vast geographical area across the western United States and the Pacific Ocean.

Category:Roman Catholic dioceses in Arizona Category:Religious organizations established in 1969 Category:1969 establishments in Arizona