Diocese of Rockville Centre
The Diocese of Rockville Centre, a suffragan diocese of the Latin Rite, is an active diocese in the United States serving Nassau and Suffolk counties on Long Island. Established on April 6, 1957, by Pope Pius XII, it falls under the Ecclesiastical Province of New York and is led by Bishop John O. Barres since January 28, 2017.[1] The diocese oversees 134 parishes and a Catholic population exceeding 1.1 million, notable for its strong emphasis on Catholic education with over 50 elementary schools and its annual Respect Life initiatives drawing thousands.[2]
Stored in Cargo: Diocese of Rockville Centre
| Diocese: Diocese of Rockville Centre | |
| Status: | Active |
| Rite: | Latin |
| Type: | Suffragan diocese |
| Ecclesiastical Province: | Province of New York |
| Metropolitan Archdiocese: | Archdiocese of New York |
| Country: | United States |
| Region: | New York |
| Bishop: | John O. Barres |
| Website: | https://drvc.org |
| Newspaper: | https://thelongislandcatholic.com |
| Catholic %: | 38.0% |
| Elementary Schools: | 51 |
| High Schools: | 7 |
| Deaneries: | 8 |
| Priests: | 413 |
| Existence: | 1957– |
| Predecessor Dioceses: | Archdiocese of New York |
| Catholic Hospitals: | 5 |
| Rating: | 4.0 |
| Chancery Address: | 50 North Park Avenue
Rockville Centre, NY 11570-3094 United States |
Establishment
The Diocese of Rockville Centre was canonically erected on April 6, 1957, by Pope Pius XII through the apostolic constitution Pro ecclesiastici Long Island , carved from the Archdiocese of New York to address the post-World War II Catholic population boom on Long Island.[3][4] It was established as a suffragan see to the Archdiocese of New York, with Walter Philip Kellenberg appointed as its first bishop.
History
The diocese's territory experienced rapid suburban growth after World War II, leading to its creation amid a surge in Catholic immigration and families. Under Bishop Kellenberg, it expanded infrastructure, building numerous parishes and schools. Subsequent bishops navigated challenges like the clerical abuse crisis, with Bishop Murphy implementing reforms in the 2000s.[5]
Bishop Barres has emphasized evangelization, synodality, and pro-life advocacy since 2017.[6]
Geography
The Diocese of Rockville Centre comprises the entirety of Nassau County, New York and Suffolk County, New York, covering approximately 1,197 square miles (3,100 km²) on Long Island's Nassau and Suffolk sections. It includes:
- All 22 towns and cities in Nassau County (e.g., Hempstead, North Hempstead, Oyster Bay).
- All 10 towns in Suffolk County (e.g., Brookhaven, Huntington, Islip, Smithtown).
As a suffragan in the Ecclesiastical Province of New York, it serves a densely populated suburban region adjacent to New York City.[7][8]
Mother church
Cathedral of the Incarnation in Rockville Centre, constructed in 1903 in Romanesque Revival style and elevated to cathedral status in 1957, serves as the diocese's mother church and seat of the bishop. It features notable stained glass windows and hosts major liturgies.[9]
Leadership
Current Bishop
Bishop John O. Barres, installed on January 28, 2017, previously served as bishop of Allentown, Pennsylvania. He has prioritized the New Evangelization, priestly vocations, and Catholic Charities expansion.[10][11]
Auxiliary Bishops
Bishop Robert C. Murphy, appointed auxiliary bishop on June 30, 2020, and ordained on September 24, 2020, assists in pastoral ministry and administration. A native of Rockville Centre, he previously served as a pastor and judicial vicar.[12]
Past Bishops
| Name | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Walter Philip Kellenberg | 1957–1978 | First bishop; built extensive parish and school network. |
| John Raymond McGann | 1978–2000 | Expanded social services; retired. |
| Robert Anthony Brucato | 2000–2001 | Apostolic administrator. |
| William Murphy | 2001–2017 | Implemented abuse reforms; retired. |
According to Catholic-Hierarchy.org and diocesan records.[13]
Theological and cultural orientation
The diocese rates as somewhat conservative (4.0), with Traditional Latin Mass offered weekly in several parishes (about 15%), a strong emphasis on pro-life and marriage teachings alongside social outreach, and Bishop Barres publicly advocating doctrinal fidelity and traditional devotions like the Rosary.[14][15]
Statistics
The diocese covers 1,197 square miles (3,100 km²), serves 1,160,000 registered Catholics (38% of total population of 3,050,000 as of 2023), across 134 parishes and 8 deaneries.[16][17]
Religious Communities
Franciscan Friars
The Order of Friars Minor (OFM) staff parishes like St. Boniface and support retreats at their Long Island friary. Address: Various parishes.[18] OFM
Daughters of Mary
The Daughters of Mary of Immaculate Conception operate schools and healthcare ministries. Address: 25 Prospect Ave, Sea Cliff, NY 11579.[19]
Society of Mary
The Marianists run Chaminade High School. Address: 340 Jackson Ave, Mineola, NY 11501.[20] Marianists
Parishes
| Diocese of Rockville Centre |
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| This map created from a Cargo query () |
The diocese administers 134 parishes organized into 8 deaneries, serving diverse communities including Hispanic, Haitian, and Italian populations, with several offering Masses in multiple languages.[21]
Mission and Services
Catholic Education
The diocese supports 51 elementary/middle schools and 7 high schools educating over 20,000 students. For a complete list, see List of Catholic schools in Diocese of Rockville Centre.
| School Name | City | Type | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chaminade High School | Mineola | High School | https://chaminade-hs.org |
| Kellenberg Memorial High School | Uniondale | High School | https://kellenberg.org |
| St. Anthony's High School | South Huntington | High School | https://stanthonyshs.org |
Community Outreach
Catholic Charities Diocese of Rockville Centre provides food, housing, and immigration services to over 50,000 people annually, operating 20+ centers across Long Island.[22]
Notable Events or Figures
- Bishop Kellenberg dedicated over 50 churches in his 21-year tenure, shaping the diocese's physical landscape.[23]
- The diocese hosted the National Catholic Youth Conference regional events, engaging thousands of youth in 2018.[24]
Fun facts
Below are some fun facts about the Diocese of Rockville Centre:
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References
- ↑ "Diocese of Rockville Centre". https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/drockc.html.
- ↑ "Diocese of Rockville Centre". https://drvc.org.
- ↑ "Pro ecclesiastici Long Island". https://www.vatican.va/content/pius-xii/en/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_p-xii_apc_19570406_pro-ecclesiastici-long-island.html.
- ↑ "Diocese of Rockville Centre". https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/drockc.html.
- ↑ "Diocese History". https://drvc.org/history.
- ↑ "Bishop John O. Barres". https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bbarres.html.
- ↑ "Diocesan Map". https://drvc.org/about/map.
- ↑ "Diocese of Rockville Centre". https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/drockc.html.
- ↑ "Cathedral of the Incarnation". https://drvc.org/our-cathedral.
- ↑ "Bishop John O. Barres". https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bbarres.html.
- ↑ "Bishop's Page". https://drvc.org/bishop-barres.
- ↑ "Bishop Robert C. Murphy". https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bmurphyrc.html.
- ↑ "Diocese of Rockville Centre". https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/drockc.html.
- ↑ "Latin Mass Directory". https://drvc.org/offices/worship/latin-mass.
- ↑ "Respect Life". https://drvc.org/respect-life.
- ↑ "Diocesan Statistics". https://drvc.org/about/statistics.
- ↑ "Diocese of Rockville Centre". https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/drockc.html.
- ↑ "Religious Orders". https://drvc.org/religious-orders.
- ↑ "Religious Orders". https://drvc.org/religious-orders.
- ↑ "Religious Orders". https://drvc.org/religious-orders.
- ↑ "Parish Directory". https://drvc.org/parishes.
- ↑ "Catholic Charities". https://www.ccdrockvillecentre.org.
- ↑ "Diocese History". https://drvc.org/history.
- ↑ "Youth Ministry". https://drvc.org/youth.
External Links
- Official website
- The Long Island Catholic (Diocesan Newspaper)
- Cathedral of the Incarnation
- Catholic Charities