About Diocese of Burlington
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington (Latin: Dioecesis Burlingtonensis) is a Latin-rite diocese of the Catholic Church that covers the entire State of Vermont in the United States. Erected on July 29, 1853 by Pope Pius IX, it was carved from the Diocese of Boston and is today a suffragan of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Boston. The diocese is served by 11th Bishop John J. McDermott, installed July 15, 2024, and its mother church is the Cathedral of Saint Joseph in Burlington. It ministers to roughly 110,000 Catholics in 68 parishes served by 36 active priests, 44 permanent deacons, 15 religious, 12 Catholic schools, and a catechetical system of about 2,500 students.
- Bishop
- John Joseph McDermott
- Established
- 1853
- Cathedral
- Cathedral of Saint Joseph, Burlington, Vermont
- Territory
- The entire State of Vermont (9,135 square miles), bounded by the Province of Québec to the north, New Hampshire and the Connecticut River to the east, Massachusetts to the south, and New York and Lake Champlain to the west.
- Parishes
- 68 parishes
- Province
- Archdiocese of Boston (metropolitan)
About the Diocese of Burlington
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington is the Latin-rite Catholic see for the entire State of Vermont, erected by Pope Pius IX on July 29, 1853, and a suffragan of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Boston since 1875. The diocesan offices are located at the Bishop Brady Center, 55 Joy Drive, South Burlington, and the mother church is the Cathedral of Saint Joseph in Burlington. The diocese is led by the 11th Bishop of Burlington, the Most Reverend John J. McDermott, installed July 15, 2024. According to the diocese's own 'Who We Are' page, the Church of Burlington serves about 110,000 Catholics through 36 active priests, 44 permanent deacons and 15 religious in 68 parishes, supported by 12 Catholic schools, a catechetical system of roughly 2,500 students, and Vermont Catholic Charities, which last year assisted more than 3,000 Vermonters.
- Established 1853; suffragan of the Archdiocese of Boston
- Covers all 9,135 square miles of Vermont
- 110,000 Catholics in 68 parishes
- 36 active priests, 44 permanent deacons, 15 religious
- 12 Catholic schools; ~2,500 students in religious-education programs
- Vermont Catholic Charities has served Vermonters since 1929
Office of the Bishop
The current bishop is the Most Reverend John Joseph McDermott, appointed by Pope Francis on May 6, 2024 and ordained and installed at the Cathedral of Saint Joseph on July 15, 2024. A Burlington priest since 1989, McDermott previously served as vicar general, moderator of the curia, chancellor, pastor of Christ the King–St. Anthony Parish in Burlington, and director of The Catholic Center at the University of Vermont. His episcopal motto is 'God alone suffices.' His consecration at the Cathedral was co-officiated by Cardinal Seán O'Malley, Metropolitan Archbishop of Boston, with co-consecrators Archbishop Christopher Coyne and Bishop Salvatore Matano — the first time in diocesan history that two former Burlington bishops co-consecrated a new bishop.
- Bishop McDermott — installed July 15, 2024
- Motto: 'God alone suffices'
- Bridges the 13-month interregnum that began with Coyne's June 2023 transfer to Hartford
Office of the Chancery
The Office of the Chancery is the administrative branch of the diocese, located at the Bishop Brady Center in South Burlington. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Chancery supervises diocesan operations, the Tribunal, archives, communications, finances, and human resources. Vice-Chancellor Susan Wing can be reached at (802) 658-6110 x1255. The diocesan archivist, Kathleen Messier, oversees the Archives, which collects, preserves, and provides access to the historical and vital records of the diocese.
- Bishop Brady Center, 55 Joy Drive, South Burlington, VT 05403
- Office hours: Mon–Fri, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
- Vice-Chancellor: Susan Wing
Tribunal
The Tribunal for the Diocese of Burlington ordinarily conducts trials or hears cases relating to the invalidity of marriage. It is the court of the bishop of Burlington, composed of judicial personnel and directed by the judicial vicar as delegated by the executive authority of the bishop. The current judicial vicar is Father Brandon Schneider.
- Court of the Bishop of Burlington
- Hears marriage-validity cases
- Judicial Vicar: Fr. Brandon Schneider
Diocesan Archives
The Archives collects, organizes, preserves and (when possible) makes available for research the historical and vital records of the Diocese of Burlington, as well as materials that reflect the work of the Church in Vermont. In addition to caring for the past, the Archives ensures that diocesan acts created today are preserved for future generations. The archivist is Kathleen Messier.
- Archivist: Kathleen Messier, (802) 658-6110 x1332
History of the Diocese
The Church developed in Vermont through three phases: an early period of evangelization and missionary activity (1666–1853); the establishment of the Diocese of Burlington in 1853 and its growth through the Irish and French-Canadian immigration wave; and a contemporary phase beginning about 1965 with the implementation of the Second Vatican Council. Vermont was first under the Diocese of Quebec, then Baltimore, then Boston; the diocese was carved from Boston in 1853 and made a suffragan of New York, then of Boston in 1875. Eleven bishops have served Vermont, beginning with Louis deGoesbriand in 1853 and continuing through John J. McDermott in 2024.
- First Mass in Vermont: 1666 at Fort Sainte Anne, Isle La Motte
- First resident priest: Fr. Jeremiah O'Callaghan, 1830 ('Apostle of Vermont')
- Diocese erected: July 29, 1853, from the Diocese of Boston
- Suffragan of New York 1853–1875, of Boston from 1875
- First diocesan synod: 1855
Bishops of Burlington in Succession
Eleven ordinaries have led the diocese since 1853. The current bishop, John J. McDermott, follows Christopher J. Coyne (2015–2023), Salvatore R. Matano (2005–2013), Kenneth A. Angell (1992–2005), John A. Marshall (1971–1991), Robert F. Joyce (1956–1971), Edward F. Ryan (1944–1956), Matthew F. Brady (1938–1944), Joseph J. Rice (1910–1938), John S. Michaud (1899–1908), and Louis deGoesbriand (1853–1899). The longest tenure was Joseph J. Rice's 28 years; the shortest, Matthew F. Brady's six.
- 11 bishops since 1853
- DeGoesbriand, Michaud, Rice, Brady, Ryan, Joyce, Marshall, Angell, Matano, Coyne, McDermott
Cathedral of Saint Joseph
The Cathedral of Saint Joseph, located at 20 Allen Street in Burlington, is the mother church of the Diocese of Burlington and its sole cathedral since 2018. Founded as a French-Canadian national parish in 1850 — the first such parish in the United States — the present Baroque-Revival church was designed in 1883 by self-taught architect-priest Rev. Joseph Michaud, who modeled it on the Chapel of the Palace of Versailles. The cornerstone was laid July 4, 1884, and the church was dedicated June 24, 1887 (St. Jean the Baptist Day) by the Archbishop of Montreal, Édouard-Charles Fabre. With a seating capacity of 1,200, it is the largest church in Vermont. The steeple was severely damaged by a November 2010 storm and fully restored in May 2019 after a campaign that included the sale of the parish school. The cathedral became the sole diocesan cathedral in April 2018, when Bishop Coyne decreed the closure of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. The rector is Rev. Msgr. Peter A. Routhier.
- Address: 20 Allen Street, Burlington, VT
- Founded 1850; current building completed 1887
- Architect: Rev. Joseph Michaud, modeled on the Chapel of Versailles
- Capacity: 1,200 (largest church in Vermont)
- Steeple fully restored May 2019
- Sole diocesan cathedral since April 2018
- Rector: Rev. Msgr. Peter A. Routhier
Parishes and Mass Times
The diocese maintains an online 'Find a Church or Mass' search tool at vermontcatholic.org that lets visitors filter parishes by location, type, day, Mass times, Eucharistic adoration, and Reconciliation. There are 68 active parishes serving Catholics in every corner of Vermont. Within the city of Burlington, the principal Mass centers include the Cathedral of Saint Joseph, Christ the King and St. Anthony Parish, St. Anthony Parish, St. Mark, and The Catholic Center at UVM. Confession is offered at most parishes — for example, St. Anthony Parish in Burlington offers Saturday reconciliation from 3:15 to 4:00 p.m. and First Friday Holy Hour with Exposition and Benediction at 5:30 p.m.
- 68 parishes across Vermont
- Online 'Find a Church or Mass' directory at vermontcatholic.org/parishes/find-parish-mass-time/
- Confession, adoration, and daily Mass listed for each parish
Catholic Schools
Vermont's Catholic schools have provided faith-based education for more than 140 years. The diocese currently operates 12 Catholic schools serving nearly 2,300 students with more than 250 licensed professionals. All schools are fully accredited by the State of Vermont and are pursuing accreditation by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. Teachers are state-licensed and diocesan-certified as catechists. Vermont's Catholic high schools report a 0% dropout rate and a 95% college-going rate.
- 12 Catholic schools, ~2,300 students
- All Saints Catholic Academy, Morrisville (PK-8) — (802) 888-4758
- Christ the King School, Burlington (PS-8) — (802) 862-6696
- Christ the King School, Rutland (PK-8) — (802) 773-0500
- Good Shepherd Catholic School, St. Johnsbury (PS-8) — (802) 751-8223
- Mater Christi School, Burlington (PS-8) — (802) 658-3992
- Mount St. Joseph Academy, Rutland (9-12) — (802) 775-0151
- Rice Memorial High School, South Burlington (9-12) — (802) 862-6521
- St. Francis Xavier School, Winooski (PS-8) — (802) 655-2600
- St. Michael Catholic School, Brattleboro (PK-12) — (802) 254-6320
- St. Monica-St. Michael School, Barre (PK-8) — (802) 476-5015
- St. Paul's Catholic School, Barton (PK-8) — (802) 525-6578
- School of Sacred Heart St. Francis de Sales, Bennington (PK-8) — (802) 442-2446
Vermont Catholic Charities
Vermont Catholic Charities has been providing services to individuals and families throughout Vermont since 1929. Its programs support the young and the elderly, individuals and families, the imprisoned and the newly released, with a goal of enhancing the dignity, self-respect, confidence and personal development of those it serves. Four core program areas are funded through the Bishop's Annual Appeal: emergency aid, counseling, residential care homes, and prison ministry. In a recent year, Vermont Catholic Charities assisted more than 3,000 Vermonters.
- Founded 1929
- Emergency aid, counseling, residential care, prison ministry
- More than 3,000 Vermonters served in the most recent year reported
Faith Formation, Youth & Young Adult Ministry
The diocese supports faith formation across the state through evangelization programs, religious education, youth ministry, young adult ministry, and respect-life initiatives. The Catholic Center at the University of Vermont, directed by Bishop McDermott from 2021 to 2024, ministers to Catholic students in Burlington. Faith-formation funding is one of the four pillars of the Bishop's Annual Appeal.
- Religious education and catechetical programs (≈2,500 students)
- Youth and young-adult ministry offices
- Respect Life initiatives
- Catholic Center at UVM
Bishop's Annual Appeal
The Bishop's Annual Appeal is the annual fundraising campaign that supports Catholic ministries, Catholic education, and Catholic formation throughout the Diocese of Burlington. Gifts are restricted and fund four areas: Vermont Catholic Charities; Catholic schools (12 schools, Office of the Superintendent); Faith Formation; and Parish Support and Diocesan Operations (Chancery, Tribunal, cemeteries, human resources, safe environment, communications, and other operating costs supporting 68 parishes). The 2026 goal is $2,200,000.
- 2026 goal: $2,200,000
- Funds Catholic Charities, Catholic schools, Faith Formation, and parish/diocesan operations
- Pledges can be mailed to the diocesan offices
Communications and Vermont Catholic Media
The diocese publishes the official Vermont Catholic platform, which includes a quarterly print magazine, a monthly digital eNews, a weekly bulletin insert called The Inland See, and ongoing Catholic news at Vermont Catholic Online News. The Communications office also manages the diocesan website and social media channels on Facebook, Flickr, and Vimeo.
- Vermont Catholic quarterly print magazine
- Monthly eNews
- The Inland See — weekly bulletin insert
- Vermont Catholic Online News
Diocesan Synod
The Diocese of Burlington held a 2018 Diocesan Synod to establish a plan for the immediate future of the diocese. The synodal process invited input from across the parishes of Vermont to discern pastoral priorities in the years following Bishop Coyne's installation.
- 2018 Diocesan Synod convened by Bishop Coyne
