About Diocese of Camden
The Diocese of Camden is a Roman Catholic diocese in southern New Jersey, established on December 9, 1937 by Pope Pius XI. It serves approximately 486,368 Catholics across six South Jersey counties — Atlantic, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem — through 62 parishes, three diocesan high schools, three independent Catholic high schools, and a wide network of Catholic Charities programs. The mother church is the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Camden, and the current bishop is Joseph A. Williams, the diocese's ninth ordinary.
- Bishop
- Joseph A. Williams
- Established
- 1937
- Cathedral
- Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Camden, NJ
- Territory
- The six southernmost counties of New Jersey: Atlantic, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem
- Parishes
- 62
- Province
- Archdiocese of Newark (Metropolitan Province of Newark)
Diocese Overview and Mission
The Diocese of Camden serves 486,368 Catholics in the six South Jersey counties of Atlantic, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem. Through 62 parishes, diocesan schools, Catholic Charities of South Jersey, and dozens of faith-formation and social-service ministries, the diocese proclaims the Gospel and serves the broader South Jersey community. Its current bishop is Most Reverend Joseph A. Williams, the ninth bishop of Camden, who assumed office as ordinary on March 17, 2025 after serving as coadjutor since May 2024.
- Established December 9, 1937 by Pope Pius XI
- Suffragan of the Archdiocese of Newark (Metropolitan Province of Newark)
- Mother church: Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Camden
- Patron: Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception
History of the Catholic Church in South Jersey
Catholicism in South Jersey dates to 1743, when Jesuit Father Theodore Schneider celebrated Mass and Baptism at a Salem County glass factory. For most of the colonial and early federal period, Catholics in the region were a tiny minority whose worship was often conducted in private homes because of anti-Catholic sentiment and legislation. The first Catholic church in present-day diocesan territory, St. Mary's in Pleasant Mills, was dedicated in 1830, and St. Mary's in Gloucester City was established as a parish in 1848–49. By the late 19th century, Irish, German, Italian, and Eastern European immigration had built a substantial Catholic presence, with the Diocese of Newark (1853) and then the Diocese of Trenton (1881) providing governance until Camden's 1937 erection.
- 1743: First Mass and Baptism in Salem County (Father Theodore Schneider, SJ)
- 1830: St. Mary's, Pleasant Mills — first Catholic church in present diocese
- 1853: Diocese of Newark created
- 1881: Diocese of Trenton created, covering South Jersey
- December 9, 1937: Diocese of Camden erected by Pope Pius XI
Bishops of Camden in Succession
The diocese has been led by nine ordinaries since 1937. Bishop Bartholomew J. Eustace, the founding bishop, was installed in 1938 and pledged the diocese's perpetual devotion to the Blessed Mother. Bishops Damiano (1960–67) and McHugh (1989–98) gave the diocese its modern Catholic-school system and its first diocesan synod, respectively. Bishop Sullivan led the diocese through its 2020 Chapter 11 reorganization and 2022 abuse settlement, and was succeeded by Bishop Joseph A. Williams in 2025.
- 1. Bartholomew J. Eustace (1938–1956)
- 2. Justin J. McCarthy (1957–1959)
- 3. Celestine Damiano (1960–1967) — personal title of Archbishop
- 4. George H. Guilfoyle (1968–1989)
- 5. James T. McHugh (1989–1998)
- 6. Nicholas A. DiMarzio (1999–2003)
- 7. Joseph A. Galante (2004–2013)
- 8. Dennis J. Sullivan (2013–2025) — Bishop Emeritus
- 9. Joseph A. Williams (2025–present)
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is the mother church of the diocese. The cornerstone was laid in October 1864 by Rev. Bernard McQuaid (later Bishop of Rochester), the architect was Jeremiah O'Rourke of Newark, and the first Mass was celebrated in the still-unfinished building in July 1866. Built of Trenton brownstone in the Gothic Revival style and measuring 60 by 165 feet, it was completed with its tower and spire in 1888, consecrated in 1893, and acquired marble altars and stained glass from Franz Mayer & Company of Munich in the early 20th century. It became the cathedral of the new Diocese of Camden on December 9, 1937 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.
- Built 1864–c.1877 in Gothic Revival style
- Architect: Jeremiah O'Rourke of Newark
- Designated cathedral December 9, 1937
- NRHP listed in 2003
Catholic Schools
Catholic education has been central to the diocese since its first parochial school opened in Gloucester City in 1859. Today the diocese's Office of Catholic Education supports a system of parish elementary schools along with three diocesan and three independent Catholic high schools. The diocesan high schools — Camden Catholic (Cherry Hill), Holy Spirit (Absecon), and Paul VI (Haddonfield) — follow common curriculum guidelines from the Office of Catholic Education. The independent Catholic high schools — Bishop Eustace Preparatory, Our Lady of Mercy Academy, and St. Augustine Preparatory — operate under the bishop's permission but with their own governance and policies.
- Diocesan high schools: Camden Catholic (Cherry Hill), Holy Spirit (Absecon), Paul VI (Haddonfield)
- Independent Catholic high schools: Bishop Eustace Prep, Our Lady of Mercy Academy, St. Augustine Prep
- Office of Catholic Education sets common curriculum guidelines
- Need-based tuition assistance via FACTS; merit-based scholarships available
- High School Placement Test (HSPT) administered annually
Diocesan Ministries and Faith Formation
The diocese maintains a broad network of offices, ministries, and apostolates supporting parish and deanery-level work. Major offices include Youth, Young Adult, and Campus Ministry; Worship and Christian Initiation; Vocations (Priesthood and Diaconate); Lay Ministry; Family Life; Evangelization; the Office of Discipleship and Leadership; the Tribunal; and the Office of Worship. The diocese also supports Hispanic Apostolate, Black Catholic Ministry, the Office of Deaf and Disabilities, Marriage Preparation and Ministry, and a Racial Justice Committee, alongside spiritual movements such as the Legion of Mary, Cursillo, and the Charismatic Renewal.
- Office of Youth, Young Adult and Campus Ministries
- Office of Vocations (Priesthood & Diaconate)
- Office of Evangelization and Adult Faith Formation
- Hispanic Apostolate and Black Catholic Ministry
- Marriage Preparation, Family Life, and Respect Life
- RCIA, Lay Ministry, and Tribunal
- Spiritual Movements: Legion of Mary, Cursillo, Charismatic Renewal
Catholic Charities of South Jersey
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Camden (Catholic Charities of South Jersey) has provided social services to the poor, oppressed, and vulnerable in the six-county region since 1936. A faith-based agency rooted in the Gospel and Catholic social teaching, it operates a home office in Camden and a Family and Community Center in each of the six counties, offering programs in housing stabilization, addiction services, adoption, immigration and refugee resettlement, prison ministry, veteran services, pregnancy and parenting support, food distribution, and senior services.
- Home office: 1845 Haddon Avenue, Camden, NJ 08103 — 856-342-4100
- Family & Community Centers in Atlantic, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem counties
- Programs: Housing Stabilization, Addiction, Adoption, Refugee/Immigrant, Prison, Veteran, Senior services
- Founded 1936
Chapter 11 Reorganization and Settlement
Following New Jersey's expansion of the civil statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse claims, the Diocese of Camden filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on October 1, 2020 — the first New Jersey diocese to take that step. Approximately 300 survivors ultimately filed claims. On April 19, 2022, the diocese and the Official Committee of Tort Claimant Creditors reached a settlement totaling $87.5 million, structured with a $50 million payment on the effective date of the Plan of Reorganization and additional payments of $10 million, $10 million, and $7.5 million over the following three years. The settlement included new child-protection measures and a commitment to publicly disclose the history of abuse, which dates from the 1950s through the 1990s.
- Chapter 11 filed: October 1, 2020
- Bankruptcy Court: U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey
- Settlement: $87.5 million with approximately 300 survivors
- Settlement filed: April 19, 2022
- Among the largest U.S. diocesan abuse settlements
Worship, Liturgy, and Devotions
The Office of Worship supports liturgical life across the diocese, including theology and practicum formation for liturgical ministers, RCIA, and the diocesan celebration of the Sacraments of Christian Initiation. The cathedral parish and others across the diocese offer daily and Sunday Mass, with special attention to Marian devotion rooted in the cathedral's dedication to the Immaculate Conception. The diocese also promotes Eucharistic Revival, Healing ministry, Parish Nursing, and devotions such as adoration, and supports spiritual movements including the Legion of Mary and Charismatic Renewal.
- Office of Worship — Theology and Practicum
- RCIA and Christian Initiation
- Eucharistic Revival
- Healing Ministry and Parish Nursing
- Marian devotion centered on the Immaculate Conception
Parishes and Parish Locator
The diocese's 62 parishes are grouped into deaneries spanning Atlantic, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem counties. A parish locator on the diocesan website helps users find Mass times, confession schedules, adoration opportunities, and contact information for each parish. Diocesan Pastoral Planning supports parishes through mergers, collaborations, and the development of regional pastoral strategies, especially in light of demographic shifts in Camden city and growth in suburban communities.
- 62 parishes across six counties
- Parish Locator on camdendiocese.org
- Diocesan Pastoral Planning Office supports parish mergers and collaborations
- 2008 Camden-city merger consolidated the cathedral parish with Holy Name and Our Lady of Mount Carmel & Fatima
Contact and Administration
The diocesan chancery and offices are located at 631 Market Street in Camden, New Jersey. The main diocesan phone number is (856) 756-7900. The Office of Catholic Charities operates separately from 1845 Haddon Avenue, Camden. Bishop Joseph A. Williams leads the diocese with assistance from auxiliary and emeriti clergy and a curia of offices supporting faith formation, worship, education, charity, and temporal affairs.
- Diocesan offices: 631 Market Street, Camden, NJ 08102
- Main phone: (856) 756-7900
- Catholic Charities: 1845 Haddon Ave., Camden, NJ 08103 — 856-342-4100
- Bishop: Most Reverend Joseph A. Williams
- Bishop Emeritus: Most Reverend Dennis J. Sullivan
