About Diocese of Norwich
The Diocese of Norwich (Latin: Diœcesis Norvicensis) is a Roman Catholic diocese covering the four easternmost counties of Connecticut — Middlesex, New London, Tolland, and Windham — together with Fishers Island in Suffolk County, New York. Erected on August 6, 1953 by Pope Pius XII out of the Diocese of Hartford, it remains a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Hartford. Its mother church is the Cathedral of Saint Patrick in Norwich, a Gothic Revival landmark dedicated in 1879 that became the diocesan seat upon the diocese's creation. The diocese is led today by its sixth bishop, Richard F. Reidy, ordained and installed April 29, 2025, and serves roughly 228,000 Catholics through 51 parishes, three high schools, a college seminary, and a Catholic Charities agency rooted in Eastern Connecticut.
- Bishop
- Richard F. Reidy
- Established
- 1953
- Cathedral
- Cathedral of Saint Patrick, Norwich, Connecticut
- Territory
- Middlesex, New London, Tolland, and Windham Counties in eastern Connecticut, plus Fishers Island (Suffolk County), New York.
- Parishes
- 51
- Province
- Archdiocese of Hartford (Ecclesiastical Province of Hartford)
About the Diocese of Norwich
The Diocese of Norwich is the Catholic Church in eastern Connecticut. Established August 6, 1953 by Pope Pius XII, it serves the four easternmost Connecticut counties — Middlesex, New London, Tolland, and Windham — plus Fishers Island, New York. It is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Hartford and covers about 1,977 square miles. The diocese reports roughly 228,500 Catholics (about 32% of the total population of 705,545), 51 parishes, three diocesan high schools, two independent secondary schools, an elementary/middle school system, and a college seminary. The chancery is located at 201 Broadway in downtown Norwich, opposite the Cathedral of Saint Patrick.
- Established: August 6, 1953
- Territory: Middlesex, New London, Tolland, Windham counties (CT) + Fishers Island (NY)
- Total area: 5,121 sq km (1,977 sq mi)
- Catholic population: ~228,520 (32.1%)
- Parishes: 51
- Diocesan priests: 85; Religious priests: 33; Total priests: 123
- Permanent deacons: 57; Religious brothers: 12; Religious sisters: 122
- Deaneries: Middletown, New London, Norwich, Old Saybrook, Putnam, Vernon, Willimantic
History
Eastern Connecticut was part of the Diocese of Hartford from 1843 until 1953, served by priests of the growing Irish immigrant population that had built Norwich's great textile mills. When Pope Pius XII carved out the four eastern counties on August 6, 1953, Monsignor Bernard J. Flanagan became the first bishop and St. Patrick Church — itself only 74 years old — was elevated to cathedral rank. Six bishops have now served the diocese: Flanagan (1953–1959), Hines (1959–1975), Reilly (1975–1994), Hart (1995–2003), Côté (2003–2024), and Reidy (2025–present). The diocese's history is marked by strong school-building (Xavier, Mercy, Holy Apostles), pioneering social services (Catholic Charities, St. Vincent de Paul Place, Outreach to Haiti), and, in the 21st century, a painful reckoning with sexual abuse at the former Mount Saint John School in Deep River.
- 1953: Diocese erected by Pope Pius XII from Hartford territory; Bernard J. Flanagan named first bishop.
- 1957: Fishers Island (NY) transferred from Brooklyn to Norwich.
- 1959: Flanagan transferred to Worcester; Vincent J. Hines appointed second bishop.
- 1961: Diocesan Bureau of Social Service reorganized as Catholic Charities, Inc.
- 1963: Xavier High School for boys opens in Middletown (Xaverian Brothers cosponsorship).
- 1965: Mercy High School for girls opens in Middletown (Sisters of Mercy affiliation).
- 1975: Daniel P. Reilly appointed third bishop; Hines retires.
- 1994: Reilly transferred to Worcester; Daniel A. Hart arrives from Boston in 1995.
- 1998: Response of Faith Campaign raises $15+ million.
- 2003: Michael R. Côté of Portland installed as fifth bishop.
- 2019: Bishop Côté publicly names 43 credibly accused clergy.
- 2021: Diocese files Chapter 11 bankruptcy amid 60+ Mount Saint John abuse lawsuits.
- 2024: Bankruptcy reorganization plan confirmed with $31 million survivor fund; Mount Saint John sold to Mohegan Tribe.
- 2025: Richard F. Reidy installed as sixth bishop on April 29.
The Cathedral of Saint Patrick
The mother church of the diocese is the Cathedral of Saint Patrick, 211 Broadway, Norwich. Designed by Providence architect James Murphy in the Gothic Revival style, the church was built between 1873 and 1879 by Irish immigrants from the Greeneville neighborhood, who dug the foundation by hand on Good Friday 1873 and funded construction through a 'ten-cents-a-week' parish collection. Dedicated on September 28, 1879 by Bishop Lawrence McMahon (with Cardinal Gibbons preaching), St. Patrick's became the cathedral of the new diocese in 1953. The cathedral underwent a major restoration in the 2010s and received a personal Apostolic Blessing from Pope Francis on its 145th anniversary in 2024.
- Architect: James Murphy of Providence, Rhode Island
- Construction: 1873–1879, Gothic Revival style
- Foundation dug by hand on Good Friday 1873 by 1,700 Irish parishioners
- Dedicated: September 28, 1879 by Bishop Lawrence McMahon
- Designated cathedral: 1953
- 145th anniversary Apostolic Blessing from Pope Francis: September 28, 2024
- Rectory contact: Rector Msgr. Anthony S. Rosaforte
Catholic Schools
Catholic education is one of the diocese's defining ministries. The system includes diocesan high schools, an independent Catholic school, the Missionaries of the Holy Apostles college seminary, and an elementary/middle school network. Bishop Hines' $1 million school campaign in the early 1960s laid the financial and institutional groundwork; his successors have expanded the system and, more recently, restructured it to sustain enrollment and mission.
- Xavier High School — 181 Randolph Road, Middletown, CT — all-boys college preparatory, cosponsored by the Xaverian Brothers (C.F.X.) since 1963.
- Mercy High School — 1740 Randolph Road, Middletown, CT — all-girls college preparatory, affiliated with the Sisters of Mercy; member of Mercy Education, founded 1965.
- St. Bernard School — Uncasville, CT — co-educational grade 6–12 school cosponsored by the Xaverian Brothers.
- Academy of the Holy Family — Baltic, CT — Catholic residential and day school for girls.
- Marianapolis Preparatory School — Thompson, CT — independent Catholic preparatory school.
- Holy Apostles College & Seminary — 33 Prospect Hill Road, Cromwell, CT — founded and staffed by the Missionaries of the Holy Apostles (M.S.A.); offers undergraduate, M.A., and online PhD programs in Theology (PhD launching Fall 2026).
Catholic Charities Diocese of Norwich
Catholic Charities, Inc. — reorganized by Bishop Vincent Hines in 1961 out of the earlier Diocesan Bureau of Social Service — is the social-services arm of the diocese, headquartered at 331 Main Street, Norwich. It maintains regional offices in New London, Middletown, and Willimantic, and runs programs ranging from emergency basic needs and SNAP outreach to adoption services and case management. Its behavioral-health division closed June 30, 2020, with clients transitioned to partner agencies. Catholic Charities also publishes an annual community-history project and partners with the Knights of Columbus, United Way, and local parishes.
- Headquarters: 331 Main Street, Norwich, CT 06360 — 860-889-8346
- New London Office: 28 Huntington Street — 860-443-5328
- Middletown Office: 16 Stack Street — 860-346-0060
- Willimantic Office: 88 Jackson Street — 860-423-7065
- Programs: Emergency Financial Services, food/shelter/utilities, prescription assistance, adoption, case management, SNAP outreach, hurricane support, parish social ministry
- Partners: Gemma E. Moran United Way/Labor Food Center, Knights of Columbus, Annual Catholic Appeal
Outreach & Social Ministries
Beyond Catholic Charities, the diocese operates a network of parish- and diocesan-level outreach ministries. The flagship anti-poverty program is St. Vincent de Paul Place in Norwich, established by the diocese in 1979 and now an independent 501(c)(3). A second St. Vincent de Paul site operates in Middletown (founded 1980 by the Sisters of Mercy and the Diocese of Norwich). The diocese also runs one of the longest-standing U.S. Catholic twinning programs with Haiti through Diocesan Outreach to Haiti, Inc., founded by Bishop Daniel Reilly.
- St. Vincent de Paul Place Norwich — 120 Cliff Street, Norwich — founded 1979; serves breakfast and lunch six days a week, food pantry, showers, laundry, case management.
- St. Vincent de Paul Middletown — founded 1980 by the Sisters of Mercy; community soup kitchen and outreach.
- Diocesan Outreach to Haiti, Inc. — 815 Boswell Avenue, Norwich; 35+ years working in the Christ Roi neighborhood of Port-au-Prince; twinning with 14 parishes; clinic, child nutrition, student sponsorship, orphanage support.
- Annual Catholic Appeal — partial funding source for social ministries.
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The diocese's Faith Formation and youth ministry offices support parish-based religious education, sacramental preparation, and young-adult ministry across the seven deaneries. Holy Apostles College & Seminary in Cromwell is the principal institutional partner for lay ministry formation, catechist certification, and diaconal/priestly discernment.
- Deaneries: Middletown, New London, Norwich, Old Saybrook, Putnam, Vernon, Willimantic
- Young Adult Ministry — diocesan office
- Lay ministry and catechist formation at Holy Apostles College & Seminary
- Diaconal and priestly discernment through Holy Apostles' M.S.A. community
Bishop Richard F. Reidy
The Most Reverend Richard F. Reidy is the sixth Bishop of Norwich, appointed by Pope Francis on February 12, 2025 and ordained/installed at the Cathedral of Saint Patrick on April 29, 2025 — the Memorial of Saint Catherine of Siena. Bishop Reidy came to Norwich from the Diocese of Worcester, Massachusetts, where he most recently served as Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia; he was ordained a priest on June 25, 1994. His episcopal ordination took place only eight days after the death of Pope Francis, with Cardinal Christophe Pierre (Apostolic Nuncio to the United States) represented by Monsignor Ted Tumir and Archbishop Christopher J. Coyne of Hartford as principal consecrator. Bishop Michael R. Côté is Bishop Emeritus.
- Ordained a priest: June 25, 1994
- Appointed Bishop of Norwich: February 12, 2025 (Pope Francis)
- Ordained and installed: April 29, 2025, Cathedral of Saint Patrick, Norwich
- Principal consecrator: Archbishop Christopher J. Coyne (Hartford)
- Co-consecrators: Bishop Dennis J. McManus (Worcester), Bishop James T. Ruggieri (Portland, Maine)
- Bishop Emeritus: Michael R. Côté
Diocesan Bankruptcy & Abuse Response
On July 15, 2021 the Diocese of Norwich filed for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code to address more than 60 lawsuits — most tied to abuse at the now-closed Mount Saint John School/Academy in Deep River, a former residential treatment center for troubled boys. In February 2019 Bishop Michael R. Côté had publicly identified 43 diocesan clergy with substantiated allegations of abuse (33 already deceased). The bankruptcy court confirmed the diocese's Joint Plan of Reorganization in 2024, establishing a $31 million settlement fund for survivors and selling the 113-acre Deep River campus to the Mohegan Tribe for $6.55 million, with the tribe leasing the building back for educational use at $1 per year. Bishop Reidy, addressing the confirmation, said: 'Today's confirmation marks an important step toward justice and healing. We are deeply sorry for the pain suffered by survivors of sexual abuse.'
- February 2019: Bishop Côté releases list of 43 credibly accused clergy.
- July 15, 2021: Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing.
- 2023: 113-acre Mount Saint John property sold to Mohegan Tribe for $6.55 million.
- 2024: Bankruptcy Court confirms reorganization plan with $31 million survivor fund.
- Earlier precedent: 2019 settlement with Jonathan Roy ($900,000) after abuse by Fr. Paul Hebert Jr.
Contact & Visiting
The Diocesan Chancery of Norwich is open Monday–Friday at 201 Broadway, Norwich, CT 06360. Visitors are encouraged to also visit the Cathedral of Saint Patrick directly across Broadway, and to consult the parish directory for Mass, confession, and adoration times in their local parish.
- Chancery: 201 Broadway, Norwich, CT 06360
- Main phone: 860-887-9294
- Fax: 860-886-1670
- Website: https://www.norwichdiocese.org
- Cathedral of Saint Patrick: 211 Broadway, Norwich — open daily for prayer and Mass
