About Diocese of Paterson
The Diocese of Paterson is a Latin-rite Catholic diocese in northern New Jersey, United States, covering the three northwest counties of Morris, Passaic, and Sussex — 1,214 square miles with a general population of roughly 1.13 million, including about 430,000 Catholics served by 106 parishes (with Mass offered in fourteen languages) and five Eastern Catholic churches. Pope Pius XI erected the diocese on December 9, 1937, separating it from the Diocese of Newark at the same time Newark itself was elevated to a metropolitan see. Its see is the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson, designed by Patrick C. Keely and dedicated in 1870; the diocese is suffragan to the Archdiocese of Newark and is currently led by its eighth bishop, Kevin J. Sweeney, appointed by Pope Francis in 2020.
- Bishop
- Kevin J. Sweeney
- Established
- 1937
- Cathedral
- Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Paterson, New Jersey
- Territory
- Morris, Passaic, and Sussex Counties — the three northwest counties of New Jersey (1,214 sq mi).
- Parishes
- 106
- Province
- Archdiocese of Newark (Metropolitan Province of Newark)
History of the Diocese
Catholic life in northwestern New Jersey goes back to 1765, when Jesuit missionaries from Pennsylvania first celebrated Mass at Ringwood for German iron-workers. St. Joseph's Parish, West Milford (1765) is the oldest in the state and still in operation; Father Richard Bulger, posted to Paterson by Bishop John Connolly of New York in 1820, was the first resident priest of New Jersey. Over the next century Irish, German, Italian, Polish and other Catholic immigrants built dozens of parishes, the College of Saint Elizabeth (1899), St. Mary's Hospital Passaic (1897), and St. Joseph's Hospital Paterson (1867). On December 9, 1937 Pope Pius XI simultaneously elevated the Diocese of Newark to metropolitan status and carved two new dioceses from it — Camden and Paterson. Bishop Thomas H. McLaughlin was installed as first Bishop of Paterson on April 28, 1938 in the newly-designated Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. McLaughlin inherited 51 parishes, 22 missions, 91 diocesan priests and 916 religious women serving about 125,000 Catholics.
- 1765: First Mass at Ringwood; St. Joseph Parish, West Milford founded by visiting Jesuits
- 1820: Father Richard Bulger — first resident priest in New Jersey — sent to Paterson
- 1821: First St. John's Church, Paterson built (Bulger)
- 1865: Cornerstone of present Cathedral of St. John the Baptist laid
- 1870: Cathedral dedicated; 1890: Cathedral consecrated
- 1937, Dec. 9: Diocese of Paterson erected by Pope Pius XI from Diocese of Newark
- 1938: First Bishop of Paterson, Thomas H. McLaughlin, installed (April 28)
Bishops of Paterson in Succession
Eight bishops have shepherded the Diocese of Paterson. Thomas H. McLaughlin (1937–1947) was followed by Thomas A. Boland (1947–1952), who was promoted Archbishop of Newark; James A. McNulty (1953–1963) established thirteen new parishes before becoming Bishop of Buffalo; James J. Navagh (1963–1965) died suddenly in office; Lawrence B. Casey (1966–1977) led Vatican II implementation; Frank J. Rodimer (1977–2004) — the first native-born Paterson priest ever raised to the episcopacy — served 26 years; Arthur J. Serratelli (2004–2020) opened St. Paul Inside the Walls; and Kevin J. Sweeney has held the see since 2020.
- 1. Thomas Henry McLaughlin (1937–1947; died)
- 2. Thomas Aloysius Boland (1947–1952; Archbishop of Newark 1952)
- 3. James Aloysius McNulty (1953–1963; Bishop of Buffalo 1963)
- 4. James Johnston Navagh (1963–1965; died in office)
- 5. Lawrence B. Casey (1966–1977; resigned)
- 6. Frank J. Rodimer (1977–2004; first native-born; died 2018)
- 7. Arthur J. Serratelli (2004–2020; Bishop Emeritus)
- 8. Kevin J. Sweeney (2020–present)
Cathedral of St. John the Baptist
St. John the Baptist Parish traces to 1821, when Father Richard Bulger built a frame church on property donated by the Society for Establishing Useful Manufactures (S.U.M.). The present Gothic Revival cathedral, designed by New York architect Patrick C. Keely (architect of the cathedrals of Boston and Chicago), was erected from 1865 to 1870 and consecrated in 1890. Its brownstone was quarried at Little Falls and floated down the Morris Canal; the building measures 88 by 180 feet with twin front turrets at 120 feet and a 225-foot spire. Currently seating 1,700 to 1,800, the cathedral was designated the mother church of the new Diocese of Paterson on December 9, 1937. Monsignor James T. Delehany directed interior adaptations to the new cathedral status in 1938, and Bishop Rodimer oversaw a major repair and liturgical renovation in time for the diocese's golden anniversary, rededicating the building on December 19, 1987. The cathedral is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and remains the spiritual and ceremonial heart of the diocese.
- Architect: Patrick C. Keely (New York)
- Materials: Brownstone from Little Falls; English slate roof
- Dimensions: 88 ft × 180 ft; tower 225 ft high
- Cornerstone laid Sept. 11, 1865; dedicated July 31, 1870; consecrated June 29, 1890
- Designated Cathedral of the new Diocese of Paterson, Dec. 9, 1937
Catholic Schools
The Diocese of Paterson Catholic Schools Office coordinates 22 Catholic elementary and secondary schools across Morris, Passaic, and Sussex Counties. The schools' mission — articulated on the diocesan schools website — is to develop 'Christ-centered, academically excellent and welcoming' communities. Bishop Frank Rodimer's Tri-County Scholarship Fund, founded in partnership with corporate leaders, continues to provide tuition assistance to needy students, and the Prepare the Way Leadership Formation Endowment (also a Rodimer initiative) underwrites 70% of tuition for selected lay students pursuing the Certificate in Catholic Evangelization at St. Paul Inside the Walls.
- 22 Catholic schools across the three counties
- Tri-County Scholarship Fund (founded 1980s) for needy families
- Patdioschools.org — official Schools Office site
- Annual Report published through the Office of the Superintendent
Catholic Charities, Diocese of Paterson
Catholic Charities traces to 1938, when Bishop McLaughlin founded the Associated Catholic Charities on his arrival. Today the agency runs about 70 programs throughout the diocese, including food pantries (Father English Food Pantry, Paterson; Dover food pantry; Sussex County Partnership for Social Services), early-intervention and early-learning programs, group residences for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (in Pompton Lakes, Clifton, West Milford, Wayne, Parsippany, Oak Ridge, Succasunna, and Sparta), the Mary Bloom Center in Morristown (ESL classes and family assistance), the Gruenert Center Day Habilitation in Lake Hopatcong, senior services and transportation, services for veterans, the Family Success Center in Paterson, and the celebrated Straight and Narrow substance-abuse program offering residential treatment, medical detox, halfway-house, and outpatient services for men, women, women with children, and adolescents. All of this work is supported in large part by the annual Diocesan Ministries Appeal (DMA).
- Founded 1938 by Bishop McLaughlin as Associated Catholic Charities
- Roughly 70 programs across three counties
- Straight & Narrow — Paterson: residential, detox, halfway-house, outpatient addiction care
- Father English Food Pantry — Paterson
- Group homes for adults with disabilities (10+ sites)
- Mary Bloom Center / Mary's Hands — Morristown (ESL, family assistance)
- C.A.R.E. (Catholic Adult Religious Education) — Oak Ridge
St. Paul Inside the Walls — Catholic Center for Evangelization
Bishop Arthur J. Serratelli opened St. Paul Inside the Walls in Madison, NJ, in the former Bayley-Ellard High School campus (Bayley-Ellard itself had closed in 2005). Named by Serratelli during the Pauline Year 2008–2009 proclaimed by Pope Benedict XVI, the Center offers more than 40 outreach and formation programs — including ongoing diaconate formation, Project Rachel post-abortion healing, end-of-life ministry training, Scripture studies, catechetical leadership, Catholic marriage prep, and music-ministry formation. Its flagship is the three-year Certificate in Catholic Evangelization and Leadership (CCE), run in partnership with Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology at Seton Hall University. Today the Center also houses the diocesan offices of Youth Ministry, Campus Ministry, Young Adult Ministry, Hispanic Ministry, and Catechesis. Vicar for Evangelization and Vicar for Education is Rev. Paul S. Manning.
- Located at 205 Madison Avenue, Madison, NJ 07940
- Phone: (973) 377-1004
- Certificate in Catholic Evangelization (CCE) with Immaculate Conception Seminary
- Hosts diocesan offices of Youth, Young Adult, Hispanic, and Catechetical Ministries
- 43+ outreach and formation programs
National Shrine of Our Lady of the Highway
Located at Our Lady of the Holy Angels Parish, 473 Main Street, Little Falls, the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Highway was founded in 1936–1937 by Franciscan Father Giles Lawlor, O.F.M., in thanksgiving for his survival of a car accident that killed Father John Joseph McLaughlin. With Bishop McLaughlin's permission, a special medal was struck in September 1937 bearing the inscription 'Our Lady of the Highway, be with us on our journey; for all thy ways are beautiful and all thy paths are peace.' A new statue was installed May 24, 1938 — the first shrine in the United States dedicated under that Marian title, a translation of the Roman 'Sancta Maria della Strada' (Holy Mary of the Street). The present church was built on the original shrine site in 1954, and a smaller shrine was erected at the base of the bell tower.
- Established 1937; first American shrine under this title
- Medal struck Sept. 1937; statue installed May 24, 1938
- Founders: Franciscan Father Giles Lawlor, O.F.M.; Bishop McLaughlin
- Parish: Our Lady of the Holy Angels, Little Falls, NJ 07424
Hispanic Ministry
The Diocese of Paterson counts nearly half of its Catholics as Hispanic, and Sunday Mass is offered in 14 languages — Spanish being the dominant second language alongside English, with Polish, Portuguese, Italian, Korean, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Malayam, Tamil, Konkani, Marathi, Sinhala, Arabic, French, German, Mandarin, Ukrainian, Urdu, Vietnamese and Sign Language all represented in the Parish Finder. The diocesan Office of Hispanic Ministry, headquartered at St. Paul Inside the Walls and fielded by Father Yohan Serrano (chaplain for Sussex County), supports dozens of parishes — for example Bishop Sweeney celebrated Good Shepherd Parish, Andover, first-ever Spanish vigil Mass in July 2024 and St. Paul Parish, Prospect Park, doubled its congregation in four years under Hispanic-driven renewal. In October 2024 Bishop Sweeney convened nearly 150 leaders at Delbarton/St. Mary's Abbey to draft a new three-to-five-year pastoral plan for Hispanic ministry following the V Encuentro process and the USCCB's 2023 National Pastoral Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministry.
- ≈50% of diocesan Catholics self-identify as Hispanic
- Office of Hispanic Ministry housed at St. Paul Inside the Walls
- Father Yohan Serrano — chaplain for Sussex County
- Convocation at Delbarton, Morristown — October 18, 2024
Diocesan Ministries Appeal & Stewardship
The annual Diocesan Ministries Appeal (DMA), branded in 2025 as 'Three Counties, One Family of Faith,' underwrites most of the outreach work described above. Gifts may be made online at dopappeal.org or by mail; the parish target year for 2025 was launched in early spring. The Beacon, the diocese's news outlet, regularly publishes ministry updates; The Beacon also features Bishop Kevin Sweeney's monthly podcast.
- Annual Diocesan Ministries Appeal (DMA) — central fundraising arm
- Tri-County Scholarship Fund — tuition assistance for Catholic schools
- $7 million diocesan endowment (Rodimer) supports parishes, schools, ministries
- the Beacon newspaper (beaconnj.org) and Bishop Sweeney Podcast
Parishes, Mass Times & Finding a Church
The diocese operates a Parish Finder (rcdop.org/parishfinder) searchable by Mass, Confession, or Adoration, by day, time-window, and language — 17 languages are selectable: English, Spanish, French, Latin, Bilingual, Arabic, German, Italian, Konkani, Korean, Malayam, Mandarin, Marathi, Polish, Portuguese, Sign Language, Sinhala, Tagalog, Tamil, Ukrainian, Urdu, Vietnamese. The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist (Saturday Vigil 5:00 pm English and 7:00 pm Spanish; Sunday 8:30 am English, 10:00 am Spanish, 11:30 am English, 1:00 pm Spanish; daily 12:35 pm Mass, with 7:00 pm Mass in Spanish Monday–Friday in the Chapel of Our Lady) is the liturgical heart of the diocese; a full parish directory in chronological order (with mergers noted) is posted at rcdop.org/parishes-of-the-paterson-diocese.
- Parish Finder — Mass, Confession, Adoration by language, day, time
- Cathedral weekend Mass schedule: Sat 5 pm English / 7 pm Spanish; Sun 8:30 / 10 (Sp) / 11:30 / 1 pm (Sp)
- Languages: English, Spanish, French, Latin, Arabic, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, etc.
- Parish mergers 2011: St. Brendan + St. George (Clifton); 2018: Sacred Heart + Our Lady of the Rosary (Dover); 2022: Our Lady of Fatima + St. Nicholas (Passaic)
Seminarians, Religious & Vocations
Roughly 280 diocesan priests, 95 religious-order priests, 196 permanent deacons, 581 consecrated religious women, 20 religious brothers, and 40 seminarians currently serve in the diocese, together with thousands of lay collaborators in parishes, schools, and Catholic Charities programs. Nazareth Village, the diocesan priest retirement residence, is located in Morris County. The diocese also sponsors C.A.R.E. (Catholic Adult Religious Education), a monthly prayer-and-formation program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, begun in 1989 at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Oak Ridge.
- ≈280 diocesan priests, 95 religious-order priests, 196 permanent deacons
- ≈581 religious women; 20 religious brothers; 40 seminarians
- Nazareth Village — priest retirement residence (Morris County)
- C.A.R.E. — monthly religious-education program for adults with disabilities (Oak Ridge)
Office of the Bishop & Diocesan Center
Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney, D.D., can be reached through the Chancery at the Diocesan Center, 777 Valley Road, Clifton, NJ 07013; main line (973) 777-8818, ext. 246. The Chancery interprets diocesan and Church law, oversees records and archives, processes dispensations, and coordinates diocesan departments. Ms. Gladys Pozza serves as the Bishop's Executive Assistant, with the email [email protected]. Past diocesan Masses, prayer services, and religious events are posted at rcdop.org/diocesan-masses.
- Diocesan Center: 777 Valley Road, Clifton, NJ 07013
- Phone: (973) 777-8818; Bishop's extension 246
- Email: [email protected]
- Bishop's episcopal motto: 'Dios es amor' ('God is love')
