About Diocese of Phoenix
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix (Latin: Dioecesis Phoenicensis) is a Latin Church diocese covering central and northern Arizona, including the counties of Maricopa, Mohave, Yavapai, and most of Coconino (excluding the Navajo Nation), together with the Gila River Indian Reservation in Pinal County. Established on December 2, 1969, by Pope Paul VI, it was carved from the Diocese of Tucson and the Diocese of Gallup to serve one of America's fastest-growing Catholic populations — over 2 million Catholics worshipping in roughly 95 parishes and 24 missions. The diocese is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe and is led by Bishop John P. Dolan, the fifth bishop of Phoenix, with auxiliary bishops Eduardo A. Nevares and Peter Dai Bui. Its mother church is the Cathedral of Saints Simon and Jude in north Phoenix, and Our Lady of Guadalupe serves as patroness of the diocese.
- Bishop
- John P. Dolan
- Established
- 1969
- Cathedral
- Cathedral of Saints Simon and Jude
- Territory
- Arizona counties of Maricopa, Mohave, Yavapai, and Coconino (excluding the territorial boundaries of the Navajo Nation), together with the Gila River Indian Reservation in Pinal County.
- Parishes
- 95 parishes and 24 missions
- Province
- Archdiocese of Santa Fe
About the Diocese of Phoenix
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix is one of the youngest dioceses in the American Southwest, erected on December 2, 1969, by Pope Paul VI. It spans approximately 43,967 square miles of central and northern Arizona — Maricopa, Mohave, Yavapai, and most of Coconino counties, plus the Gila River Indian Reservation in Pinal County — and is home to more than 2 million Catholics across roughly 95 parishes and 24 missions, making it the second-largest Catholic diocese in the United States by Catholic population. Its patroness is Our Lady of Guadalupe, and the cathedral is the Cathedral of Saints Simon and Jude in north Phoenix. The diocese is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe and is currently led by Bishop John P. Dolan, the fifth bishop of Phoenix, assisted by Auxiliary Bishops Eduardo A. Nevares and Peter Dai Bui and Bishop Emeritus Thomas J. Olmsted.
- Established: December 2, 1969
- Patroness: Our Lady of Guadalupe
- Cathedral: Saints Simon and Jude
- Bishop: John P. Dolan (fifth)
- Metropolitan Province: Archdiocese of Santa Fe
- Deaneries: 15
History & Heritage
Catholic life in central Arizona long predates the diocese. Franciscan and Jesuit missionaries evangelized the region in the 17th and 18th centuries, and after the Mexican-American War the area came under successive ecclesiastical jurisdictions — Vicariate Apostolic of New Mexico (1850), Diocese of New Mexico (1853), Vicariate Apostolic of Arizona (1868), and the Diocese of Tucson (1897). Irish-born missionary priests recruited in the postwar era by Msgr. John McMahon, and religious sisters from Ireland, built the network of parishes, schools, and a Catholic hospital that the new diocese inherited in 1969.
- 1850: Vicariate Apostolic of New Mexico established
- 1868: Vicariate Apostolic of Arizona created
- 1897: Diocese of Tucson erected
- 1969: Diocese of Phoenix erected by Pope Paul VI
- Dec. 12, 1971: Diocese consecrated to Our Lady of Guadalupe
Diocesan Pastoral Center & Offices
The Diocesan Pastoral Center is located at 400 East Monroe Street, Phoenix, AZ 85004, and serves as the administrative hub for the diocese. It houses the offices of the bishop, the chancellor, vicar general, diocesan departments, and curial staff.
- Bishop's Office
- Chancellor's Office (Maria Chavira, Ph.D.)
- Vicar General (Fr. John R. Muir, V.G.)
- Canonical Services & The Tribunal
- Catholic Schools Office
- Communications
- Finance Office
- Human Resources
- Legal & Compliance Office
Ministries & Outreach
The diocese runs an unusually broad network of pastoral and charitable ministries serving the cultural diversity of Catholic Arizona, including Hispanic Catholic Ministries, Black Catholic Ministries, Native American Ministries, Mental Health Ministry, Prison Ministry & Restorative Justice, and Respect Life Ministries. Angels of Hope, Catholic Social Teaching, Christ In Our Neighborhood, Marriage Preparation, and Natural Family Planning round out the pastoral offerings.
- Angels of Hope
- Black Catholic Ministries
- Catholic Social Teaching
- Charity & Development Appeal
- Christ In Our Neighborhood
- Hispanic Catholic Ministries
- Marriage Preparation
- Mental Health Ministry
- Native American Ministries
- Natural Family Planning
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Prison Ministry & Restorative Justice
- Respect Life Ministries
Faith Formation & Education
The diocese operates one of the largest Catholic school systems in the southwestern United States. Across central and northern Arizona, the Diocese of Phoenix supports 29 elementary schools, seven high schools, and three universities. The Kino Catechetical Institute provides ongoing adult faith formation. Catholic Charities and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul extend the Church's educational and charitable reach, and the diocese partners with Xavier College Preparatory, founded in 1943 by the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
- 29 elementary schools
- 7 high schools
- 3 universities
- Kino Catechetical Institute
- Xavier College Preparatory (BVM Sisters)
- Saints Simon and Jude Cathedral School (Sisters of Loreto)
Vocations & Seminary Formation
The diocese's Nazareth Seminary program forms future priests for the growing Catholic population of central and northern Arizona. Guided by prayer, mentorship, and a supportive community, seminarians are prepared as faithful shepherds who will bring Christ's love to parishes and missions across the diocese. The diocese also supports the permanent diaconate through the Office of the Diaconate.
- Nazareth Seminary
- Office of the Diaconate
- Office of Vocations
- Vicar for Clergy (Auxiliary Bishop Peter Dai Bui)
Cathedral of Saints Simon and Jude
The Cathedral of Saints Simon and Jude is the mother church of the Diocese of Phoenix, established as a parish on May 15, 1953 by Bishop Daniel Gercke of Tucson when the area was still under the Diocese of Tucson. The current 1,200-seat church was dedicated on December 11, 1966 by Bishop Francis Green and was elevated to cathedral status when Pope Paul VI erected the diocese on December 2, 1969. Saints Simon and Jude is reportedly the only Catholic cathedral in the world dedicated jointly to Saints Simon and Jude. Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass at the cathedral on September 14, 1987, and Mother Teresa spoke there in 1989 when a Missionaries of Charity house was established in Phoenix. In 2016 the cathedral installed its first pipe organ — a 51-rank Peragallo instrument — and in 2021 it underwent a major renovation with new flooring, pews, and updated confessionals. The current rector is Rev. Matthew Henry, and the cathedral school is staffed by the Sisters of Loreto.
- Founded May 15, 1953 by Bishop Daniel Gercke
- Current church dedicated December 11, 1966 by Bishop Francis Green
- Elevated to cathedral December 2, 1969
- Only Catholic cathedral in the world dedicated to Saints Simon and Jude
- First pipe organ installed in 2016 (Peragallo, 51 ranks)
- Major renovation completed October 2021
- Rector: Rev. Matthew Henry
Bishop John P. Dolan & Episcopal Leadership
Bishop John P. Dolan is the fifth bishop of Phoenix, installed in 2022 after serving as an Auxiliary Bishop of San Diego. He is assisted by Auxiliary Bishop Eduardo A. Nevares (the diocese's first auxiliary bishop, ordained July 19, 2010) and Auxiliary Bishop Peter Dai Bui (ordained February 17, 2026 — the second auxiliary in diocesan history and a former Vietnamese child refugee). Bishop Emeritus Thomas J. Olmsted (bishop from 2003 to 2022) remains active in the diocese. Fr. John R. Muir serves as Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia; Maria Chavira, Ph.D., serves as Chancellor and Vice Moderator of the Curia. In October 2024 Bishop Dolan announced a historic seven-year pastoral plan inspired by Our Lady of Guadalupe, running from January 2025 through December 2031 — the 500th anniversary of the Guadalupe apparition.
- Bishop John P. Dolan — fifth bishop (since 2022)
- Auxiliary Bishop Eduardo A. Nevares (since 2010)
- Auxiliary Bishop Peter Dai Bui (since 2026)
- Bishop Emeritus Thomas J. Olmsted (2003–2022)
- Vicar General: Fr. John R. Muir
- Chancellor: Maria Chavira, Ph.D.
- Seven-year pastoral plan: 2025–2031
Worship, Sacraments & Liturgy
The diocese celebrates the full range of Catholic sacraments through its parishes and the cathedral. The Office of Worship & Liturgy assists Bishop Dolan as chief liturgist of the diocese, organizing episcopal liturgies, overseeing church construction and beautification, advising on liturgical policy, and supporting parish worship life. Mass times, confession schedules, and adoration hours are published by each individual parish; the diocesan website maintains a parish finder at dphx.org/parishes. The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA), marriage preparation, and natural family planning programs support sacramental catechesis across the diocese.
- Office of Worship & Liturgy
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Marriage Preparation
- Natural Family Planning
- Parish finder at dphx.org/parishes
Notable Controversies & Pastoral Challenges
The diocese has faced several notable pastoral challenges. In June 2003, Bishop Thomas J. O'Brien resigned one week after a fatal hit-and-run incident, one of the most dramatic episcopal resignations in recent U.S. Catholic history. In 2022, Bishop Olmsted announced that baptisms performed by Fr. Andres Arango using the formula 'We baptize you...' instead of 'I baptize you...' were invalid, a determination reached after consultation with the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The diocese established an email ([email protected]) and an online form to help affected faithful seek proper baptism. In both cases the diocese responded by opening pastoral paths for those affected.
- 2003: Bishop O'Brien resignation
- 2022: Declaration of invalid baptisms by Fr. Andres Arango
- [email protected] contact line established
- Online form for re-baptism requests
Becoming Catholic & Getting Involved
The diocese welcomes inquirers through OCIA (formerly RCIA), the Kino Catechetical Institute, parish-based faith formation, Catholic schools, and a wide range of ministries. Catholics are invited to volunteer with Catholic Charities, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Black Catholic Ministries, Hispanic Catholic Ministries, Native American Ministries, the Mental Health Ministry, Prison Ministry & Restorative Justice, and the Charity & Development Appeal. Bishop Dolan's seven-year pastoral plan invites every Catholic in the diocese into a renewed missionary discipleship rooted in Our Lady of Guadalupe.
- OCIA — journey to becoming Catholic
- Kino Catechetical Institute
- Parish and school faith formation
- Volunteer opportunities through ministries listed above
- Seven-year pastoral plan (2025–2031)
