About Diocese of Rockville Centre
The Diocese of Rockville Centre (Latin: Dioecesis Petropolitana in Insula Longa) is the Roman Catholic diocese serving the Long Island region of New York, covering Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Erected on April 6, 1957, by Pope Pius XII from territory formerly belonging to the Diocese of Brooklyn, it is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of New York and one of the largest Catholic dioceses in the United States, with approximately 1.2 million baptized Catholics. The cathedral is St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre, and the current bishop is John O. Barres, installed January 31, 2017. Its territory includes 1,198 square miles across 115 towns, with 132 parishes plus a campus parish.
- Bishop
- John O. Barres
- Established
- 1957
- Cathedral
- St. Agnes Cathedral, Rockville Centre, NY
- Territory
- Nassau and Suffolk Counties on Long Island, New York (excluding Fishers Island, which belongs to the Diocese of Norwich)
- Parishes
- 132 parishes plus 1 campus parish
- Province
- Archdiocese of New York
History of the Diocese of Rockville Centre
The Diocese of Rockville Centre was erected on April 6, 1957, by Pope Pius XII, who separated Nassau and Suffolk Counties from the Diocese of Brooklyn to create a new jurisdiction for the rapidly growing Catholic population of suburban Long Island. The first bishop, Walter P. Kellenberg, was installed on May 27, 1957, at St. Agnes Church in Rockville Centre, which simultaneously became the cathedral. From an initial base of roughly 500,000 Catholics, the diocese expanded dramatically through the postwar decades, reaching over a million Catholics by 1976 and continuing to grow with the suburban Long Island population. Bishop Kellenberg laid the institutional groundwork — Catholic Charities, the diocesan newspaper, the minor seminary, and Catholic television — most of which remain in operation today. Five bishops have led the diocese, the most recent being John O. Barres, appointed by Pope Francis in December 2016 and installed January 31, 2017.
- Established: April 6, 1957
- Created from: Diocese of Brooklyn (Nassau and Suffolk Counties)
- Founding bishop: Walter P. Kellenberg (installed May 27, 1957)
- Succession: Kellenberg → McGann → McHugh → Murphy → Barres
St. Agnes Cathedral
St. Agnes Cathedral, located in Rockville Centre, is the mother church of the Diocese of Rockville Centre. The parish traces its origin to 1887, when six Catholic families gathered for Mass in a rented blacksmith's shop on Centre Avenue, with the shop's anvil serving as an altar — an artifact still displayed on the cathedral's front lawn. St. Agnes Parish was formally erected in 1894 by Bishop Charles Edward McDonnell of Brooklyn; the cornerstone for a marble church was laid in 1904 and dedicated in 1905. A larger Norman Gothic church, designed by architect Gustave E. Steinbeck, replaced it in 1935. When the Diocese of Rockville Centre was created in 1957, St. Agnes was elevated to cathedral status. Major renovations occurred in 1981–82, and the cathedral received its second pipe organ in 2001 and a new Parish Activity Center in 2004. In 2007 the cathedral and diocese celebrated their shared 50th anniversary.
- Original parish founded 1887 (blacksmith's shop; anvil altar still displayed)
- Marble church dedicated June 11, 1905
- Norman Gothic church completed 1935 (architect Gustave E. Steinbeck)
- Elevated to cathedral May 27, 1957
- Mother Teresa visited and spoke at a prayer service in 1986
- Bell tower struck by lightning in 2010; stone cross toppled by Hurricane Sandy in 2012
Bishops of Rockville Centre
Five bishops have shepherded the Diocese of Rockville Centre since 1957. The founding ordinary, Walter P. Kellenberg, served until 1976 and established virtually all of the diocese's foundational institutions. John R. McGann, previously an auxiliary in the diocese, was the longest-serving bishop (1976–2000). James T. McHugh succeeded McGann in 2000 but died in office after only 11 months. William Murphy, an auxiliary of Boston, was appointed in 2001 and led the diocese through the early 21st century. The current bishop, John O. Barres, was appointed December 9, 2016 by Pope Francis and installed January 31, 2017.
- Walter P. Kellenberg (1957–1976)
- John R. McGann (1976–2000)
- James T. McHugh (2000–2000)
- William Murphy (2001–2016)
- John O. Barres (2017–present)
Auxiliary Bishops and Diocesan Leadership
The diocese is currently served by three auxiliary bishops in addition to Bishop Barres: Andrzej Jerzy Zglejszewski (appointed 2014), Robert J. Coyle (appointed 2018, previously auxiliary of the Archdiocese for the Military Services), and Luis Miguel Romero Fernández (appointed 2020). Bishop Emeritus John Charles Dunne also assists in ministry. The diocesan Pastoral Center is located at 50 North Park Avenue in Rockville Centre.
- Andrzej Jerzy Zglejszewski (2014–present)
- Robert J. Coyle (2018–present)
- Luis Miguel Romero Fernández (2020–present)
- Bishop Emeritus: John Charles Dunne
Territory and Demographics
The diocese covers Nassau and Suffolk Counties on Long Island — a combined 1,198 square miles with a total county population of about 2.9 million. The territory excludes Fishers Island, which remains part of the Diocese of Norwich. As of 2022 the diocese reported approximately 1.2 million baptized Catholics served through 132 parishes and 1 campus parish in 115 towns. It is the sixth-largest Catholic diocese in the United States by Catholic population and a suffragan of the Archdiocese of New York.
- Territory: 1,198 square miles (Nassau and Suffolk Counties)
- Total county population: ~2.9 million
- Baptized Catholics: ~1.2 million
- Parishes: 132 + 1 campus parish
- Excludes Fishers Island (Diocese of Norwich)
Catholic Charities of Long Island
Catholic Charities of Long Island, founded by Bishop Kellenberg in 1957, is one of the diocese's flagship ministries. From 53 sites across Nassau and Suffolk Counties, it provides over 1.3 million face-to-face services annually to an average of 58,000 neighbors. Its programs include 13 residences for the developmentally disabled (the first opened in Valley Stream in 1974), shelter and transitional housing for single mothers (begun 1968, expanded 2009), and senior housing — Catholic Charities operates more than 1,300 units of affordable senior housing, making it one of Long Island's largest providers.
- Founded 1957 by Bishop Kellenberg
- 53 service sites across Nassau and Suffolk
- 58,000+ neighbors served annually
- 13 residences for the developmentally disabled
- 1,300+ units of affordable senior housing
Catholic Health System
Catholic Health is an integrated health and human services system sponsored by the diocese, employing approximately 17,000 people. It encompasses six acute-care hospitals, three nursing homes, a home health service, hospice, a community-based agency for persons with special needs, and a network of physician practices. Bishop Kellenberg oversaw the completion of Good Samaritan Hospital and expansions at St. Francis, St. Charles, and Mercy Hospitals during his tenure.
- Approximately 17,000 employees
- Six acute-care hospitals
- Three nursing homes
- Home health and hospice services
Catholic Schools and Higher Education
Catholic education is one of the diocese's largest ministries, with more than 25,000 students engaged across its institutions. As of 2022 the diocese operated 35 Catholic elementary schools (31 parish/regional and 4–5 private) enrolling roughly 10,776 students, nine Catholic high schools enrolling 9,857 students (2 diocesan, 2 parish, and 5 private/religious-order), and Molloy University, a Catholic college in Rockville Centre enrolling about 3,401 students. The schools include long-standing institutions like Chaminade (1930), St. Anthony's (1933), Sacred Heart Academy (1949), St. Mary's (1949), Holy Trinity (1966), St. John the Baptist (1966), and Kellenberg Memorial (1987, named for the founding bishop). Six elementary schools closed in 2011 under Bishop Murphy; Bishop McGann-Mercy Diocesan High School closed in 2018 and Our Lady of Mercy Academy in 2024.
- 35 elementary schools
- 9 Catholic high schools (2 diocesan, 2 parish, 5 independent/religious-order)
- Molloy University (Catholic college, Rockville Centre)
- Roughly 75,988 students in parish Faith Formation programs
- Recent closures: 6 elementary schools (2011), Bishop McGann-Mercy HS (2018), Our Lady of Mercy Academy (2024)
Seminary Formation and Vocations
The diocese has historically trained priests at two seminaries. St. Pius X Preparatory Seminary in Uniondale operated from 1961 to 1984 as a minor seminary, founded by Bishop Kellenberg. The Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Lloyd Harbor, founded in 1926 by Brooklyn Bishop Thomas E. Molloy (when Long Island was still part of Brooklyn), served as the diocese's major seminary for 86 years. In 2012 the Archdiocese of New York, Diocese of Brooklyn, and Diocese of Rockville Centre merged their seminary programs: the major seminary is now St. Joseph's Seminary in Yonkers, and the minor seminary program is the Cathedral Seminary House of Formation in Queens. The Lloyd Harbor seminary continues as a satellite of St. Joseph's, offering a Master of Theology to the lay public.
- St. Pius X Preparatory Seminary, Uniondale (1961–1984)
- Seminary of the Immaculate Conception, Lloyd Harbor (1926–2012)
- Current major seminary: St. Joseph's Seminary, Yonkers
- Current minor seminary: Cathedral Seminary House of Formation, Queens
Catholic Faith Network (CFN) and The Long Island Catholic
The diocese operates two flagship communications ministries. The Catholic Faith Network (CFN), based in Uniondale, broadcasts 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, reaching millions of households on Long Island and beyond. It grew from a single educational broadcast facility dedicated by Bishop Kellenberg in 1970. The Long Island Catholic, the diocese's weekly newspaper, was launched by Bishop Kellenberg in January 1962 and remains a primary communication channel.
- Catholic Faith Network: 24/7/365 broadcast, Uniondale-based
- The Long Island Catholic: weekly newspaper, founded January 1962
- Bishop Barres launched Telecare video series 'The Catholic Spirituality of Commuter Delays' in 2017
Cemeteries
The diocese ministers to deceased Catholics through four diocesan cemeteries and twenty parish cemeteries. In 2022 clergy and community provided consolation to families of 9,272 deceased Catholics across these sites.
- 4 diocesan cemeteries
- 20 parish cemeteries
- 9,272 Catholic funerals served in 2022
Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program (IRCP)
In October 2017, Bishop John O. Barres announced the creation of the Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program (IRCP) for survivors of child sexual abuse committed by clergy in the diocese. The program was part of the diocese's broader response to the clergy abuse crisis. In October 2020, the diocese became the fourth New York State diocese to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy; an April 2021 filing listed 101 accused clergy members, with a creditors' committee adding 46 more names. In April 2024 a $200 million settlement offer was rejected by 86% of victims; a revised $323 million settlement with 530 victims (with $85.3 million covered by insurance) was reached in September 2024, funded in part through parish-level bankruptcies enabling insurers to repurchase policies.
- IRCP launched October 2017 by Bishop Barres
- Chapter 11 bankruptcy filed October 2020
- 101 accused clergy listed in April 2021 filing (+46 additional names from creditors' committee)
- $323 million settlement with 530 victims (September 2024)
Diocesan Archives
The Diocesan Archives, under Archivist Krista H. Ammirati, acquires, organizes, preserves, and provides access to records of historical, sacramental, legal, fiscal, and administrative value from the diocese's departments and parishes. It operates in accordance with Canons 486 and 491 of the Code of Canon Law and promotes knowledge and understanding of the diocese's history through research access and outreach.
