About Diocese of Springfield in Illinois
The Diocese of Springfield in Illinois (Latin: Diœcesis Campifontis in Illinois) is a Latin-Church diocese of the Catholic Church covering 28 counties across south-central Illinois, anchored by the mother church, the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield. It is a suffragan of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Chicago and is led by the Most Reverend Thomas John Paprocki, the ninth and current Bishop of Springfield in Illinois. The diocese traces its corporate history to the original Diocese of Quincy erected in 1853, was reorganized as the Diocese of Alton in 1857, and received its present name and territory in 1923.
- Bishop
- Thomas John Paprocki
- Established
- 1853
- Cathedral
- Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Springfield, Illinois)
- Territory
- 28 counties across south-central Illinois
- Parishes
- 129
- Province
- Archdiocese of Chicago
Our Leaders and History
The diocese's official leaders-and-history page at dio.org sets out the canonical succession from Quincy (1853) to Alton (1857) to Springfield in Illinois (1923), and lists every ordinary through to the current bishop. The page also lists the current curial leadership, including the vicar general, chancellor, and moderator of the curia, and reminds readers that diocesan Catholics have been part of the Baltimore (1789), Bardstown (1808), St. Louis (1826), Vincennes (1834), and Chicago (1843) jurisdictions before the 1853 erection of Quincy.
- Official succession list at dio.org/our-leaders-and-history
- Current bishop: Most Reverend Thomas John Paprocki (since April 20, 2010)
- Vicar General: Reverend Monsignor David J. Hoefler
- Chancellor and Moderator of the Curia roles listed on the curia page
History of the Diocese
Illinois Catholic territory was absorbed by the Diocese of Baltimore in 1789, then successively to Bardstown (1808), St. Louis (1826), Vincennes (1834) and Chicago (1843) before Illinois itself was divided in 1853. The First Plenary Council of Baltimore (1852) recommended the division, and Pope Pius IX erected the Diocese of Quincy on July 29, 1853 — a jurisdiction that included what are now both the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois and the Diocese of Belleville. Joseph Melcher, Vicar General of St. Louis, was named first bishop but declined; on January 9, 1857 the see was moved to Alton to be nearer the southern Illinois Catholic population, and Father Henry Damian Juncker of Ohio became the first Bishop of Alton in 1857.
- Diocese of Quincy erected July 29, 1853 by Pope Pius IX
- See moved to Alton January 9, 1857
- First Bishop of Alton: Henry Damian Juncker, 1857
- Diocese of Belleville carved out from the original territory in 1887
From Alton to Springfield — the 1923 Erecting of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois
On October 26, 1923, after the death of Bishop James Ryan, Pope Pius XI dissolved the Diocese of Alton and erected in its place the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, with the new see at the state capital. Father James A. Griffin of Chicago was named first bishop and dedicated the present Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in 1928. During his 25-year tenure Griffin oversaw a building boom — 51 new churches, schools, convents and charitable institutions at roughly $6.5 million in his first ten years — and founded Marquette Catholic High School in Alton and Springfield Junior College (now Benedictine University at Springfield).
- Diocese of Springfield in Illinois erected October 26, 1923
- First Springfield bishop: James A. Griffin, 1923–1948
- Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception dedicated 1928
- Marquette Catholic High School (Alton) and Springfield Junior College founded under Griffin
Succession of Bishops
From Juncker to Paprocki, the diocese has had nine ordinaries. Two bishops — McNicholas and Lucas — were later translated to other sees (Metuchen and Omaha respectively), and Bishop William A. O'Connor is remembered for establishing the diocese's structured formation, development and synodal culture in the mid-twentieth century. Bishop Thomas John Paprocki, the current bishop, was installed April 20, 2010 after serving as chancellor of the Archdiocese of Chicago.
- Bishop Henry Damian Juncker (1857–1868)
- Bishop Peter J. Baltes (1870–1886)
- Bishop James Ryan (1888–1923)
- Bishop James A. Griffin (1923–1948)
- Bishop William A. O'Connor (1949–1975)
- Bishop Joseph A. McNicholas (1975–1983)
- Bishop Daniel Ryan (1984–1999)
- Bishop George J. Lucas (1999–2009)
- Bishop Thomas John Paprocki (2010–present)
Diocesan Curia and Leadership
The diocesan curia, headquartered at the chancery in Springfield at 1615 W Washington Street, supports Bishop Paprocki and the diocese's parishes and schools. The diocesan website lists the vicar general (Reverend Monsignor David J. Hoefler), the chancellor and moderator of the curia roles, and the judicial vicar (Dominic Vahling). The site identifies the metropolitan Archbishop of Chicago — currently Blase J. Cupich — as the head of the ecclesiastical province.
- Chancery address: 1615 W Washington St, Springfield, IL 62702
- Telephone: (217) 698-8500
- Vicar General: Msgr. David J. Hoefler
- Judicial Vicar: Fr. Dominic Vahling
- Metropolitan: Archbishop of Chicago (Blase J. Cupich)
Territory, Deaneries and Statistics
The diocese covers 28 counties across south-central Illinois in an area of roughly 39,210 km² (15,144 sq mi). It is divided into five deaneries — Alton, Jerseyville, Mattoon, Quincy and Springfield — through which the bishop and curia carry out pastoral oversight. As of 2010 it reported 129 parishes, 36 elementary schools and 7 secondary schools, with a Catholic population of about 145,189 (≈13% of the total 1,187,100 residents in the territory).
- 28 counties across south-central Illinois
- Five deaneries: Alton, Jerseyville, Mattoon, Quincy, Springfield
- 129 parishes, 36 elementary schools, 7 secondary schools (2010)
- Catholic population ≈ 145,189 (≈13% of total)
Places of Worship: Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
The mother church of the diocese is the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield, the see church that Bishop James A. Griffin dedicated in 1928 when the see was relocated from Alton to Springfield. Its dedication gives the cathedral its name, and the Immaculate Conception is also the patroness of the diocese itself.
- Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Springfield
- Dedicated 1928 by Bishop James A. Griffin
- See church for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois
Catholic Education and Formation
Catholic education has been central to the diocese since Bishop Griffin founded Marquette Catholic High School in Alton and Springfield Junior College (today Benedictine University at Springfield) in the early twentieth century. Mid-century, Bishop O'Connor founded the diocesan Latin School in 1954 to train young men for the priesthood and instituted the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine in 1950 for parish-based faith formation. Today the diocese continues to operate 36 elementary schools and 7 secondary schools alongside its sacramental preparation programs.
- Marquette Catholic High School, Alton
- Springfield Junior College / Benedictine University at Springfield
- Diocesan Latin School founded 1954
- Confraternity of Christian Doctrine inaugurated 1950
- 36 elementary schools and 7 secondary schools (2010)
Worship and Liturgy
Worship in the diocese is governed by the Roman Rite. Bishop O'Connor convened formal diocesan synods in 1953 and 1963, structures that continue to shape the diocese's worship, discipline and pastoral life. The cathedral in Springfield is the principal site for ordinations and major liturgical events.
- Roman Rite (Latin Church)
- Diocesan synods in 1953 and 1963
- Cathedral used for ordinations and major liturgies
Outreach, Charity and Parishes
Parish life in the diocese is organized into five deaneries — Alton, Jerseyville, Mattoon, Quincy and Springfield — with 129 parishes serving south-central Illinois Catholics. Bishop O'Connor's Diocesan Development Fund, established in 1952, created an enduring infrastructure for missionary and charitable work within the diocese; Bishop Griffin's earlier program of church and institution building produced the bulk of the physical plant that today supports the diocese's outreach.
- Diocesan Development Fund established 1952
- 51 churches, schools, convents and charitable institutions erected under Bishop Griffin
- Parish life organized across five deaneries
Diocesan Identity
The Latin name of the diocese is Diœcesis Campifontis in Illinois and its patroness, reflected in the cathedral's dedication, is Mary under the title of the Immaculate Conception. The diocese is a suffragan of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Chicago in the ecclesiastical province of Chicago. Its unofficial mottoes are rooted in its history as the successor of the Quincy and Alton sees, and its identity is closely tied to Springfield, the state capital.
- Latin name: Diœcesis Campifontis in Illinois
- Patroness: Mary, the Immaculate Conception
- Ecclesiastical province: Archdiocese of Chicago
- See city: Springfield, Illinois (state capital)
