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The Diocese of Harrisburg is a **diocese** of the [[Catholic Church]] in south central [[Pennsylvania]], [[United States]], serving as a suffragan see of the [[Archdiocese of Philadelphia]]. Established on March 3, 1868, by Pope Pius IX, it encompasses 15 counties: Adams, Columbia, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Mifflin, Montour, Northumberland, Perry, Snyder, Union, and York.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholic_Diocese_of_Harrisburg |publisher=Wikipedia |date=2026-01-04 |access-date=2026-01-27}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Diocese of Harrisburg |url=https://gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/harr0.htm |publisher=GCatholic.org |access-date=2026-01-27}}</ref> Covering approximately 19,839 km², the diocese has a total population of about 2,336,700, with an estimated 252,100 Catholics (approximately 10.8%).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Diocese of Harrisburg, USA |url=https://gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/harr0.htm |publisher=GCatholic.org |access-date=2026-01-27}}</ref> Catholicism was introduced to the region in the 1720s through Jesuit missionaries, with the mother church being the [[Cathedral of Saint Patrick (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania)|Cathedral of Saint Patrick]] in Harrisburg. The diocese maintains a significant Catholic presence through its parishes, schools, and historical sites, including the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Conewago), recognized as one of the oldest stone churches in continuous use in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Growth of Catholicism |url=https://www.hbgdiocese.org/about/growth-of-catholicism |publisher=Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg |access-date=2026-01-27}}</ref>
{{Diocese
 
|diocese_name=Diocese of Harrisburg
{{AdministrativeSubdivision
|Type=Suffragan diocese
| subdivision_name = Diocese of Harrisburg
|Country=United States
| country = United States
|AdministrativeSubdivision=Pennsylvania
| continent = North America
|Bishop=Timothy C. Senior
| region = Mid-Atlantic
|Website=https://www.hbgdiocese.org
| area_sq_km = 19839
|Newspaper=https://www.catholicwitness.org
| population = 2336700
|Status=Active
| catholic_population = 252100
|Rite=Latin
| catholic_percentage = 10.8
|Region=Pennsylvania
| rank_among_religions =
| official_languages = English
| capital_city = Harrisburg
| date_catholicism_introduced = 1720s
| catholicism_status = Minority religion in a predominantly non-Catholic region, with strong historical roots
| ecclesiastical_provinces_count = 1 (suffragan of Philadelphia)
| dioceses_count = 1 (single diocese)
| patron_saints = Saint Patrick
| start_year = 1868
| end_year =
| predecessor_entities = Diocese of Philadelphia
| successor_entities =
| historic = No
}}
}}
The Diocese of Harrisburg is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in south central Pennsylvania, United States.
{{Clear right}}
== Parishes ==
{{Diocese map|Diocese=Diocese of Harrisburg|Where=Harrisburg|zoom=7}}
{{Add parish to diocese|URL=https://www.hbgdiocese.org/|Catholic count=200,000|Parish number=88|School number=35}}
{{Diocese parish table|Where=Harrisburg}}


== Geography ==
==Establishment==
The Diocese of Harrisburg covers south central Pennsylvania, spanning 19,839 km² across 15 counties in a region characterized by the Susquehanna Valley, agricultural lands, and Appalachian foothills.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Diocese of Harrisburg |url=https://gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/harr0.htm |publisher=GCatholic.org |access-date=2026-01-27}}</ref> It borders other Pennsylvania dioceses including Altoona-Johnstown, Scranton, Allentown, and Philadelphia, as well as the Diocese of Baltimore to the south. Major cities include Harrisburg (the state capital and diocesan see), Lancaster, York, and Lebanon. The area's rural and small-town character has historically supported Catholic communities centered around mission churches and later parishes, with pilgrimage routes connecting historic sites like the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Conewago.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Diocesan History |url=https://www.hbgdiocese.org/about/diocesan-history |publisher=Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg |access-date=2026-01-27}}</ref>
It was established on March 3, 1868, by Pope Pius IX.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hbgdiocese.org/about-us/history/ |title=History of the Diocese of Harrisburg |website=Diocese of Harrisburg |accessdate=2025-01-05}}</ref>
 
== History ==
The Diocese of Harrisburg was erected on March 3, 1868, by Pope Pius IX, carved from territory of the Diocese of Philadelphia to better serve the growing Catholic population in central Pennsylvania.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Diocese of Harrisburg |url=https://gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/harr0.htm |publisher=GCatholic.org |access-date=2026-01-27}}</ref> Its establishment followed recommendations from the Second Plenary Council of Baltimore. The region saw Catholic growth through immigration, particularly Irish laborers on canal projects in the early 19th century and later diverse groups.
 
== Demographics ==
The diocese serves a total population of approximately 2,336,700, with an estimated 252,100 Catholics (about 10.8% as of recent GCatholic data).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Diocese of Harrisburg, USA |url=https://gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/harr0.htm |publisher=GCatholic.org |access-date=2026-01-27}}</ref> This reflects Catholicism as a minority religion in the region, lower than in eastern or western Pennsylvania dioceses.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pennsylvania, Catholic Church in |url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/pennsylvania-catholic-church |publisher=Encyclopedia.com |access-date=2026-01-27}}</ref> The population includes diverse ethnic backgrounds, with historical German, Irish, and later Polish and other immigrant influences.
 
== Catholic church ==
The Diocese of Harrisburg operates as a suffragan diocese within the ecclesiastical Province of Philadelphia, with approximately 93 parishes and missions, served by around 170 priests and other clergy and religious.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Diocese of Harrisburg |url=https://gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/harr0.htm |publisher=GCatholic.org |access-date=2026-01-27}}</ref> It is led by the Bishop of Harrisburg (currently Most Reverend Timothy C. Senior) and participates in the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference.
 
=== Structure ===
As a single diocese (no internal provinces), the structure centers on the see city of Harrisburg. It includes one cathedral: [[Cathedral of Saint Patrick (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania)|Cathedral of Saint Patrick]], and minor basilicas such as the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Conewago), Basilica of Saints Cyril and Methodius (Danville), and Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Hanover).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Diocese of Harrisburg |url=https://gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/harr0.htm |publisher=GCatholic.org |access-date=2026-01-27}}</ref>
 
== Introduction of Catholicism ==
Catholicism was introduced to the region in the 1720s by Jesuit missionaries who established the Conewago Mission in present-day Adams County, now the site of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Growth of Catholicism |url=https://www.hbgdiocese.org/about/growth-of-catholicism |publisher=Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg |access-date=2026-01-27}}</ref> Early missions served German and other settlers, with further growth in Harrisburg from 1806 onward through Irish immigration.
 
== Key historical events ==
* Establishment of Conewago Mission (1720s), the oldest continuous Catholic site.
* First Catholic mission in Harrisburg (1806).
* Erection of the diocese (March 3, 1868).
* St. Francis Xavier Church, Gettysburg, used as a Civil War hospital (1863).
* Founding of the first Polish parish in Pennsylvania (Saint Stanislaus, Shamokin, 1872).
* Establishment of Saint Catherine Labouré Parish (1948), the first worldwide dedicated to this saint.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Diocesan History |url=https://www.hbgdiocese.org/about/diocesan-history |publisher=Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg |access-date=2026-01-27}}</ref>
 
== Catholicism status ==
Catholicism remains a minority religion in the Diocese of Harrisburg (approximately 10.8%), with strong historical and cultural roots despite lower percentages compared to other Pennsylvania dioceses.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Diocese of Harrisburg, USA |url=https://gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/harr0.htm |publisher=GCatholic.org |access-date=2026-01-27}}</ref>
 
== Administrative structure ==
The diocese is not a civil administrative subdivision but an ecclesiastical jurisdiction covering 15 counties in south central Pennsylvania for governance, pastoral care, and administration. These counties serve as the primary territorial divisions: Adams, Columbia, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Mifflin, Montour, Northumberland, Perry, Snyder, Union, and York.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://www.hbgdiocese.org |publisher=Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg |access-date=2026-01-27}}</ref>
 
== Cultural influence ==
=== Festivals and traditions ===
Catholic traditions include parish feasts, processions, and devotions tied to patron saints and ethnic heritages (e.g., Irish and Polish influences).
 
=== Education and charity ===
The diocese operates Catholic schools and supports Catholic Charities for social services.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Diocesan History |url=https://www.hbgdiocese.org/about/diocesan-history |publisher=Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg |access-date=2026-01-27}}</ref>
 
=== Art and architecture ===
Historic churches and basilicas reflect Catholic heritage, including early stone structures.
 
== Notable Catholic sites ==
=== Pilgrimage sites ===
The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Conewago) attracts pilgrims as one of the oldest Catholic sites.
 
=== Historical churches ===
Cathedral of Saint Patrick (Harrisburg); Basilica of Saints Cyril and Methodius (Danville); Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Hanover).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Diocese of Harrisburg |url=https://gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/harr0.htm |publisher=GCatholic.org |access-date=2026-01-27}}</ref>
 
== Saints and blesseds ==
=== Patron saints ===
Saint Patrick is the patron saint of the diocese and its cathedral.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Our Diocese |url=https://www.hbgdiocese.org/about |publisher=Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg |access-date=2026-01-27}}</ref>
 
=== Associated saints and blesseds ===
The diocese has parishes dedicated to North American saints such as Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Saint John Neumann, and Saint Katharine Drexel. No saints or blesseds are known to have been born or martyred within the diocese boundaries, though missionaries and figures like Saint John Neumann visited or worked in nearby areas.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Diocesan History |url=https://www.hbgdiocese.org/about/diocesan-history |publisher=Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg |access-date=2026-01-27}}</ref>


== Challenges to Catholicism ==
==Geography==
The diocese has faced challenges including secularization, population shifts, and historical issues such as clergy abuse investigations (noted in Pennsylvania grand jury reports).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholic_Diocese_of_Harrisburg |publisher=Wikipedia |access-date=2026-01-27}}</ref>
The diocese spans across 15 counties in Pennsylvania, including Adams, Columbia, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Mifflin, Montour, Northumberland, Perry, Snyder, Union, and York.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hbgdiocese.org/parishes/ |title=Parishes of the Diocese of Harrisburg |website=Diocese of Harrisburg |accessdate=2025-01-05}}</ref>


== Social and political influence ==
==Mother Church==
The Church engages in education, charity, and advocacy through Catholic Charities and the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference, aligned with Catholic Social Teaching.
[[St. Patrick's Cathedral (Diocese of Harrisburg)|St. Patrick's Cathedral]] in Harrisburg serves as the mother church of the diocese.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://stpatrickcathedral.org/ |title=St. Patrick Cathedral, Harrisburg |website=St. Patrick Cathedral |accessdate=2025-01-05}}</ref>


== Fun facts ==
==Leadership==
* The Diocese of Harrisburg includes the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Conewago, the oldest stone Catholic church in continuous use in the United States, dating to Jesuit missions in the 1720s.
As of the most recent information, Bishop Timothy C. Senior is the bishop of the Diocese of Harrisburg, appointed in 2023 by Pope Francis.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hbgdiocese.org/bishop-senior/ |title=Bishop Timothy C. Senior |website=Diocese of Harrisburg |accessdate=2025-01-05}}</ref>
* Saint Catherine Labouré Parish in Harrisburg, founded in 1948, was the first parish in the world dedicated to Saint Catherine Labouré, known for the Miraculous Medal apparitions.
* During the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg (within the diocese), Saint Francis Xavier Church served as a field hospital, with religious sisters from Emmitsburg providing nursing care.
* The diocese has parishes named for three North American saints: Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton (Mechanicsburg), Saint John Neumann (Lancaster), and Saint Katharine Drexel (Mechanicsburg).
* Catholicism traces to the 1720s Conewago Mission, predating the diocese's 1868 erection by over a century.
* The Cathedral of Saint Patrick features a shamrock in its coat of arms to honor its patron, Saint Patrick.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Diocesan History |url=https://www.hbgdiocese.org/about/diocesan-history |publisher=Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg |access-date=2026-01-27}}</ref>


== Dynamic content ==
==Diocesan photos==
=== Dioceses ===
{{DiocesanPhotos}}
{{State dioceses}}


=== Populated places ===
==Mission and Services==
{{State Populated Places}}
The diocese focuses on faith, education, and community services:


=== Shrines ===
===Parishes===
{{State Shrines}}
The diocese oversees 88 parishes.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hbgdiocese.org/parishes/ |title=Parish Directory |website=Diocese of Harrisburg |accessdate=2025-01-05}}</ref>


== References ==
===Catholic Education===
<references />
It manages several elementary and secondary schools with curriculum guidelines aligned with Pennsylvania's academic standards.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hbgdiocese.org/catholic-schools/ |title=Catholic Schools |website=Diocese of Harrisburg |accessdate=2025-01-05}}</ref>


== External links ==
===Community Outreach===
* [https://www.hbgdiocese.org Official website of the Diocese of Harrisburg]
Engages in community service through Catholic Charities and other programs.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cchbg.org/ |title=Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Harrisburg |website=Catholic Charities |accessdate=2025-01-05}}</ref>
* [https://gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/harr0.htm GCatholic.org entry on the Diocese of Harrisburg]


This article is based on verifiable sources including the diocese's official website, GCatholic.org, and Catholic-Hierarchy.org. For the most current statistics or details, consult primary Church sources such as the Annuario Pontificio or the diocesan chancery. This reflects established historical accounts, though some population figures are estimates and may vary by source.
==References==
{{Reflist}}
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