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What is an archdiocese?

WINTER 2018

WITHIN THE STATE OF NEW YORK there are seven dioceses and one archdiocese, our own. These are ecclesiastical (relating to the Church) geographic areas administered and shepherded by a bishop, or an archbishop in the case of an archdiocese. Typically, an archdiocese encompasses a large metropolitan area – hence the Archdioceses of New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, etc., versus the Dioceses of Rochester, Fresno, Rockford, and so on. A cluster of dioceses plus an archdiocese form what is called a province; representing the principal city of the province, the Archdiocese of New York is also the metropolitan see, or seat, of the Ecclesiastical Province of New York.

Established in 1808, the Archdiocese of New York is the second-largest archdiocese in the United States, with 2.6 million Catholics and 293 parishes throughout 10 counties: Richmond (Staten Island), New York (Manhattan), Bronx, Rockland, Orange, Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, Sullivan, and Ulster. What about Brooklyn and Queens? Together, they form the Diocese of Brooklyn. The remainder of Long Island is in the Diocese of Rockville Centre. Why? Brooklyn was a separate city from New York until 1898. The Diocese of Brooklyn encompassed all of Long Island until 1957, when the Diocese of Rockville Centre was established.

When people ask, “What is an archdiocese?” they are often really asking about the administrative aspects and the people who work in the archdiocesan offices. The Terence Cardinal Cooke Catholic Center in Midtown Manhattan houses many Catholic offices, some part of the chancery – the administration of an archdiocese – and others that are independent organizations, like the Catholic Near East Welfare Association, Inner-City Scholarship Fund, and Catholic Charities.

Those chancery offices exist to assist and reduce the administrative burdens on parishes and to provide pastoral support. Our administrative offices include Finance, Data Systems, Insurance, Investments, Real Estate, Energy Savings, and Legal Affairs. On the pastoral side, we have the Department of Education, Youth Faith Formation (Religious Education and Youth Ministry), Family Life, Respect Life, Priest Personnel, Communications, Marketing, Stewardship and Development, Adult Faith Formation, Young Adult Outreach, Safe Environment, Public Policy, Lay Ecclesial Movements, Hispanic Ministry, Black Ministry, Marriage Tribunal, Strategic Pastoral Planning, University Apostolate, and Ecumenical Affairs.

There are also a number of apostolates and ministries not physically located in the Catholic Center that provide valuable support to our Catholic brothers and sisters, such as ArchCare (a system of home and community-based and residential healthcare programs), the Archives of the Archdiocese of New York, the Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Center for Thought and Culture, Saint Joseph’s Seminary, and the Saint John Vianney Clergy Residence for retired priests.

You may remember being invited to complete a survey back in 2011 about initiatives you would like to see in our archdiocese. Many of the offices listed above are a direct result of that survey, and of Cardinal Dolan listening to your requests. We encourage you to learn about each office. Several articles in this publication, and the calendar at the center of it, will help you do that. Future issues will offer you more information about our offices’ programs and activities. You also may visit each department’s page at archny.org.

These offices are all here to serve you and the other millions of Catholics in our 10-county archdiocese, our 293 parishes, and 217 schools. While your parish may be the center of your faith life and keep you most directly connected to the Church, as Catholics – part of a universal Church – we are all part of one faith family. The Church is the People of God! The archdiocese exists to ensure our strength and unity. Please never hesitate to contact the directors of any of our offices to learn how they can help you enhance the life of your parish.

Monsignor Gregory Mustaciuolo
Archdiocese of New York