Allentown (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Alfred Andrew Schlert, Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 28 January 1961
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Philadelphia
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
State: Pennsylvania
Country: United States of America
Square Kilometers: 7,183 (2,774 Square Miles)
Description: Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Northampton, and Schuylkill Counties in the State of Pennsylvania.
Conference Region: III (NJ, PA)
Catholic Directory Abbreviation: ALN
Official Web Site: http://www.allentowndiocese.org/
Mailing Address: 4029 West Tilghman Street, Allentown, PA 18105, USA
Telephone: (610) 437-0755
Fax: 433-7822

Past and Present Ordinaries

Joseph Mark McShea † (11 Feb 1961 Appointed - 3 Feb 1983 Retired)
Thomas Jerome Welsh † (3 Feb 1983 Appointed - 15 Dec 1997 Resigned)
Edward Peter Cullen † (16 Dec 1997 Appointed - 27 May 2009 Retired)
John Oliver Barres (27 May 2009 Appointed - 9 Dec 2016 Appointed, Bishop of Rockville Centre, New York)
Alfred Andrew Schlert (27 Jun 2017 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
28 January 1961	Erected	Archdiocese of Philadelphia (Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Northampton, and Schuylkill)	Diocese of Allentown (erected)

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

1966 245,679 930,278 26.4% 292 93 385 638 181 1,206 151 ap1967

1970 255,372 967,172 26.4% 281 94 375 680 144 1,160 151 ap1971

1976 261,333 999,400 26.1% 291 118 409 638 250 1,031 152 ap1977

1980 264,800 1,014,000 26.1% 300 100 400 662 197 961 152 ap1981

1990 252,898 1,080,100 23.4% 294 81 375 674 32 134 850 153 ap1991

1999 259,847 1,084,189 24.0% 244 74 318 817 77 10 590 153 ap2000

2000 264,373 1,084,189 24.4% 255 68 323 818 76 78 575 153 ap2001

2001 268,609 1,120,127 24.0% 252 66 318 844 100 78 495 153 ap2002

2002 270,843 1,161,932 23.3% 250 72 322 841 98 85 490 153 ap2003

2003 273,599 1,161,932 23.5% 251 78 329 831 98 95 480 153 ap2004

2004 273,249 1,161,932 23.5% 225 69 294 929 96 80 434 153 ap2005

2006 272,640 1,161,932 23.5% 210 72 282 966 87 83 397 151 ap2007

2012 297,000 1,272,212 23.3% 178 65 243 1,222 97 82 340 104 ap2013

2015 303,000 1,300,000 23.3% 174 59 233 1,300 92 76 302 94 ap2016

2018 309,540 1,328,660 23.3% 157 53 210 1,474 127 65 285 84 ap2019

2020 251,871 1,347,265 18.7% 137 45 182 1,383 121 58 265 84 ap2021

2022 243,300 1,301,308 18.7% 131 42 173 1,406 132 48 227 80 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1966	245,679	930,278	26.4%	292	93	385	638		181	1,206	151	ap1967
1970	255,372	967,172	26.4%	281	94	375	680		144	1,160	151	ap1971
1976	261,333	999,400	26.1%	291	118	409	638		250	1,031	152	ap1977
1980	264,800	1,014,000	26.1%	300	100	400	662		197	961	152	ap1981
1990	252,898	1,080,100	23.4%	294	81	375	674	32	134	850	153	ap1991
1999	259,847	1,084,189	24.0%	244	74	318	817	77	10	590	153	ap2000
2000	264,373	1,084,189	24.4%	255	68	323	818	76	78	575	153	ap2001
2001	268,609	1,120,127	24.0%	252	66	318	844	100	78	495	153	ap2002
2002	270,843	1,161,932	23.3%	250	72	322	841	98	85	490	153	ap2003
2003	273,599	1,161,932	23.5%	251	78	329	831	98	95	480	153	ap2004
2004	273,249	1,161,932	23.5%	225	69	294	929	96	80	434	153	ap2005
2006	272,640	1,161,932	23.5%	210	72	282	966	87	83	397	151	ap2007
2012	297,000	1,272,212	23.3%	178	65	243	1,222	97	82	340	104	ap2013
2015	303,000	1,300,000	23.3%	174	59	233	1,300	92	76	302	94	ap2016
2018	309,540	1,328,660	23.3%	157	53	210	1,474	127	65	285	84	ap2019
2020	251,871	1,347,265	18.7%	137	45	182	1,383	121	58	265	84	ap2021
2022	243,300	1,301,308	18.7%	131	42	173	1,406	132	48	227	80	ap2023