Trenton (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

David Michael O’Connell, C.M., Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 2 August 1881
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Newark
Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
State: New Jersey
Country: United States of America
Square Kilometers: 5,584 (2,156 Square Miles)
Conference Region: III (NJ, PA)
Catholic Directory Abbreviation: TR
Official Web Site: http://www.dioceseoftrenton.org/
Mailing Address: Chancery Office, 701 Lawrenceville Rd., Trenton, NJ 08648, USA
Telephone: (609)406-7448
Fax: 406-7412

Past and Present Ordinaries

Michael Joseph O’Farrell † (2 Aug 1881 Appointed - 2 Apr 1894 Died)
James Augustine McFaul † (20 Jul 1894 Appointed - 16 Jun 1917 Died)
Andrew Brennan Meehan † (Feb 1918 Appointed - Apr 1918 Resigned)
Thomas Joseph Walsh † (10 May 1918 Appointed - 2 Mar 1928 Appointed, Bishop of Newark, New Jersey)
John Joseph McMahon † (2 Mar 1928 Appointed - 31 Dec 1932 Died)
Moses Elias Kiley † (10 Feb 1934 Appointed - 1 Jan 1940 Appointed, Archbishop of Milwaukee, Wisconsin)
William Aloysius Griffin † (18 May 1940 Appointed - 1 Jan 1950 Died)
George William Ahr † (28 Jan 1950 Appointed - 23 Jun 1979 Retired)
John Charles Reiss † (11 Mar 1980 Appointed - 30 Jun 1997 Retired)
John Mortimer Fourette Smith † (30 Jun 1997 Succeeded - 1 Dec 2010 Retired)
David Michael O’Connell, C.M. (1 Dec 2010 Succeeded - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
2 August 1881	Erected	Diocese of Newark	Diocese of Trenton (erected)
9 December 1937	Territory Lost	Diocese of Trenton (Camden, Gloucester, Atlantic, Salem, Cumberland, and Cape May)	Diocese of Camden (erected)
10 December 1937	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Trenton (from New York)
19 November 1981	Territory Lost	Diocese of Trenton (Hunterdon, Middlesex, Somerset, and Warren)	Diocese of Metuchen (erected)

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

1950 293,662 900,000 32.6% 265 127 392 749 123 1,122 156 ap1951

1966 624,137 1,907,274 32.7% 345 92 437 1,428 199 1,559 188 ap1967

1970 720,785 2,162,355 33.3% 497 134 631 1,142 182 1,674 192 ap1971

1976 785,658 2,356,974 33.3% 424 110 534 1,471 1 189 1,480 208 ap1977

1980 867,266 2,602,206 33.3% 355 205 560 1,548 91 296 1,395 215 ap1981

1990 604,215 1,698,100 35.6% 240 82 322 1,876 153 139 647 124 ap1991

1999 703,531 1,763,249 39.9% 237 63 300 2,345 244 60 509 127 ap2000

2000 712,000 1,785,000 39.9% 235 63 298 2,389 258 123 463 126 ap2001

2001 728,314 1,979,314 36.8% 265 43 308 2,364 268 84 434 127 ap2002

2002 740,357 1,900,375 39.0% 261 43 304 2,435 242 111 427 126 ap2003

2003 761,247 1,900,372 40.1% 257 47 304 2,504 245 109 414 127 ap2004

2004 780,925 2,000,235 39.0% 260 51 311 2,511 326 123 433 127 ap2005

2010 831,707 2,066,160 40.3% 245 68 313 2,657 291 142 376 111 ap2011

2014 868,000 2,130,000 40.8% 245 59 304 2,855 218 113 317 109 ap2015

2017 881,125 2,039,060 43.2% 221 44 265 3,325 312 103 266 107 ap2018

2020 893,280 2,061,960 43.3% 202 38 240 3,722 230 90 181 99 ap2021

2022 922,000 2,130,044 43.3% 193 38 231 3,991 227 85 151 97 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1950	293,662	900,000	32.6%	265	127	392	749		123	1,122	156	ap1951
1966	624,137	1,907,274	32.7%	345	92	437	1,428		199	1,559	188	ap1967
1970	720,785	2,162,355	33.3%	497	134	631	1,142		182	1,674	192	ap1971
1976	785,658	2,356,974	33.3%	424	110	534	1,471	1	189	1,480	208	ap1977
1980	867,266	2,602,206	33.3%	355	205	560	1,548	91	296	1,395	215	ap1981
1990	604,215	1,698,100	35.6%	240	82	322	1,876	153	139	647	124	ap1991
1999	703,531	1,763,249	39.9%	237	63	300	2,345	244	60	509	127	ap2000
2000	712,000	1,785,000	39.9%	235	63	298	2,389	258	123	463	126	ap2001
2001	728,314	1,979,314	36.8%	265	43	308	2,364	268	84	434	127	ap2002
2002	740,357	1,900,375	39.0%	261	43	304	2,435	242	111	427	126	ap2003
2003	761,247	1,900,372	40.1%	257	47	304	2,504	245	109	414	127	ap2004
2004	780,925	2,000,235	39.0%	260	51	311	2,511	326	123	433	127	ap2005
2010	831,707	2,066,160	40.3%	245	68	313	2,657	291	142	376	111	ap2011
2014	868,000	2,130,000	40.8%	245	59	304	2,855	218	113	317	109	ap2015
2017	881,125	2,039,060	43.2%	221	44	265	3,325	312	103	266	107	ap2018
2020	893,280	2,061,960	43.3%	202	38	240	3,722	230	90	181	99	ap2021
2022	922,000	2,130,044	43.3%	193	38	231	3,991	227	85	151	97	ap2023