Archdiocese of Washington

Archidioecesis Vashingtonensis

Bishop(s)

Donald William Wuerl, Cardinal, Archbishop
Francisco González Valer, S.F., Auxiliary Bishop
Martin David Holley, Auxiliary Bishop
Barry Christopher Knestout, Auxiliary Bishop
Theodore Edgar McCarrick, Cardinal, Archbishop Emeritus
Leonard James Olivier, S.V.D., Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Split: 15 November 1947
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
State: District of Columbia
Country: United States of America
Square Kilometers: 5,447 (2,104 Square Miles)
Conference Region: IV (DC, DE, MD, VA, VI, WV)
Catholic Directory Abbreviation: WDC
Official Web Site: http://www.adw.org/
Mailing Address: Archdiocesan Pastoral Center, 5001 Eastern Ave., Hyattsville, MD 20782; P.O. Box 29260, Washington, DC 20017
Telephone: (301)853-4520
Fax: 853-5346

Past and Present Ordinaries

Patrick Aloysius O’Boyle † (29 Nov 1947 Appointed - 3 Mar 1973 Retired)
William Wakefield Baum (5 Mar 1973 Appointed - 18 Mar 1980 Resigned)
James Aloysius Hickey † (17 Jun 1980 Appointed - 21 Nov 2000 Retired)
Theodore Edgar McCarrick (21 Nov 2000 Appointed - 16 May 2006 Retired)
Donald William Wuerl (16 May 2006 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
15 November 1947	Split	Archdiocese of Baltimore-Washington	Archdiocese of Baltimore Archdiocese of Washington (District of Columbia plus Montgomery, Prince George, St. Mary's, Calvert, and Charles Counties in the State of Maryland)
12 October 1965	Elevated		Archdiocese of Washington (becomes a Metropolitan)
28 May 1974	Territory Lost	Diocese of Richmond Archdiocese of Washington	Diocese of Arlington (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 175,000 1,219,806 14.3% 144 546 690 253 1,218 1,205 83 ap1951

1966 361,482 1,749,006 20.7% 338 841 1,179 306 1,195 1,865 122 ap1967

1970 396,212 2,327,127 17.0% 317 778 1,095 361 1,201 1,541 123 ap1971

1976 396,421 2,090,800 19.0% 362 795 1,157 342 56 1,399 1,200 127 ap1977

1980 402,000 2,126,000 18.9% 300 661 961 418 92 1,295 974 132 ap1981

1990 400,000 2,200,300 18.2% 357 664 1,021 391 162 925 1,021 136 ap1991

1999 510,000 2,413,700 21.1% 333 541 874 583 232 152 827 139 ap2000

2000 515,000 2,419,324 21.3% 455 637 1,092 471 229 966 771 140 ap2001

2001 551,436 2,436,407 22.6% 459 650 1,109 497 234 948 748 140 ap2002

2002 581,494 2,528,235 23.0% 448 682 1,130 514 233 997 751 140 ap2003

2003 581,900 2,571,395 22.6% 454 606 1,060 548 191 874 734 140 ap2004

2004 567,266 2,614,128 21.7% 420 661 1,081 524 187 930 734 140 ap2005

2010 592,769 2,694,405 22.0% 407 375 782 758 179 636 583 140 ap2011

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1950	175,000	1,219,806	14.3%	144	546	690	253		1,218	1,205	83	ap1951
1966	361,482	1,749,006	20.7%	338	841	1,179	306		1,195	1,865	122	ap1967
1970	396,212	2,327,127	17.0%	317	778	1,095	361		1,201	1,541	123	ap1971
1976	396,421	2,090,800	19.0%	362	795	1,157	342	56	1,399	1,200	127	ap1977
1980	402,000	2,126,000	18.9%	300	661	961	418	92	1,295	974	132	ap1981
1990	400,000	2,200,300	18.2%	357	664	1,021	391	162	925	1,021	136	ap1991
1999	510,000	2,413,700	21.1%	333	541	874	583	232	152	827	139	ap2000
2000	515,000	2,419,324	21.3%	455	637	1,092	471	229	966	771	140	ap2001
2001	551,436	2,436,407	22.6%	459	650	1,109	497	234	948	748	140	ap2002
2002	581,494	2,528,235	23.0%	448	682	1,130	514	233	997	751	140	ap2003
2003	581,900	2,571,395	22.6%	454	606	1,060	548	191	874	734	140	ap2004
2004	567,266	2,614,128	21.7%	420	661	1,081	524	187	930	734	140	ap2005
2010	592,769	2,694,405	22.0%	407	375	782	758	179	636	583	140	ap2011

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Living

William Wakefield Baum (Archbishop: 5 Mar 1973 to 18 Mar 1980)
Raymond James Boland (Priest: 16 Jun 1957 to 2 Feb 1988)
Alvaro Corrada del Rio, S.J. (Auxiliary Bishop: 31 May 1985 to 5 Jul 1997)
William George Curlin (Priest: 25 May 1957; Auxiliary Bishop: 2 Nov 1988 to 22 Feb 1994)
Kevin Joseph Farrell (Priest: 1984; Auxiliary Bishop: 28 Dec 2001 to 6 Mar 2007)
David Edward Foley (Priest: 26 May 1956 to 3 May 1986)
Francisco González Valer, S.F. (Auxiliary Bishop: 28 Dec 2001)
Martin David Holley (Auxiliary Bishop: 18 May 2004)
Barry Christopher Knestout (Priest: 24 Jun 1989; Auxiliary Bishop: 18 Nov 2008)
William Edward Lori (Priest: 14 May 1977; Auxiliary Bishop: 28 Feb 1995 to 23 Jan 2001)
Theodore Edgar McCarrick (Archbishop: 21 Nov 2000 to 16 May 2006)
Leonard James Olivier, S.V.D. (Auxiliary Bishop: 10 Nov 1988 to 18 May 2004)
Donald William Wuerl (Archbishop: 16 May 2006 - )

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

John Francis Donoghue † (Priest: 4 Jun 1955 to 6 Nov 1984)
Philip Matthew Hannan † (Auxiliary Bishop: 16 Jun 1956 to 29 Sep 1965)
Edward John Herrmann † (Priest: 12 Jun 1947; Auxiliary Bishop: 4 Mar 1966 to 22 Jun 1973)
James Aloysius Hickey † (Archbishop: 17 Jun 1980 to 21 Nov 2000)
Thomas Cajetan Kelly, O.P. † (Auxiliary Bishop: 12 Jun 1977 to 28 Dec 1981)
Thomas William Lyons † (Priest: 22 May 1948; Auxiliary Bishop: 12 Jul 1974 to 25 Mar 1988)
Eugene Antonio Marino, S.S.J. † (Auxiliary Bishop: 12 Jul 1974 to 14 Mar 1988)
Patrick Joseph McCormick † (Auxiliary Bishop: 14 Jun 1950 to 18 May 1953)
William Joseph McDonald † (Auxiliary Bishop: 17 Mar 1964 to 26 Jul 1967)
John Michael McNamara † (Auxiliary Bishop: 15 Nov 1947 to 26 Nov 1960)
Patrick Aloysius O’Boyle † (Archbishop: 29 Nov 1947 to 3 Mar 1973)
John Selby Spence † (Auxiliary Bishop: 17 Mar 1964 to 7 Mar 1973)