Denver (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Samuel Joseph Aquila, Archbishop
Jorge Humberto Rodríguez-Novelo, Auxiliary Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 15 November 1941
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
State: Colorado
Country: United States of America
Square Kilometers: 104,192 (40,244 Square Miles)
Conference Region: XIII (AZ, CO, NV, NM, UT, WY)
Catholic Directory Abbreviation: DEN
Official Web Site: http://www.archden.org/
Mailing Address: 1300 South Steele St., Denver, CO 80210, USA
Telephone: (303)722-4687
Fax: 715-2043

Historical Details

Vicariate Apostolic of Colorado and Utah
- Latin Name: Territoria Colorado et Utah
- Erected: 3 March 1868
- Vicariate
- State: Colorado
- Country: United States of America
Vicariate Apostolic of Colorado
- Name Changed: 1871
- Vicariate
- State: Colorado
- Country: United States of America
Diocese of Denver
- Latin Name: Denveriensis
- Erected: 16 August 1887
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Santa Fe
- State: Colorado
- Country: United States of America
- Square Miles: 103,645
- Description: The entire State of Colorado

Past and Present Ordinaries

Joseph Projectus Machebeuf (Macheboeuf) † (3 Mar 1868 Appointed - 10 Jul 1889 Died)
Nicholas Chrysostom Matz † (10 Jul 1889 Succeeded - 9 Aug 1917 Died)
John Henry Tihen † (21 Sep 1917 Appointed - 6 Jan 1931 Resigned)
Urban John Vehr † (17 Apr 1931 Appointed - 18 Feb 1967 Retired)
James Vincent Casey † (18 Feb 1967 Appointed - 14 Mar 1986 Died)
James Francis Stafford (3 Jun 1986 Appointed - 20 Aug 1996 Appointed, President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity)
Charles Joseph Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. (18 Mar 1997 Appointed - 19 Jul 2011 Appointed, Archbishop of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
Samuel Joseph Aquila (29 May 2012 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Vicariate Apostolic of Colorado and Utah
3 March 1868	Erected	Diocese of Santa Fe	Vicariate Apostolic of Arizona (erected) Vicariate Apostolic of Colorado and Utah (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Colorado
1871	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Colorado and Utah	Vicariate Apostolic of Colorado
12 February 1875	Metropolitan Changed		Vicariate Apostolic of Arizona (from Saint Louis to Santa Fe) Vicariate Apostolic of Colorado (from Saint Louis to Santa Fe)
Diocese of Denver
16 August 1887	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Colorado	Diocese of Denver (erected)
15 November 1941	Territory Lost	Diocese of Denver (Mesa, Delta, Montrose, San Miguel, Ouray, Dolores, San Juan, Montezuma, La Plata, Gunnison, Chaffee, Sagauche, Hinsdale, Mineral, Archuleta, Conejos, Rio Grande, Alamosa, Fremont, Custer, Huenfano, Costilla, Pueblo, Crosley, Kiowa, Otero, Bent, Prowers...)	Diocese of Pueblo (erected)
Archdiocese of Denver
15 November 1941	Elevated	Diocese of Denver	Archdiocese of Denver
10 November 1983	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Denver (Cheyenne, Douglas, Elbert, EI Paso, Kit Carson, Lake, Lincoln, Park, and Teller) Diocese of Pueblo (Chaffee)	Diocese of Colorado Springs (erected)

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

Diocese of Denver

1908 99,485 62 71 133 748 531 60 ce

Archdiocese of Denver

1950 100,299 850,000 11.8% 138 108 246 407 121 1,000 92 ap1951

1966 260,848 1,347,575 19.4% 176 152 328 795 172 1,117 109 ap1967

1970 288,598 1,642,400 17.6% 179 351 530 544 377 933 114 ap1971

1976 312,173 2,109,806 14.8% 215 202 417 748 24 249 937 128 ap1977

1980 309,839 2,321,400 13.3% 177 210 387 800 61 283 931 132 ap1981

1990 330,000 2,325,000 14.2% 165 162 327 1,009 114 231 574 111 ap1991

1999 346,144 2,644,004 13.1% 159 126 285 1,214 134 22 436 112 ap2000

2000 363,460 2,719,279 13.4% 165 132 297 1,223 139 140 477 106 ap2001

2001 373,500 2,719,300 13.7% 173 126 299 1,249 149 153 427 113 ap2002

2002 373,500 2,907,800 12.8% 180 127 307 1,216 149 154 404 113 ap2003

2003 367,996 2,907,800 12.7% 186 122 308 1,194 143 149 464 119 ap2004

2004 344,015 2,996,708 11.5% 190 119 309 1,113 195 130 332 120 ap2005

2006 398,250 3,074,315 13.0% 195 112 307 1,297 171 127 316 120 ap2007

2010 541,410 3,299,911 16.4% 198 108 306 1,769 184 131 261 119 ap2011

2013 563,441 3,472,884 16.2% 204 102 306 1,841 185 124 219 123 ap2014

2016 582,910 3,606,604 16.2% 216 117 333 1,750 197 141 182 123 ap2017

2019 604,800 3,776,083 16.0% 188 108 296 2,043 195 134 180 124 ap2020

2021 608,182 3,877,352 15.7% 185 101 286 2,126 192 204 172 124 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Diocese of Denver
1908	99,485			62	71	133	748			531	60	ce
Archdiocese of Denver
1950	100,299	850,000	11.8%	138	108	246	407		121	1,000	92	ap1951
1966	260,848	1,347,575	19.4%	176	152	328	795		172	1,117	109	ap1967
1970	288,598	1,642,400	17.6%	179	351	530	544		377	933	114	ap1971
1976	312,173	2,109,806	14.8%	215	202	417	748	24	249	937	128	ap1977
1980	309,839	2,321,400	13.3%	177	210	387	800	61	283	931	132	ap1981
1990	330,000	2,325,000	14.2%	165	162	327	1,009	114	231	574	111	ap1991
1999	346,144	2,644,004	13.1%	159	126	285	1,214	134	22	436	112	ap2000
2000	363,460	2,719,279	13.4%	165	132	297	1,223	139	140	477	106	ap2001
2001	373,500	2,719,300	13.7%	173	126	299	1,249	149	153	427	113	ap2002
2002	373,500	2,907,800	12.8%	180	127	307	1,216	149	154	404	113	ap2003
2003	367,996	2,907,800	12.7%	186	122	308	1,194	143	149	464	119	ap2004
2004	344,015	2,996,708	11.5%	190	119	309	1,113	195	130	332	120	ap2005
2006	398,250	3,074,315	13.0%	195	112	307	1,297	171	127	316	120	ap2007
2010	541,410	3,299,911	16.4%	198	108	306	1,769	184	131	261	119	ap2011
2013	563,441	3,472,884	16.2%	204	102	306	1,841	185	124	219	123	ap2014
2016	582,910	3,606,604	16.2%	216	117	333	1,750	197	141	182	123	ap2017
2019	604,800	3,776,083	16.0%	188	108	296	2,043	195	134	180	124	ap2020
2021	608,182	3,877,352	15.7%	185	101	286	2,126	192	204	172	124	ap2022