Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson

The Diocese of Paterson comprises New Jersey’s three northwest counties of Morris, Passaic, and Sussex, with an area of 1,214 square miles and a population of 1,134,000. There are 430,000 Catholics across a rich tapestry of 106 parishes where Mass is offered in 14 languages.  Located within the Diocesan geography are also five Eastern-rite Churches.

Pope Pius XI created the diocese in 1937 by separating the three counties from the then Diocese of Newark.  The Diocese of Paterson includes 22 Catholic Schools, 70 Catholic Charities programs, and various ministries in the three counties.

Most Reverend Kevin J. Sweeney, D.D. was appointed bishop of the Diocese of Paterson by Pope Francis.  He was installed as the eighth bishop of the diocese on July 1, 2020.

The diocese also includes 60 religious order priests, 20 religious order Brothers, and 381 consecrated religious women. Together with lay parishioners and the staff of parishes, schools, ministries, and offices of the Diocese of Paterson, they collaborate with the bishop in the evangelizing mission of the diocese.

The see city, Paterson, located on the eastern edge of the diocese, is New Jersey’s third-largest city.  St. John the Baptist Parish in Paterson, established in 1820, was designated Cathedral in 1937.  Only 1,214 square miles in territory, the diocese has a rich composition of urban, suburban, and rural communities.

Learn more about the Diocese of Paterson and Bishop Sweeney by visiting patersondiocese.org, beaconnj.org, or our social media channels.