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Archdiocese of Philadelphia Time Line

(1808 - present)

Appeal from Bishop Kenrick to anti-Catholic rioting in Philadelphia, May 1844.

1808

The Diocese of Philadelphia was created from the Diocese of Baltimore as an official entity under the direction of Pope Pius VII and Bishop of the United States, John Carroll, S.J. The Philadelphia Diocese encompassed the entire state of Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Southern New Jersey. [April 8^th]

 

1809

Cornelia Connelly was born January 15 in Philadelphia and founded the Sisters of the Holy Child of Jesus in 1846 in England..  For more information about Cornelia Connelly click here.

1810

Bishop Michael Egan, O.S.F. (1761-1814) of Ireland was installed as the first Bishop of Philadelphia two years after being appointed to the position by Bishop John Carroll, S.J. [October 28^th]

 

1814

Death of Bishop Egan. [July 22^nd]

Sisters of Charity arrive as the first women religious in Philadelphia.

 

1814-1820

The Diocese of Philadelphia is without a bishop.

 

1820

Rev. Henry Conwell (1747-1842) of Ireland was installed as the second Bishop of Philadelphia. [November 26^th]

 

1822

The first Catholic newspaper published within the Diocese of Philadelphia makes its appearance. This publication entitled the: Catholic Herald and Weekly Register, edited by E.F. Crozet only lasted for three issues.

 

1830

Bishop Francis Patrick Kenrick (1796-1863), born in Ireland, was installed as the third Bishop of Philadelphia. Kenrick is appointed a Coadjutor-Bishop with right of succession upon the death of Bishop Conwell. [June 6^th]

St. John the Evangelist Parish is founded and became Philadelphia's second Cathedral.

 

1832

St. Charles Borromeo Seminary is founded. [May 17^th]

First diocesan synod is held.

During the Cholera epidemic Fr. Michael Hurley OSA, of St. Augustine's Church, turned over the church and school to be used as a hospital under the direction of Dr. Oliver H. Taylor. The Sisters of Charity from St. Joseph's and St. John's Orphanges along with thirteen more from Emmitsburg MD lent their services.

1833

The Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary were founded by Mother Superior Mary Francis Clark, Fr. Terrence J. Donaghoe, and Margret Mann at St. Micheal’s Church on November 1, 1833.  Their duties were mainly as teachers at St. Michael’s School, and after ten years of serving in Philadelphia they continued their work in Dubuque IA.

 

1842

Bishop Kenrick assumed total authority as Bishop of Philadelphia upon the death of Bishop Conwell. [April 22^nd]

 

1844

Discrimination against Catholic school children and the rise of the Nativist movement reached into Philadelphia’s public schools. Debates over the types of religious teaching methods used led in part to anti-Catholic riots that lasted over a three day period in which 13 were killed, several wounded, a library, and two Catholic churches – St. Augustine and St. Michael, were burned by protestors. [May] Click here for more information about the riots.

 

1846

Bishop Kenrick lays the cornerstone for the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul on September 6.

 

1848

Villanova College is established by the Augustinian Fathers.

 

1849

St. Joseph's Hospital, the first Catholic hospital in the Diocese, opens under the direction of the Sisters of Charity.

 

1850

The American Catholic Philopatrian Literary Institute is organized by Father Edward Sourin.

 

1851

Philadelphia's first St. Vincent De Paul Society is formed at St. Joseph Parish.

St. Joseph's College is established by the Jesuit Fathers.

 

1852

Rev. John Nepomucene Neumann, C.SS.R. (1811-1860) was installed as the fourth Bishop of Philadelphia, replacing Bishop Kenrick who became the Archbishop of Baltimore. [March 28^th]

St. Mary Magdalen de Pazzi Parish is established as America's first parish for Italians.

 

1853

Forty Hours is formally inaugurated as a diocesan-wide devotion at St. Philip Neri Church.

 

1855

Marie Anna Bachmann, a widow with four children, founded the Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis in Philadelphiaon April 9.  She took the name Sister Mary Francis and was promptly appointed as the Superior General.  One of her sons died in the Civil War however, the other son became a priest and her two daughters both became sisters in the order.  Her youngest daughter, Sr. M. Francis, lived to be 103 years old and died shortly after the centennial of the order in 1955.  For more information about Mary Francis Bachmann click here.

 

1858

Katherine Drexel (future saint) is born in Philadelphia.

 

1860

Death of Bishop Neumann. [January 5^th]

Bishop James Frederick Wood (1813-1883) installed as the fifth Bishop of Philadelphia. [January 5^th]

 

1863

La Salle College is found by the Christian Brothers.

Women Religous serve as nurses at hospitals in Philadelphia during the Civil War including the largest hospital Satterlee located in West Philadelphia. For more information about Satterlee click here.

 

1864

Bishop Wood dedicates the Cathedral of SS. Peter & Paul on November 20.

"The entire building is in perfect & consistent harmony, and, now that it is completed will serve as a just evidence of the zeal and generosity, which pervaded the Catholics of Philadelphia, and caused them to continue to punctually contribute to the erection of this noble monument to Catholicity, from the time they were first appealed to by the good and holy man -Archbishop Kenrick." The Universe; October 22, 1864

 

1866

The Catholic Standard, forerunner of The Catholic Standard & Times, begins publishing.

 

1868

St. Vincent Seminary is established in Germantown (Philadelphia).

 

1875

Philadelphia was officially made an Archdiocese and Metropolitan See by Pope Pius IX. [March 15^th]

 

1877

The Catholic Total Abstinence Fountain is dedicated at the Centennial Exhibition grounds in Fairmount Park. For more about the dedication of the Fountain click here.

The Fountain still stands at the west end of the park near the Mann Music Center click here for a map.

 

 

1883

Death of Bishop Wood. [June 20^th]

 

1884

The Most Reverend Patrick John Ryan (1831-1911) installed as the sixth Bishop of Philadelphia. [August 20^th]

The American Catholic Historical Society (ACHS) was formed in Philadelphia by Martin I. J. Griffin, John H. Campbell, Eleanor Donnelly, Francis X. Reuss and others. [July 4^th]

 

1886

St. Peter Claver School is founded for African-American children.

 

1890

Catholic High, now known as Roman Catholic High School, opens.

 

1891

St. Stanislaus Parish becomes Philadelphia's first Polish parish.

 

1892

Beginning on October 11 Philadelphia celebrates the 400^th anniversary of landing of Columbus.  A High Mass is said in every parish and the Cathedral.  Archbishop Ryan and Mayor Stuart review parades with floats which include scenes from Columbus’ life.   The celebrations culminate on the 22^nd with a parade by the Italian Societies and Rev. Isoleri of St. Mary Magdalen de Pazzi through Center City which is reviewed by the Mayor and the Italian Consul, and then finishes at the Monument to Christopher Columbus in Fairmount Park.

 

1894

Mother Katherine Drexel makes her final vows at St. Elizabeth’s Convent of the Blessed Sacrament in Bensalem PA on January  9^th.

 

1896

Philadelphia Council #196 is founded as the first Knights of Columbus Council in Pennsylvania.

 

1898

Survivors of Pickett’s Charge at the Battle of Gettysburg are given a warm greeting and Mass was said in their honor at the Cathedral.  [August 7.]

 

1902

Archbishop Patrick J. Ryan is the first Catholic member of the Federal Board of Indian Commissioners.

 

1903

Bishop Dennis Dougherty leaves Philadelphia on August 24 for post as Bishop of Nueva Segovia in the Phillippines.

1907

Most Reverend Soter Stephen Ortynsky, OSBM arrives in Philadelphia as the first bishop for Ruthenians in the United States. Initially he was under the authority of the Archbishop Ryan. For more information about Bishop Ortynsky click here.

1908

Philadelphia Archdiocese celebrates 100 years. Link to: Centennial Page

 

1909

Catholicity in Philadelphia written by Msgr. Joseph L.J. Kirlin SJ is published.

 

1911

Death of Archbishop Ryan. [February 11^th]

First Mass in Sign Language in the Archdiocese said by Rev. William S. Singleton at the Chapel of St. Joseph's College at 17th & Stiles Streets. This was a Memorial Mass for Sr. M. Patricia of the Order of St. Joseph who was deaf and had labored to help the deaf in Philadelphia. [March 19]

The Most Reverend Edmond Francis Prendergast (1843-1918) was installed as the seventh Bishop of Philadelphia, and became the first graduate of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary to attain this honor. [July 26^th]

 

1912

In September Catholic Girls High, now known as John W. Hallahan High Schoolfor Girls, opens for classes.

La Milagrosa, the Spanish chapel opens on Spring Garden Street.

 

1913

First laymen's retreat is held at St. Charles Seminary, forerunner to Malvern Retreat House.

 

1914

The first Catholic Chaplain of Eastern State Penitentiary, Fr. James I. Maguire SJ of Chruch of the Gesu, says the first Mass at the penitentiary on April 12, Easter Sunday.

 

1915

The Central Association of the Miraculous Medal is founded by the Vincentian Fathers in Germantown.

Shrine to St. Rita in South Philedelphia is complete.

 

1918

Death of Bishop Prendergast. [February 26^th]

The Most Reverend Dennis Joseph Dougherty (1865-1951) was installed as the eighth Bishop of Philadelphia and became the first resident "native son" of Philadelphia to attain this honor. [July 10^th]

An influenza epidemic hits Philadelphia and kills 13,000. The Archdiocese is instrumental in assisting city officials by placing every resource including hospitals and priests at their disposal to help care for the sick and dying. Credit is given to the women religious from various orders who had medical training for making the greatest impact.

"I look upon the services rendered by the Archbishop and the nuns as one of the most potent aids in making the headway we have toward getting control of the epidemic." Thomas B. Smith, Mayor of Philadelphia

Click here for more information about Philadelphia and the epidemic of 1918.

 

1919

The Rectory at Our Lady of Victory was damaged by two bombs.  According to the New York Times the bombs went off shortly after 11:00pm under the porch of the Rectory wrecking the stone pillar of the porch and breaking all the windows of the Rectory and of the basement of the Church. The Pastor Fr. Graham was asleep in bed on the second floor and was unhurt by the blast. The home of a jeweler in West Philadelphia was also a target of a bomb that night, and he too was unhurt.  These bombings were part of a larger plot of bombings carried out by anarchists in 1919-1920. [June 1, 1919]

 

1920

Immaculata College is founded by the Sister Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

1921

Archbishop Dougherty received the red biretta from Pope Benedict XV, and became the first Cardinal Archbishop of Philadelphia, and only the fourth American-born prelate ever to belong to the College of Cardinals. [March 7^th]

Rosemont College is founded by the Sisters of the Holy Child of Jesus.

 

1924

Chestnut Hill College is founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph.

 

1926

To celebrate the Sesquicentennial of the United States the Archdiocese holds a Mass at the Municipal Stadium (JFK Stadium).  300,000 attend inside and in areas just outside of the stadium. [October 3rd]

 

1934

Cardinal Dougherty writes a letter which is read in every church on Sunday June 10 urging that Catholics boycott motion pictures and join the Legion of Decency.  The Cardinal also had every priest preach a sermon on the 17^th regarding the “menace of the modern motion pictures.”

Mary Lowery of the Catholic Alliance for Women founded the Hour of Adoration Society.

 

1936

Cardinal Pacelli, the Papal Secretary of State, arrives in Philadelphia on October 20 and visits Independence Hall. Later he pays visits to St. Charles Seminary, Hallahan HS, West Catholic HS, Assumption Academy at Ravenhill, Rosemont College, & the Church of the Holy Child. (In 1939 Card. Pacelli is installed as Pope Pius XII.)

 

1940

Cardinal Doughtery celebrates his Golden Jubilee as a priest on June 2nd with a Mass in the Municipal Stadium, 140,000 attend.

 

1941

Holy Redeemer Chapel is erected to serve the Chinese Apostolate.

 

1942

The Archdiocese has a Mass for Victory at Convention Hall (the Civic Center) 21,000 attend. [November 11]

 

1947

Manor College is founded by the (Byzantine) Ukrainian Sisters of St. Basil.

 

1948

Gwynedd-Mercy College is founded by the Religious Sisters of Mercy.

 

1951

Death of Cardinal Dougherty. [May 31^st]

 

1952

The Most Reverend John Francis O’Hara, C.S.C. (1888-1960) was installed as the ninth Bishop of Philadelphia. [January 9^th]

 

1954

Marian Year, proclaimed by His Holiness, Pope Pius XII to note the 100th anniversary of definition of the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception of Blessed Virgin Mary. Philadelphia pilgrims visit Rome, Lourdes, Holy Land, Ireland, etc. The Archdiocese promotes "Vistarama" an exhibit about Catholicism held at the Civic Center. The year culminates with Archbishop O'Hara leading a large night time procession on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

Holy Family is founded by the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth.

 

1957

Cabrini College is founded by the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart.

 

1958

Archbishop O’Hara received the red biretta from Pope John XXIII and became the second Cardinal Archbishop of Philadelphia. [December 18^th]

First unifed Catholic Charities drive is conducted.

 

1960

Death of Cardinal O’Hara. [August 28^th]

 

1961

The Most Reverend John Joseph Krol (1910-1996) was installed as the tenth Bishop of Philadelphia. [March 22^nd]

 

1962

President John F. Kennedy makes a visit to Philadelphia for 4th of July celebrations and is greeted by Archbishop Krol, Mayor Tate, and a large throng of well wishers.

 

1964

Acting Mayor James H.J. Tate becomes the first Catholic elected mayor of Philadelphia.

 

1965

Neumann College is founded as Our Lady of Angels College by the Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis of Philadelphia.

 

1967

Archbishop Krol received the red biretta from Pope Paul VI and became the third Cardinal Archbishop of Philadelphia. [June 26^th]

 

1971

A thirteen-story building located next to the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul was opened and serves as the central archdiocesan office complex.

 

1974

Mother Teresa of Calcutta addresses a Cathedral Mass on religious vocations.

 

1976

The 41^st International Eucharistic Congress, and second ever held in the United States, is hosted by Philadelphia to coincide with the American Bicentennial year. [August 1-8^th]

The History of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia edited by Msgr. James F. Connelly STL is published.

 

1977

Bishop John Neumann is canonized by Pope Paul VI.  Mayor Rizzo, Cardinal Krol & a large delegation travel to Rome the for ceremony. [June 19]

Link to: St. John Neumann

 

1979

Pope John Paul II visits Philadelphia, and is the first active pontiff to ever visit the city. [October 3-4^th] (As Card. Wojtyla he visited the city in 1969 & 1976.)

 

1980

BLOCS (Business Leadership Orgranized for Catholic Schools) is founded under the leadership William Fishman.

 

1981

Philadelphia's first class of Permanent Deacons - 16 Hispanic men - is ordained.

 

1983

Vigil Mass on Saturday is celebrated at churches in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. [November 26]

 

1984

Philadelphia-born Bishop of Scranton John J. O'Connor is named Archbishop of New York.

 

1988

The Most Reverend Anthony Bevilacqua (ordained June 11, 1949) was installed as the eleventh Archbishop of Philadelphia. [February 11^th]

 

1990

Symposium on The Catholic Priest as Moral Teacher & Guide is held at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary with opening address given by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger(Pope Benedict XVI).

 

1991

Archbishop Bevilacqua received the red biretta from Pope John Paul II, and became the fourth Cardinal Archbishop of Philadelphia. [June 28^th]

Archdiocese begins "Catholic Faith and Life 2000" a nine-year renewal leading up to the Millennium.

 

1996

Death of Cardinal Krol. [March 3^rd]

 

1998

Cardinal Bevilacqua issues a pastoral letter about racism.

 

1999

Cardinal Bevilacqua celebrates his 50th year as a priest with a jubilee mass at the Cathedral.

Reconcilliation Weekend is held.

 

2000

Mother Katherine Drexel from Philadelphia is canonized by Pope John Paul II.  Cardinal Bevilaqua leads delegation to Rome. [October 1]

Link to: St. Katherine Drexel

 

2002

Tenth Archdiocesan Synod is held.

 

2003

Cardinal Bevilacqua retires as Archbishop July 15.

The Most Reverend Justin F. Rigali (ordained April 25, 1961), Archbishop of St. Louis, is appointed to become the Archbishop of Philadelphia on July 15, and on October 21 is elevated to the College of Cardinals.

 

2004

Casa del Carmen celebrates 50 years of service. Casa del Carmen provides direct services to more than 5,000 people each year, including assistance with short-term emergency needs, translation services and language instruction, referral and access to social services, pre- and post-natal care and education, counseling, services to senior citizens, and health and daycare services for children.

 

2005

The Philadelphia Archdiocese begins organizing relief efforts for the victims of hurricane Katrina. All parishes are asked to hold special collections (earlier in the year parishioners donated $2.64 million for the victims of a tsunami in Southeast Asia.).Catholic Social Services found homes for relocated refugees, and Catholic schools also enrolled student refugees. The Office of Black Catholics held a benefit concert, and other agencies contributed. Brent Stauffer, a PAHRC staff member, performed volunteer duty helping on two separate visits to New Orleans with clean-up and rebuilding.

The Office of Black Catholics celebrates 25 years with an exhibit at the African American Museum entitled Black Catholics in Philadelphia: The Early Years. Also being celebrated is the 10th anniversary of the St. Peter Claver Center for Evangelization.

Link to: St. Peter Claver Center

 

2006

Cardinal Justin Rigali, Archbishop of Philadelphia celebrates a Solemn Mass of Thanksgiving as part of the Eternal Word Television Network's (EWTN) 25th anniversary Family Celebration.

 

2007

At Easter the Archdiocese begins a year long celebration of its bicentennial which will culminate on April 8^th 2008 which is the bicentennial of the Archdiocese.

St. Charles Borremeo Semianry celebrates its 175th anniversary.

Our Faith-Filled Heritage: The Church of Philadelphia Bicentennial as a Diocese 1808-2008 a 300 page book of history released on November 6. The book is also published in Spanish as Neustra Herencia Llena de fe: La Iglesia de Filadelfia Becentenario como una Diócesis 1808-2008.

Archbishop John Patrick Foley (ordained May 19, 1962) originally from Sharon Hill, PA (Holy Spirit Church) is elevated to Cardinal on November 24th. The new Cardinal celebrates a Mass of Thanksgiving in Philadelphia at the Cathedral of SS. Peter & Paul on December 13.

 

2008

Chronicle of Faith, a conference celebrating the 200 year legacy of the Archidiocese of Philadelphia 1808-2008 held at Immaculata University. [April 4]

Church bells ring 200 times at 2 PM for the Bicentennial of the Archdiocese. [April 8]

Bicentennial Mass is said by Cardinal Rigali at the Pavillion at Villanova University. [April 13]

Old St. Joseph's Church celebrates their 275th Anniversary. Click here for a link to their calendar of events.

Philadelphia Archdiocesan Historical Research Center

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