The Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield in Illinois (Latin: Dioecesis Campifontis in Illinois) is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the south central Illinois region of the United States. The prelate is a bishop serving as pastor of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.
A diocese of the Metropolitan Province of Chicago, the metropolitan bishop of Springfield in Illinois is the Archbishop of Chicago. On 20 April 2010, Pope Benedict named Thomas J. Paprocki as the ninth Bishop of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, replacing Archbishop Lucas. Bishop Paprocki had previously been an Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Chicago under Cardinal George since 2003.
The Diocese of Springfield in Illinois comprises the Counties of Adams, Bond, Brown, Calhoun, Cass, Christian, Clark, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, Douglas, Edgar, Effingham, Fayette, Greene, Jasper, Jersey, Macon, Macoupin, Madison, Menard, Moultrie, Montgomery, Morgan, Pike, Sangamon, Scott, and Shelby. The counties are organized into seven deaneries: Alton, Decatur, Effingham, Jacksonville, Litchfield, Quincy and Springfield.
The Diocese of Springfield in Illinois was established on July 29, 1853 as the Diocese of Quincy. Its name was changed to the Diocese of Alton on January 9, 1857, and its current name came into being on October 26, 1923.
As of 2012:
142,847 Catholics
130 parishes
106 Diocesean Priests (active and retired)
49 Religious Priests
27 Religious Brothers
667 Women Religious
37 Permanent Deacons
2,344 Baptisms
1,980 First Communions
2,041 Confirmations
667 Weddings
1,610 Funerals
294 Scheduled Weekend Masses
As of 2007:
151,601 Catholics
132 parishes
87 active priests; 62 religious institute priests
122 diocesan priests (including retired and serving outside the diocese)
6 Catholic hospitals
There are currently 130 parishes in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. The Diocese also operates campus ministry centers at 9 colleges and universities within its boundaries.
In addition to these parishes, the Diocese operates campus ministry centers at the following institutions:
Benedictine University at Springfield formerly Springfield College
Blackburn College
Eastern Illinois University
Illinois College
MacMurray College
Millikin University
Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville
University of Illinois at Springfield
There is currently 1 preschool in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois.
St. John the Worker Preschool, Chatham, Illinois
There are currently 40 elementary schools in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois.
Ss. Peter and Paul, Alton, Illinois
St. Mary, Alton, Illinois
Our Lady Queen of Peace, Bethalto, Illinois
St. Mary, Brussels, Illinois
St. John the Evangelist, Carrollton, Illinois
Ss. Peter and Paul, Collinsville, Illinois
Holy Family, Decatur, Illinois
St. Patrick, Decatur, Illinois
Our Lady of Lourdes, Decatur, Illinois
St. Boniface, Edwardsville, Illinois
St. Mary, Edwardsville, Illinois
Sacred Heart, Effingham, Illinois
St. Anthony of Padua, Effingham, Illinois
St. Ambrose Catholic School, Godfrey, Illinois
Holy Family, Granite City, Illinois
St. Elizabeth, Granite City, Illinois
St. Norbert, Hardin, Illinois
St. Paul, Highland, Illinois
Our Saviour, Jacksonville, Illinois
St. Francis/Holy Ghost School, Jerseyville, Illinois
St. John Neumann, Maryville, Illinois
St. Mary, Mattoon, Illinois
St. Mary, Mt. Sterling, Illinois
St. Thomas the Apostle, Newton, Illinois
St. Louis, Nokomis, Illinois
Sacred Heart, Pana, Illinois
St. Mary, Paris, Illinois
Blessed Sacrament, Quincy, Illinois
St. Dominic, Quincy, Illinois
St. Francis Solanus, Quincy, Illinois
St. Peter, Quincy, Illinois
St. Michael, Sigel, Illinois
Blessed Sacrament, Springfield, Illinois
Cathedral School, Springfield, Illinois
Christ the King, Springfield, Illinois
Little Flower, Springfield, Illinois
St. Agnes, Springfield, Illinois
St. Aloysius, Springfield, Illinois
St. Patrick Catholic School, Springfield, Illinois
St. Mary, Taylorville, Illinois
There are currently 7 high schools in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois.
Marquette Catholic High School, Alton, Illinois
St. Teresa High School, Decatur, Illinois
St. Anthony High School, Effingham, Illinois
Routt Catholic High School, Jacksonville, Illinois
Father McGivney Catholic High School, Maryville, Illinois
Quincy Notre Dame High School, Quincy, Illinois
Sacred Heart-Griffin High School, Springfield, Illinois
This does not count Ursuline Academy, closed in 2007.
There are currently 2 universities in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois.
Benedictine University at Springfield formerly known as Springfield College
Quincy University
The Diocese of Springfield in Illinois enjoys the services of 6 Catholic hospitals, which assist nearly 520,000 patients annually.
St. Anthony's Health Center, Alton, Illinois
St. Mary's Hospital, Decatur, Illinois
St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital, Effingham, Illinois
St. Joseph's Hospital, Highland, Illinois
St. Francis Hospital, Litchfield, Illinois
St. John's Hospital, Springfield, Illinois
Brother James Court, Springfield, Illinois - A long term care facility for developmentally disabled men
St. Joseph's Home, Springfield, Illinois - Sheltered and intermediate care facility
Two spiritual renewal centers are available to the Diocese and members of the Springfield community.
Chiara Center - Franciscan Retreat and Conference Center, Springfield, Illinois
Villa Maria - Catholic Life Center, Springfield, Illinois
Immaculate Heart of Mary Novitiate, Godfrey, Illinois
The Diocese is home to 14 religious houses.
Sisters of Divine Providence, St. Clare's Villa
Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George, St. Francis Convent
Ursuline Convent of the Holy Family
Sisters of Divine Providence
St. Louis/Chicago Fransican Province of the Sacred Heart, Holy Cross Friary
Congregation of Daughters of Divine Love
Contemplative Sisters of the Good Shepherd
Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus "Ad Gentes"
Our Lady of Angels Friary at Greccio, Community of Order of Friars Minor (Sacred Heart Province)
Dominican Sisters of Springfield, Sacred Heart Convent, Motherhouse
Hospital Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis, St. Francis Convent, Motherhouse
Franciscan Brothers of the Holy Cross, St. James Monastery
Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George, St. Michael Convent
Ursuline Sisters of the Roman Union
Bishop Henry Damian Juncker, former Bishop of the Diocese of Alton (now Springfield in Illinois): named as first bishop of the diocese by Pope Pius IX in 1857; installed 1857-04-28. Born in Fénétrange, France, 1809-08-22. Ordained a priest 1834-03-16. Died 1868-10-02.
Bishop Peter Joseph Baltes, former Bishop of the Diocese of Alton (now Springfield in Illinois): named as second bishop of the diocese by Pope Pius IX in 1869; installed 1870-01-23. Born in Ensheim, Germany, 1827-04-07. Ordained a priest 1853-05-21. Died 1886-02-15.
Bishop James Ryan, former Bishop of the Diocese of Alton (now Springfield in Illinois): named as third bishop of the diocese by Pope Leo XIII in 1888; installed 1888-05-01. Born in Farnaybridge, Thurles, Ireland, 1848-06-17. Ordained a priest 1871-12-24. Died 1923-07-02.
Bishop James Aloysius Griffin, former Bishop of the Diocese of Springfield, Illinois: named as fourth bishop of the diocese by Pope Pius XI in 1923; installed 1924-02-25. Born in Chicago, Illinois, 1883-02-27. Ordained a priest 1909-07-04. Died 1948-08-05.
Bishop William Aloysius O'Connor, former Bishop of the Diocese of Springfield, Illinois: named as fifth bishop of the diocese by Pope Pius XII in 1948; installed 1949-03-07. Born in Chicago, Illinois, 1903-12-27. Ordained a priest 1927-09-24. Resigned 1975-07-22. Died 1983-11-14.
Bishop Joseph Alphonse McNicholas, former Bishop of the Diocese of Springfield, Illinois: named as sixth bishop of the diocese by Pope Paul VI in 1975; installed 1975-07-22. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, 1923-01-13. Ordained a priest 1949-06-07. Consecrated Bishop of Scala (Titular see) 1969-03-25. Died 1983-04-17.
Bishop Daniel L. Ryan, J.C.L., Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Springfield, Illinois: named as seventh bishop of the diocese by Pope John Paul II in 1983; installed 1984-01-18. Born in Mankato, Minnesota, 1930-09-28. Elementary education in Mankato, Minnesota and Springfield; one year of high school at Cathedral Boys High School (now Sacred Heart-Griffin High School) in Springfield before going to Passionist Preparatory High School. Ordained a priest 1956-05-03. Named titular bishop of Surista and auxiliary bishop of Joliet in Illinois by Pope John Paul II in 1981; installed as auxiliary bishop 1981-09-30. Died 2015-12-31.
Bishop George J. Lucas, Bishop of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois: named as eighth bishop of the diocese by Pope John Paul II on 1999-10-19; installed 1999-12-14. At the time of his appointment, Lucas was president-rector of Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis.
Bishop Thomas J. Paprocki (22 June 2010 - ) named as ninth bishop of the diocese by Pope Benedict XVI. Installed 22-06-2010. Born in Chicago, Illinois, 1982-08-05. Attended Niles College Seminary of Loyola University before St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, Illinois. Ordained a priest 1978-05-10 in Chicago. Studied law at DePaul University. Co-founded the South Chicago Legal Clinic. Doctorate from Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome in 1991. Appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago by Pope John Paul II on 2003-01-24.
John Janssen, appointed Bishop of Belleville in 1888
John Baptist Franz, appointed Bishop of Dodge City in 1951, appointed Bishop of Peoria in 1959
Victor Hermann Balke, appointed Bishop of Crookston in 1976
Kevin Vann, appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Fort Worth (succeeded to see that year); appointed Bishop of Orange in 2012
Carl A. Kemme, appointed Bishop of Wichita in 2014
