Cleveland, Diocese of

CLEVELAND, DIOCESE of. — City in the State of Ohio in the United States and suffragan of Cincinnati. Its territory comprises 14 counties in northeastern Ohio, with an area of approximately 18,300 sq km. Of a total population of more than 1,851,834 inhabitants, in 1947 Catholics numbered 475,695, under the direction of 499 diocesan priests and 207 religious, with 197 parishes, 95 chapels, 1 mission, 1 major seminary, 4 colleges, 34 high schools, 193 parochial schools, and 6 orphanages. In 1947 there were 1,643 conversions. About ten religious orders and approximately 15 women’s congregations work in the diocese, with 2,700 religious sisters.

As early as 1817, with the arrival of the Dominicans from Somerset (Ohio), religious assistance was begun for the Catholic settlers in northeastern Ohio. By 1842 there was already secular clergy. Meanwhile, in 1834, the bishop of Cincinnati, on whom the territory of C. depended, entrusted the Redemptorists with the care of the German missions scattered throughout northern Ohio and with the founding of others. In 1844 they were succeeded by the religious of the Most Precious Blood. The Church was thus able to organize itself so effectively that on 28 April 1847 the Holy See separated the entire region of Ohio north of the 40th parallel from Cincinnati in order to form a new suffragan diocese with its see at C. Two years later the boundaries of the

(phot. C.S.I.S.)
CLEVELAND - General view of the harbor and station.

diocese were more precisely defined as comprising 17 complete counties, 3 of which (Erie, Huron, Richland) passed to the diocese of Toledo in 1922. The Cathedral is dedicated to s. Giovanni Evangelista.