WORCESTER, DIOCESE OF. – A city and diocese in the State of Massachusetts. The diocese of W., a suffragan of Boston, was erected by Pius XII with the apostolic constitution *Ad animarum bonum satius provehendum* of 14 January 1950, by separation from Springfield (*Campifontis*).
The county of W., which constitutes the diocese, has an area of 1,582 sq. km and a total population of 541,247 inhabitants, of whom 263,514 are Catholics. There are 255 diocesan priests and 160 religious from 8 congregations.