Facts and Figures

Diocesan Overview

(Statistics accurate for 2021, the most recent year available via the Official Catholic Directory.)

The Diocese of Joliet was established by a decree issued by Pope Pius XII on December 11, 1948. It was created from seven counties in Illinois: DuPage, Kendall, Will, Grundy, Kankakee, Iroquois and Ford. Previously, DuPage, Will, Kankakee and Grundy counties were under the Archdiocese of Chicago; Ford and Iroquois were under the jurisdiction of the Peoria diocese, and Kendall County was in the Rockford diocese.

The Joliet diocese serves around 520,000 Catholics in a geographic area of 4,218 miles. The diocese is divided into eight deaneries. This local church is pastored by Bishop Ronald A. Hicks.

Catholic Population

• 520,148
• Catholic population as a percentage of total population of DuPage, Kankakee, Will, Grundy, Ford, Iroquois and Kendall counties: 27 percent

Parishes and Vital Statistics

• Number of Parishes: 117
• Number of Missions: 7
• Baptisms: 4,930
• First Communions: 6,285
• Confirmations: 6,146
• Weddings: 965
• Funerals: 3,618