The Catholic history of Orange County dates back to 1776 when Fray Junipero Serra founded the seventh of the California Missions at San Juan Capistrano. Growth and development continued in the county over the next 200 years. On June 18, 1976, His Holiness Pope Paul VI established the Diocese of Orange, encompassing 782 square miles along 42 miles of Southern California coastline.

The Most Reverend William R. Johnson was installed as First Bishop of Orange and served his flock during the formative years of the diocese until his death on July 28, 1986. Auxiliary Bishop John T. Steinbock served as Apostolic Administrator until February 24, 1987, when the Most Reverend Norman F. McFarland was installed as Second Bishop of Orange. On September 3, 1998, Bishop Todd D. Brown was installed as Third Bishop of Orange, upon the retirement of Bishop McFarland.  Assisting Bishop Brown is Bishop Jamie Soto, ordained Bishop May 31, 2000.

When the Diocese was first established, there were 42 parishes and 179 priests serving 330,000 Orange County Catholics. Today, 22 years later, there are 57 diocesan parishes and 288 Priests serving one million Catholics in the county of 2.6 million people.

Along with the tremendous growth during these years, the large number of non-English speaking Catholics who have emigrated from Latin America and Asia have presented the greatest challenge to the Diocese: ministering to their special needs and assimilating them into the Church of Orange.

DIOCESE OF ORANGE STATISTICS

Diocesan Statistics	2001
Total Catholics	1,044,191
Parishes and Centers	59
Priestly Ordinations	5
Seminarians	38
Deacons	67
Women and Men Religious	372

Please visit the Diocese of Orange’s website at:
www.rcbo.org
for more information on diocesan services and offices, 
parishes and schools, 
and other Catholic Websites.