The Diocese of Harrisburg was established on March 3, 1868 by Pope Pius IX. Bishop Jeremiah F. Shanahan, a 34 year-old Priest and seminary rector from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, was named to lead this new diocese. Eighteen counties composed the Diocese of Harrisburg at that time. That changed in later years to fifteen counties comprised of 7,660 square miles today. They include: Adams, Columbia, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Mifflin, Montour, Northumberland, Perry, Snyder, Union and York. The Diocese is blessed with one Cathedral and 2 Basilicas. Saint Patrick Cathedral, Harrisburg, is the mother church of the Diocese. Sacred Heart Basilica, Conewago, is the oldest stone church in use in the United States. The Basilica of Saints Cyril and Methodius is located in Danville, PA. Since its founding, eleven Bishops have led the Diocese of Harrisburg. The current Bishop, the Most Reverend Ronald W. Gainer, was appointed Bishop of Harrisburg by his Holiness Pope Francis on January 24, 2014. He was installed as Bishop of Harrisburg on March 19, 2014. The Diocesan Administration Center, located in suburban Harrisburg, serves as the administrative off...ices to the Bishop and his staff. Our neighbors are the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the Dioceses of Allentown to the east, Scranton to the north, Altoona-Johnstown to the west, and the Archdiocese of Baltimore to the south. Harrisburg is the capital of the Commonwealth, and within our boundaries are to be found historic Gettysburg and Conewago Chapel, Hanover, famous for its shoes and horses, and the sweetest town on earth, Hershey. The beautiful Susquehanna runs through the Diocese and some of the richest farmland in the world is found in Pennsylvania Dutch country in Lancaster County.