Bishop Duca Establishes New Deaneries

On 05 January 2021, Bishop Duca issued a decree establishing new deaneries in the Diocese of Baton Rouge. The last organization of the deaneries was decreed by Bishop Ott in 1985.    
 
The suggestion of the realignment of the deaneries was made after careful study and consideration by the Pastoral Planning Task Force.  After presenting their recommendations to Bishop Duca, the Presbtyeral Council was consulted, and after hearing their suggestions, the attached decree was issued. 

The purpose of the deanery organization is to provide better cooperation between proximate pastors and other clergy for the good of the faithful in the particular church. 
 
The current iteration includes a reduction of deaneries from six to five; renaming of several of the deaneries; moving several “border” parishes from one deanery to another due to changes in demography and changes in infrastructure over the past decades. 
 
In the coming weeks, the priests of each new deanery will be consulted in order that a priest be appointed by Bishop Duca to serve as vicar forane (dean) in each deanery.   We thank the former deans for their diligent service to the local church. 

Bishop Duca has also derogated from the statutes of the Presbyteral Council in order that the five elected representatives to the Council by deanery continue their service through their appropriate, elected term.  These five members are Father Cary Bani (Northwest), Fr. Al Davidson (South), Fr. Mark Beard (Northeast), Fr. Joshua Johnson (East Central), and Fr. Michael Miceli (Baton Rouge).

New Deanery Decree