Roman Catholic Diocese of Alexandria in Louisiana
| Diocese of Alexandria in Louisiana Dioecesis Alexandrina in Louisiana |
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|---|---|
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| Territory | Parishes of Avoyelles, Rapides, Vernon, Natchitoches, Winn, Caldwell, Madison, Franklin, Tensas, Concordia, Catahoula Parish, Lasalle, Grant |
| Ecclesiastical province | Archdiocese of New Orleans |
| Metropolitan | Alexandria, Louisiana |
| Population - Catholics |
48,050 |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Rite | Roman Rite |
| Established | 1853 |
| Cathedral | St. Francis Xavier Cathedral |
| Patron saint | St. Francis Xavier |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Benedict XVI |
| Bishop | Ronald Paul Herzog Bishop of Alexandria in Louisiana |
| Metropolitan Archbishop | Gregory Michael Aymond Archbishop of New Orleans |
| Map | |
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| Website | |
| diocesealex.org | |
The Diocese of Alexandria is the Roman Catholic diocese for central Louisiana, based in Alexandria, with its see at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral. It encompasses the parishes, or counties, of Avoyelles, Rapides, Vernon, Natchitoches, Winn, Caldwell, Madison, Franklin, Tensas, Concordia, Cathoula, Lasalle, and Grant.
The current Bishop of the Diocese is Ronald Paul Herzog, who was appointed to the office on November 4, 2004. Bishop Herzog was formally installed on January 5, 2005. Prior to becoming Bishop, he had been a priest of the Biloxi, Mississippi diocese since 1977.
Sam Jacobs was Bishop from July 1, 1989 to August 1, 2003. In August 2003 he was made the Bishop of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, Louisiana. From August 2003 to November 2004, the Diocese of Alexandria did not have a resident Bishop. The diocese was led during this time by Bishop William B. Friend of the Shreveport, Louisiana diocese, who served as the Apostolic Administrator for the diocese.
The corporate title of the diocese is The Diocese of Alexandria. The Latin title of the diocese is Dioecesis Alexandrina in Louisiana.
Contents |
[edit] History
The diocese was founded in 1853 as the Diocese of Natchitoches (Natchitochensis). The first Bishop of the diocese was Bishop Augustus Marie Martin.
In 1910, the name of the Diocese was changed to the Diocese of Alexandria (Alexandrinus).
In 1976, the name of the Diocese was changed to the Diocese of Alexandria-Shreveport (Alexandrinus-Sreveportuensis). It was known by this name until the summer of 1986, when territory was taken from the diocese in northwest Louisiana to form the new Roman Catholic Diocese of Shreveport. Once again, the diocese was known as the Diocese of Alexandria.[1]
[edit] Ordinaries of the Diocese
- Augustus Marie Martin - July 29, 1853 - September 29, 1875 (His death)
- Francis Xavier Leray - December 19, 1876 - September 23, 1879 (Reassigned as Coadjutor Archbishop of New Orleans)
- Anthony Durier - December 19, 1884 - February 28, 1904 (His death)
- Cornelius Van de Ven - October 24, 1904 - May 8, 1932 (His death)
- Daniel Francis Desmond - December 16, 1932 - September 11, 1945 (His Death)
- Charles Pasquale Greco - January 15, 1946 - May 10, 1973 (Retired)
- Lawrence Preston Joseph Graves May 10, 1973 - July 20, 1982 (Resigned)
- William Benedict Friend - November 17, 1982 - June 16, 1986 (Reassigned as Bishop of Shreveport, Louisiana)
- John Clement Favalora - June 16, 1986 - March 14, 1989 (Reassigned as Bishop of Saint Petersburg)
- Sam Gallip Jacobs - July 1, 1989 - August 1, 2003 (Reassigned as Bishop of Houma-Thibodaux, Louisiana)
- Ronald Paul Herzog - November 4, 2004 - (Current Bishop)
[edit] High schools
- Holy Savior Menard Central High School, Alexandria
- St. Joseph High School, Plaucheville
- St. Mary's High School, Natchitoches
