Baton Rouge (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Michael Gerard Duca, Bishop
Robert William Muench, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 22 July 1961
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of New Orleans
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
State: Louisiana
Country: United States of America
Square Kilometers: 23,330 (9,011 Square Miles)
Description: Parishes of Ascension, Assumption, East Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, Iberville, Pointe Coupée, East Feliciana, West Feliciana, St. Helena, Tangipahoa, Livingston, and St. James
Conference Region: V (AL, KY, LA, MS, TN)
Catholic Directory Abbreviation: BR
Official Web Site: https://www.diobr.org
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 2028, 1800 South Acadian Thruway, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-2028, USA
Telephone: (225)336-8715
Fax: 242-0290

Past and Present Ordinaries

Robert Emmet Tracy † (10 Aug 1961 Appointed - 21 Mar 1974 Resigned)
Joseph Vincent Sullivan † (8 Aug 1974 Appointed - 4 Sep 1982 Died)
Stanley Joseph Ott † (13 Jan 1983 Appointed - 28 Nov 1992 Died)
Alfred Clifton Hughes (7 Sep 1993 Appointed - 16 Feb 2001 Appointed, Coadjutor Archbishop of New Orleans, Louisiana)
Robert William Muench (15 Dec 2001 Appointed - 26 Jun 2018 Retired)
Michael Gerard Duca (26 Jun 2018 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
22 July 1961	Erected	Archdiocese of New Orleans	Diocese of Baton Rouge (erected)

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

1966 172,810 491,434 35.2% 80 66 146 1,183 82 295 64 ap1967

1970 190,000 571,000 33.3% 81 68 149 1,275 93 294 66 ap1971

1976 163,410 612,798 26.7% 90 71 161 1,014 91 212 68 ap1977

1980 175,000 645,000 27.1% 87 72 159 1,100 2 84 125 70 ap1981

1990 214,736 774,431 27.7% 84 53 137 1,567 25 66 132 72 ap1991

1999 207,511 809,065 25.6% 88 38 126 1,646 25 13 109 70 ap2000

2000 217,199 809,998 26.8% 98 43 141 1,540 25 13 118 70 ap2001*

2001 218,269 831,478 26.3% 85 42 127 1,718 25 54 112 70 ap2002

2002 218,588 853,165 25.6% 84 43 127 1,721 26 58 111 69 ap2003

2003 219,323 856,734 25.6% 77 44 121 1,812 40 56 103 69 ap2004

2004 219,310 863,976 25.4% 74 37 111 1,975 40 47 103 68 ap2005

2006 218,846 878,269 24.9% 74 38 112 1,953 39 47 117 66 ap2007

2012 235,000 950,000 24.7% 90 35 125 1,880 66 50 95 68 ap2013

2015 235,647 992,000 23.8% 71 29 100 2,356 74 49 75 67 ap2016

2018 227,052 1,010,137 22.5% 76 27 103 2,204 82 47 74 64 ap2019

2020 227,280 1,008,970 22.5% 76 33 109 2,085 70 51 80 64 ap2021

2022 228,225 1,013,186 22.5% 74 34 108 2,113 75 52 72 64 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1966	172,810	491,434	35.2%	80	66	146	1,183		82	295	64	ap1967
1970	190,000	571,000	33.3%	81	68	149	1,275		93	294	66	ap1971
1976	163,410	612,798	26.7%	90	71	161	1,014		91	212	68	ap1977
1980	175,000	645,000	27.1%	87	72	159	1,100	2	84	125	70	ap1981
1990	214,736	774,431	27.7%	84	53	137	1,567	25	66	132	72	ap1991
1999	207,511	809,065	25.6%	88	38	126	1,646	25	13	109	70	ap2000
2000	217,199	809,998	26.8%	98	43	141	1,540	25	13	118	70	ap2001*
2001	218,269	831,478	26.3%	85	42	127	1,718	25	54	112	70	ap2002
2002	218,588	853,165	25.6%	84	43	127	1,721	26	58	111	69	ap2003
2003	219,323	856,734	25.6%	77	44	121	1,812	40	56	103	69	ap2004
2004	219,310	863,976	25.4%	74	37	111	1,975	40	47	103	68	ap2005
2006	218,846	878,269	24.9%	74	38	112	1,953	39	47	117	66	ap2007
2012	235,000	950,000	24.7%	90	35	125	1,880	66	50	95	68	ap2013
2015	235,647	992,000	23.8%	71	29	100	2,356	74	49	75	67	ap2016
2018	227,052	1,010,137	22.5%	76	27	103	2,204	82	47	74	64	ap2019
2020	227,280	1,008,970	22.5%	76	33	109	2,085	70	51	80	64	ap2021
2022	228,225	1,013,186	22.5%	74	34	108	2,113	75	52	72	64	ap2023