Diocese of Laval

Dioecesis Valleguidonensis

Bishop(s)

Matthieu Henri Fabien Dupont, Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 30 June 1855
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Rennes (-Dol-Saint-Malo)
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: France
Square Kilometers: 5,175 (1,998 Square Miles)
Conference Region: Ouest
Official Web Site: https://www.diocesedelaval.fr/
Mailing Address: 27 rue du Cardinal Suhard, B.P. 31225, 53012 Laval CEDEX, France
Telephone: 2.43.69.24.21

Past and Present Ordinaries

Casimir-Alexis-Joseph Wicart † (28 Sep 1855 Confirmed - 3 May 1876 Retired)
Jules-Denis-Marie-Dieudonné Le Hardy du Marais † (26 Jun 1876 Confirmed - 20 Jun 1886 Died)
Victor Maréchal † (26 May 1887 Confirmed - 21 Sep 1887 Died)
Louis-Victor-Emile Bougaud † (25 Nov 1887 Confirmed - 7 Nov 1888 Died)
Jules Cléret † (30 Dec 1889 Confirmed - 23 Jan 1895 Died)
Pierre-Joseph Geay † (25 Jun 1896 Confirmed - 30 Aug 1904 Resigned)
Eugène-Jacques Grellier † (21 Feb 1906 Appointed - 15 Jun 1936 Retired)
Joseph-Jean-Yves Marcadé † (20 Aug 1936 Appointed - 10 Jul 1938 Resigned)
Paul-Marie-Alexandre Richaud † (27 Jul 1938 Appointed - 10 Feb 1950 Appointed, Archbishop of Bordeaux (-Bazas))
Maurice-Paul-Jules Rousseau † (14 Jun 1950 Appointed - 28 Feb 1962 Resigned)
Charles-Marie-Jacques Guilhem † (28 Feb 1962 Succeeded - 31 Dec 1969 Resigned)
Paul-Louis Carrière † (31 Dec 1969 Succeeded - 10 Mar 1984 Retired)
Louis-Marie Billé † (10 Mar 1984 Appointed - 5 May 1995 Appointed, Archbishop of Aix (-Arles-Embrun))
Armand Henri Paul Maillard (2 Aug 1996 Appointed - 11 Sep 2007 Appointed, Archbishop of Bourges)
Thierry Marie Scherrer (21 May 2008 Appointed - 11 Apr 2023 Appointed, Bishop of Perpignan-Elne)
Matthieu Henri Fabien Dupont (9 Jan 2024 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
30 June 1855	Erected	Diocese of Angers Diocese of Le Mans	Diocese of Laval (erected)
8 December 2002	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Laval (from Tours)

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

1950 253,500 254,479 99.6% 538 76 614 412 125 1,500 297 ap1951

1970 252,762 .0% 382 45 427 0 56 995 295 ap1971

1980 220,000 262,025 84.0% 341 33 374 588 61 965 295 ap1981

1990 233,000 276,000 84.4% 275 37 312 746 86 785 289 ap1991

1999 278,000 293,000 94.9% 220 37 257 1,081 6 80 544 31 ap2000

2000 270,000 285,310 94.6% 213 39 252 1,071 6 79 572 31 ap2001

2001 280,000 285,338 98.1% 202 37 239 1,171 8 111 547 31 ap2002

2002 280,000 285,338 98.1% 193 7 200 1,400 7 46 649 31 ap2003

2003 275,000 285,338 96.4% 180 39 219 1,255 83 492 31 ap2004

2004 275,000 285,338 96.4% 191 40 231 1,190 11 84 522 31 ap2005

2013 279,500 305,147 91.6% 112 45 157 1,780 21 75 343 31 ap2014

2016 282,783 307,587 91.9% 89 50 139 2,034 22 74 287 31 ap2017

2019 283,000 307,940 91.9% 65 62 127 2,228 24 87 249 31 ap2020

2021 282,200 307,084 91.9% 59 51 110 2,565 23 80 207 31 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1950	253,500	254,479	99.6%	538	76	614	412		125	1,500	297	ap1951
1970		252,762	.0%	382	45	427	0		56	995	295	ap1971
1980	220,000	262,025	84.0%	341	33	374	588		61	965	295	ap1981
1990	233,000	276,000	84.4%	275	37	312	746		86	785	289	ap1991
1999	278,000	293,000	94.9%	220	37	257	1,081	6	80	544	31	ap2000
2000	270,000	285,310	94.6%	213	39	252	1,071	6	79	572	31	ap2001
2001	280,000	285,338	98.1%	202	37	239	1,171	8	111	547	31	ap2002
2002	280,000	285,338	98.1%	193	7	200	1,400	7	46	649	31	ap2003
2003	275,000	285,338	96.4%	180	39	219	1,255		83	492	31	ap2004
2004	275,000	285,338	96.4%	191	40	231	1,190	11	84	522	31	ap2005
2013	279,500	305,147	91.6%	112	45	157	1,780	21	75	343	31	ap2014
2016	282,783	307,587	91.9%	89	50	139	2,034	22	74	287	31	ap2017
2019	283,000	307,940	91.9%	65	62	127	2,228	24	87	249	31	ap2020
2021	282,200	307,084	91.9%	59	51	110	2,565	23	80	207	31	ap2022