Lafayette (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

John Douglas Deshotel, Bishop
Charles Michael Jarrell, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 11 January 1918
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of New Orleans
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
State: Louisiana
Country: United States of America
Square Kilometers: 14,962 (5,779 Square Miles)
Description: Civil Parishes of Lafayette, St. Martin, St. Mary, Iberia, St. Landry, Evangeline, Vermilion, and Acadia
Conference Region: V (AL, KY, LA, MS, TN)
Catholic Directory Abbreviation: LAF
Official Web Site: https://www.diolaf.org
Mailing Address: 1408 Carmel Drive, Lafayette, LA 70501-5215, USA
Telephone: (337)261-5611
Fax: 261-5603

Past and Present Ordinaries

Jules Benjamin Jeanmard † (18 Jul 1918 Appointed - 13 Mar 1956 Retired)
Maurice Schexnayder † (13 Mar 1956 Appointed - 7 Nov 1972 Retired)
Gerard Louis Frey † (7 Nov 1972 Appointed - 13 May 1989 Retired)
Harry Joseph Flynn † (13 May 1989 Succeeded - 22 Feb 1994 Appointed, Coadjutor Archbishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota)
Edward Joseph O’Donnell † (8 Nov 1994 Appointed - 8 Nov 2002 Resigned)
Charles Michael Jarrell (8 Nov 2002 Appointed - 17 Feb 2016 Retired)
John Douglas Deshotel (17 Feb 2016 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
11 January 1918	Erected	Archdiocese of New Orleans (Southwest Louisiana (between the Atchafalaya and Sabine Rivers))	Diocese of Lafayette (erected)
29 January 1980	Territory Lost	Diocese of Lafayette (Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, and Jefferson Davis)	Diocese of Lake Charles (erected)

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

1950 295,000 460,000 64.1% 112 94 206 1,432 190 342 102 ap1951

1966 385,706 677,738 56.9% 190 110 300 1,285 163 584 145 ap1967

1970 397,021 708,333 56.1% 185 101 286 1,388 146 452 150 ap1971

1976 409,263 706,187 58.0% 115 121 236 1,734 184 428 154 ap1977

1980 399,348 774,307 51.6% 184 114 298 1,340 34 163 410 155 ap1981

1990 323,478 546,851 59.2% 133 69 202 1,601 55 111 206 121 ap1991

1999 336,746 559,055 60.2% 158 55 213 1,580 47 31 173 121 ap2000

2000 353,861 546,000 64.8% 142 58 200 1,769 51 94 161 121 ap2001

2001 353,861 546,000 64.8% 136 58 194 1,824 74 93 151 121 ap2002

2002 331,186 568,154 58.3% 159 54 213 1,554 73 85 140 121 ap2003

2003 325,422 568,154 57.3% 148 52 200 1,627 69 88 133 121 ap2004

2004 322,349 568,154 56.7% 142 44 186 1,733 67 90 156 121 ap2005

2013 330,000 629,000 52.5% 151 39 190 1,736 95 67 134 121 ap2014

2016 336,357 642,502 52.4% 147 58 205 1,640 80 78 112 121 ap2017

2019 341,115 651,600 52.4% 153 55 208 1,639 111 81 106 121 ap2020

2021 323,568 645,560 50.1% 151 62 213 1,519 113 78 98 122 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	295,000	460,000	64.1%	112	94	206	1,432		190	342	102	ap1951
1966	385,706	677,738	56.9%	190	110	300	1,285		163	584	145	ap1967
1970	397,021	708,333	56.1%	185	101	286	1,388		146	452	150	ap1971
1976	409,263	706,187	58.0%	115	121	236	1,734		184	428	154	ap1977
1980	399,348	774,307	51.6%	184	114	298	1,340	34	163	410	155	ap1981
1990	323,478	546,851	59.2%	133	69	202	1,601	55	111	206	121	ap1991
1999	336,746	559,055	60.2%	158	55	213	1,580	47	31	173	121	ap2000
2000	353,861	546,000	64.8%	142	58	200	1,769	51	94	161	121	ap2001
2001	353,861	546,000	64.8%	136	58	194	1,824	74	93	151	121	ap2002
2002	331,186	568,154	58.3%	159	54	213	1,554	73	85	140	121	ap2003
2003	325,422	568,154	57.3%	148	52	200	1,627	69	88	133	121	ap2004
2004	322,349	568,154	56.7%	142	44	186	1,733	67	90	156	121	ap2005
2013	330,000	629,000	52.5%	151	39	190	1,736	95	67	134	121	ap2014
2016	336,357	642,502	52.4%	147	58	205	1,640	80	78	112	121	ap2017
2019	341,115	651,600	52.4%	153	55	208	1,639	111	81	106	121	ap2020
2021	323,568	645,560	50.1%	151	62	213	1,519	113	78	98	122	ap2022