Roman Catholic Diocese of Shreveport

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Shreveport (Latin: Dioecesis Sreveportuensis in Louisiana) is a Roman Catholic diocese covering the parishes of northern Louisiana, and a suffragan diocese of the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Its bishop is part of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and belongs to Conference Region V (which includes Alabama, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee).[1] Its mother church is the Cathedral of Saint John Berchmans, in Shreveport.

Diocese of Shreveport Dioecesis Sreveportuensis in Louisiana
St. John Berchman's Cathedral
Location
Country	United States
Territory	16 parishes of Louisiana
Ecclesiastical province	Archdiocese of New Orleans
Statistics
Area	28,825 km^2 (11,129 sq mi)
Population - Catholics	39,436 (5%)
Information
Denomination	Catholic
Sui iuris church	Latin Church
Rite	Roman Rite
Established	June 16, 1986
Cathedral	Cathedral of Saint John Berchmans
Patron saint	Immaculate Conception St. Elizabeth Ann Seton St. Peter Claver
Current leadership
Pope	Francis
Bishop	Francis I. Malone
Map
Website
dioshpt.org

History

The Diocese of Shreveport was canonically erected on June 16, 1986 when Pope John Paul II split the former Diocese of Alexandria–Shreveport into the Diocese of Alexandria in Louisiana and the Diocese of Shreveport.[1] Prior to that, the Diocese of Alexandria was the Diocese of Natchitoches, first erected in 1853.

On July 19, 2020, it was revealed that the Diocese of Shreveport was undergoing a sex abuse lawsuit involving a man who claimed the Diocese shielded a priest who sexually abused him in the 1970s.[2]

Statistics

The territory of the diocese covers an area of 28,825 square kilometres (11,129 sq mi).[1] The area's total population in 2004 was 784,665, out of which 39,436 people are Catholic (5 percent of the total population).[1] The diocese is served by 42 diocesan priests in 32 parishes.[1] In 2010, there were eight seminarians studying for the priesthood in the diocese.[3]

Bishops

The list of ordinaries of the diocese and their years of service:

1. William Benedict Friend (1986–2006)
2. Michael Duca (2008–2018)
3. Francis Ignatius Malone (2020–present)

High schools

• Loyola College Prep, Shreveport
• St. Frederick Catholic High School, Monroe

Coat of arms of Roman Catholic Diocese of Shreveport

Notes Arms was designed and adopted when the diocese was erected Adopted 1986 Escutcheon The coat of arms of the Diocese of Shreveport is composed of a red field. On this red field - is a gold sunburst charged with the monogram of the Holy Name (IHS). Symbolism The coat of arms of the Diocese of Shreveport is composed of a red field to represent the Red River that runs through the See City. On this red field is a gold sunburst charged with the monogram of the Holy Name (IHS), the symbol of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). This symbolism is employed here to represent Saint John Berchmans, titular of the Cathedral Church, who was a Jesuit. From the sunburst issue three wavy bars to represent the three rivers that run through the diocese--the Red, the Mississippi, and the Ouachita--and to represent the waters of Baptism that flow from God, Our Father, to save all mankind.

Media

The diocese publishes a monthly magazine, The Catholic Connection.[4]

References

1. Cheney, David M. (26 Oct 2008). "Diocese of Shreveport". Catholic-Hierarchy. Retrieved 14 July 2010.
2. Enflinger, Emily (July 19, 2020). "Lawsuit against Diocese of Shreveport claims priest sexually abused boy in the '70s". Shreveport Times. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
3. "Seminarians". Diocese of Shreveport. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
4. Schnurr, Dennis Marion (July 2019). "Seek the Lord". The Catholic Telegraph. 188 (7). Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati. p. 2.

External links

• Roman Catholic Diocese of Shreveport Official Site