Roman Catholic Diocese of Alexandria in Louisiana
Encyclopedia
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.
(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.
Roman Catholicism in the United States
The Catholic Church in the United States is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, the Christian Church in full communion with the Pope. With more than 68.5 registered million members, it is the largest single religious denomination in the United States, comprising about 22 percent of the population...
diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
for central Louisiana
Central Louisiana
Central Louisiana , also known as the Crossroads region, is the part of Louisiana that includes the following parishes: Allen Parish, Beauregard Parish, Catahoula Parish, Concordia Parish, Grant Parish, La Salle Parish, Natchitoches Parish, Rapides Parish, Sabine Parish and Vernon Parish.The five...
, based in Alexandria
Alexandria, Louisiana
Alexandria is a city in and the parish seat of Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States. It lies on the south bank of the Red River in almost the exact geographic center of the state. It is the principal city of the Alexandria metropolitan area which encompasses all of Rapides and Grant parishes....
, with its see at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral
St. Francis Xavier Cathedral (Alexandria, Louisiana)
St. Francis Xavier Cathedral is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Alexandria, located in Alexandria, Louisiana.The cathedral was added to the National Register of Historic Places on . The complex includes the cathedral building, St...
. 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
Biloxi, Mississippi
Biloxi is a city in Harrison County, Mississippi, in the United States. The 2010 census recorded the population as 44,054. Along with Gulfport, Biloxi is a county seat of Harrison County....
diocese since 1977.
Sam Jacobs
Sam Jacobs (bishop)
Sam Gallip Jacobs is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the third and current Bishop of Houma-Thibodaux, having previously served as Bishop of Alexandria from 1989 to 2003.-Biography:...
was Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
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
William Benedict Friend
William Benedict Friend is the retired bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Shreveport, in Louisiana, and its first bishop.He was ordained on 7 May 1959 as a priest of the Diocese of Mobile-Birmingham, Alabama...
of the Shreveport, Louisiana
Roman Catholic Diocese of Shreveport
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Shreveport is a Roman Catholic diocese located in northwestern Louisiana, and a suffragan diocese of the Archdiocese of New Orleans. It is under the governance of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and belongs to Conference Region V...
diocese, who served as the Apostolic Administrator
Apostolic Administrator
An apostolic administrator in the Roman Catholic Church is a prelate appointed by the Pope to serve as the ordinary for an apostolic administration...
for the diocese.
The corporate title of the diocese is The Diocese of Alexandria. The Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
title of the diocese is Dioecesis Alexandrina in Louisiana.
History
The diocese was founded in 1853 as the Diocese of NatchitochesRoman Catholic Diocese of Natchitoches
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Natchitoches is a titular see of the Roman Catholic Church. The former bishopric is no longer an active diocese.-History:...
(Natchitochensis). The first Bishop of the diocese was Bishop Augustus Marie Martin
Augustus Marie Martin
Augustus Marie Martin was a French-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He was the first Bishop of Natchitoches, Louisiana ....
.
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
Roman Catholic Diocese of Shreveport
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Shreveport is a Roman Catholic diocese located in northwestern Louisiana, and a suffragan diocese of the Archdiocese of New Orleans. It is under the governance of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and belongs to Conference Region V...
. Once again, the diocese was known as the Diocese of Alexandria.
Ordinaries of the Diocese
- Augustus Marie MartinAugustus Marie MartinAugustus Marie Martin was a French-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He was the first Bishop of Natchitoches, Louisiana ....
- July 29, 1853 - September 29, 1875 (His death) - Francis Xavier LerayFrancis Xavier LerayFrancis Xavier Leray was a French-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Natchitoches and Archbishop of New Orleans ....
- December 19, 1876 - September 23, 1879 (Reassigned as Coadjutor Archbishop of New Orleans) - Anthony DurierAnthony DurierAnthony Durier was the Roman Catholic bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Natchitoches, Louisiana....
- December 19, 1884 - February 28, 1904 (His death) - Cornelius Van de VenCornelius Van de VenCornelius Van de Ven was the Roman Catholic bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Alexandria in Louisiana, Louisiana....
- October 24, 1904 - May 8, 1932 (His death) - Daniel Francis DesmondDaniel Francis DesmondDaniel Francis Desmond was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Alexandria in Louisiana from 1933 until his death in 1945.-Biography:...
- December 16, 1932 - September 11, 1945 (His Death) - Charles Pasquale GrecoCharles Pasquale GrecoCharles Pasquale Greco was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Alexandria in Louisiana from 1946 to 1973.-Biography:...
- January 15, 1946 - May 10, 1973 (Retired) - Lawrence Preston Joseph GravesLawrence Preston Joseph GravesLawrence Preston Joseph Graves was the seventh Bishop of Alexandria in Louisiana .Graves was born in Texarkana, Arkansas, and attended in Little Rock. He then studied at the Pontifical North American College in Rome, and at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C...
May 10, 1973 - July 20, 1982 (Resigned) - William Benedict FriendWilliam Benedict FriendWilliam Benedict Friend is the retired bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Shreveport, in Louisiana, and its first bishop.He was ordained on 7 May 1959 as a priest of the Diocese of Mobile-Birmingham, Alabama...
- 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 JacobsSam Jacobs (bishop)Sam Gallip Jacobs is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the third and current Bishop of Houma-Thibodaux, having previously served as Bishop of Alexandria from 1989 to 2003.-Biography:...
- July 1, 1989 - August 1, 2003 (Reassigned as Bishop of Houma-Thibodaux, Louisiana) - Ronald Paul HerzogRonald Paul HerzogRonald Paul Herzog is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the eleventh and current Bishop of Alexandria in central Louisiana.-Biography:...
- November 4, 2004 - (Current Bishop)
High schools
- Holy Savior Menard Central High SchoolHoly Savior Menard Central High SchoolHoly Savior Menard Central High School is the Roman Catholic parochial secondary institution of learning in Alexandria, the seat of Rapides Parish and the largest city in central Louisiana. The Menard mission statement accents: Faith Development, Academic Excellence, and Service...
, Alexandria - St. Joseph High School, Plaucheville
- St. Mary's High SchoolSt. Mary's High School (Natchitoches, Louisiana)St. Mary's High School is a private coeducational Roman Catholic high school in Natchitoches, Louisiana. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Alexandria in Louisiana....
, Natchitoches