Diocesan Statistics
Established July 29, 1853 by Pius IX as the Diocese of Natchitoches from territory taken from the Archdiocese of New Orleans. The See City was transferred to Alexandria and designated The Diocese of Alexandria on August 6, 1910; retitled the Diocese of Alexandria-Shreveport on January 7, 1977; re-designated the Diocese of Alexandria on July 29, 1986 when the Diocese of Shreveport was taken from its territory.
The Diocese of Alexandria comprises 13 civil parishes of Central Louisiana: Natchitoches, Winn, Caldwell, Franklin, Madison, Vernon, Rapides, Grant, LaSalle, Catahoula, Tensas, Concordia and Avoyelles. The land area of the diocese is 11,108 square miles.
Central Deanery: Alexandria, Boyce, Colfax, Deville, Glenmora, Jena, Kolin, Lecompte, Leesville, Pineville, Tioga, Winnfield and Woodworth.
Eastern Deanery: Ferriday, St. Joseph, Tallulah, Vidalia and Winnsboro
Avoyelles Deanery: Belledeau, Bordelonville, Brouilliette, Bunkie, Cheneyville, Cottonport, Dupont, Echo, Evergreen, Fifth Ward, Hessmer, Marksville, Mansura, Moreauville, Plaucheville, Rexmere and Simmesport.
Natchitoches Deanery: Campti, Cloutierville, Isle Brevelle, Natchitoches and Powhatan.
Clergy/Religious:
Bishop: 1
Diocesan, active in diocese: 39
Diocesan active outside diocese: 5
Retired, sick or absent: 18
Diocesan priests: 62
Religious priests in diocese: 4
Extern priests resident in diocese: 13
Total priests in diocese: 79
Transitional Deacons: 1
Permanent deacons: 31
Total Brothers: 2
Total Sisters: 19
Parishes:
Parishes: 50
With resident diocesan pastor: 42
With resident religious priest: 3
Without resident pastor, administered by priest: 5
Missions: 21
Professional Ministry Personnel:
Brothers: 2
Sisters: 19
Lay Ministers: 16
Welfare:
Catholic Hospitals: 1
Number assisted during past year: 255,360
Homes for Aged: 1
Number assisted: 104
Residential care of disabled: 1
Total disabled residents: 202
Educational:
Diocesan students in other seminaries: 8
Total seminarians: 8
High Schools: 3
Total High School Students: 519
Elementary Schools: 7
Total Elementary Students: 1,762
Catechesis/Religious Education:
High School students: 604
Elementary students: 1,075
Total students under Catholic Instruction: 3,968
Teachers in the Diocese:
Priests: 1
Sisters: 9
Lay teachers: 181
Vital Statistics:
Receptions into the Church:
Infant Baptisms: 306
Minor Baptisms: 96
Adult Baptisms: 110
Received into full Communion: 49
First Communions: 470
Confirmations: 387
Marriages:
Catholic: 90
Interfaith: 18
Deaths: 583
Total Catholic population: 36,228
Total population within the diocese: 376,746
(Source: 2023 Official Catholic Directory. This page updated on May 2, 2024)