LANSING — The Diocese of Lansing, which oversees Catholic parishes in 10 Michigan counties in central Michigan, from Flint to Lansing to Hillsdale, announced on Monday, March 2, that it is reassigning nearly a dozen priests this summer.
Bishop Earl Boyea made the announcement that the clergy assignments will take effect July 1.
The changes affect parishes and schools in Lansing, East Lansing, Grand Ledge, Mason, Howell, Brighton, Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor, Burton and Jackson.
“The Diocese of Lansing has been greatly blessed in recent years by a surge in priestly vocations — last year’s ordination class being the largest in nearly half a century — and so these recent clergy moves see several young priests stepping up to become pastors for the first time, while other more experienced clerics are being given fresh challenges by Bishop Earl Boyea,” according to David Kerr, spokesman for the Diocese of Lansing.
Here’s a closer look at the Diocese and assignments.
Which priest and chaplains are moving?
The following changes were announced:
Which counties does the Diocese of Lansing serve?
The Diocese includes Clinton, Shiawassee, Genesee, Eaton, Ingham, Livingston, Jackson, Washtenaw, Hillsdale and Lenawee counties.
What is a Catholic diocese?
Each bishop is appointed to exercise authority over a particular territory called a diocese.
The bishop extends his authority to his priests, particularly his pastors, each of whom is responsible for a parish.
An archdiocese is a very large diocese in terms of Catholic population, according to Catholic Straight Answers.
Who is Bishop Earl Boyea?
The Diocese of Lansing was established by Pope Pius XI on May 22, 1937.
Since then, it has had five leaders, or bishops, with Boyea taking on the role in 2008.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Lansing Diocese reassigns Catholic priests in 10 parishes. What we know
Reporting by Dan Basso, Lansing State Journal / Lansing State Journal
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