About Diocese of Lake Charles
The Diocese of Lake Charles (Latin: Dioecesis Lacus Carolini) is a Roman Catholic diocese in southwestern Louisiana, established on January 29, 1980 by Pope John Paul II as the sixth Catholic diocese in the state. Its territory covers the five civil parishes of Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, and Jefferson Davis, comprising 37 parishes, four deaneries, six Catholic schools, and approximately 90,980 Catholics out of 302,006 total residents. The episcopal see is the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in downtown Lake Charles, and the diocese has been led since 2007 by Bishop Glen John Provost, its third ordinary.
- Bishop
- Glen John Provost
- Established
- 1980
- Cathedral
- Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Lake Charles)
- Territory
- Five civil parishes of southwest Louisiana: Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, and Jefferson Davis
- Parishes
- 37 parishes in 4 deaneries
- Province
- Archdiocese of New Orleans
Diocesan History
The Diocese of Lake Charles was established by Pope John Paul II on January 29, 1980, taking the five civil parishes of southwest Louisiana from the Diocese of Lafayette and becoming a suffragan of the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Bishop Jude Speyrer, the founding ordinary, was ordained and installed on April 25, 1980 at the Lake Charles Civic Center Coliseum, and within his first year the diocese ordained its first priest (Rev. Whitney Miller) and first class of deacons and proclaimed St. Peter Claver its patron. The territory's ecclesiastical history traces back more than 280 years, having been administered by Quebec, Santiago de Cuba, Havana, Louisiana and the Floridas, Baltimore, New Orleans, and Lafayette before becoming its own diocese.
- Erected January 29, 1980 by Pope John Paul II
- Sixth Catholic diocese in Louisiana
- Territory taken from the Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana
- Suffragan of the Archdiocese of New Orleans
Our Bishops
The diocese has had three bishops in succession. Bishop Jude Speyrer (1980–2000) laid the diocesan foundation and built the Saint Charles Center in Moss Bluff. Bishop Edward K. Braxton, transferred from the Archdiocese of St. Louis where he had been an auxiliary, served from 2000 to 2005 before being named Bishop of Belleville, Illinois. The current Bishop, the Most Reverend Glen John Provost, was appointed March 6, 2007 by Pope Benedict XVI and installed April 23, 2007 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception; he had previously been ordained a priest for the Diocese of Lafayette by Pope Paul VI on June 29, 1975 in St. Peter's Basilica.
- Bishop Jude Speyrer (1980–2000) — founding bishop
- Bishop Edward K. Braxton (2000–2005) — second bishop
- Bishop Glen John Provost (2007–present) — third bishop
The Diocese Today
The Diocese of Lake Charles today encompasses four deaneries with 37 parishes serving approximately 25,060 registered Catholic families across 5,619 square miles. Its total population of 302,006 includes about 90,980 Catholics, supported by 60 priests (41 diocesan, 19 religious), 31 deacons, and a small number of religious brothers and sisters. Diocesan staff, formerly scattered, consolidated into a single Administration and Ministries Building at 1201 Ryan Street, Lake Charles in July 2023 — the first centralized chancery space since the diocese was founded.
- Four deaneries, 37 parishes, ~25,060 registered families
- 5,619 square miles, total population 302,006, ~90,980 Catholic
- 60 priests, 31 deacons
- Chancery consolidated July 1, 2023 at 1201 Ryan Street
Deaneries and Parishes
The diocese is divided into four deaneries — North Central (7 parishes, Calcasieu Parish), East (13 parishes, Allen and Jefferson Davis parishes), West (10 parishes, Beauregard, Calcasieu and Cameron parishes), and South Central (7 parishes, Calcasieu and Cameron parishes). The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Lake Charles serves as the episcopal see, and other major worship sites include St. Henry, St. Margaret of Scotland, Sacred Heart of Jesus, Our Lady Queen of Heaven, and Our Lady of Good Counsel in Lake Charles; multiple parishes in Jennings, Sulphur, DeRidder, Oakdale, Welsh, DeQuincy and other southwest Louisiana towns.
- North Central Deanery: Cathedral of Immaculate Conception, St. Henry, St. Margaret of Scotland, St. Raphael (Iowa), St. Theodore (Moss Bluff), Sacred Heart of Jesus, Immaculate Heart of Mary
- East Deanery (13 parishes): Jennings, Welsh, Lake Arthur, Oakdale, Elton, Kinder, Oberlin, Fenton, Raymond
- West Deanery (10 parishes): Sulphur, Carlyss, DeQuincy, DeRidder, Hackberry, Vinton, Westlake, Ragley, Maplewood
- South Central Deanery (7 parishes): Christ the King, Our Lady Queen of Heaven, Our Lady of Good Counsel, St. Martin de Porres, Sacred Heart of Jesus (East Cameron), St. John Vianney (Bell City), St. Mary of the Lake (Big Lake)
Catholic Schools
The Diocese of Lake Charles operates six Catholic schools enrolling approximately 2,274 students in the 2024–2025 school year. Saint Louis Catholic High School in Lake Charles is the only Catholic secondary school in the diocese. Its five feeder schools — Immaculate Conception Cathedral School, St. Margaret of Scotland Catholic School, Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic School (Lake Charles), Our Lady's Catholic School (Sulphur), and Our Lady Immaculate Catholic School (Jennings) — span pre-K3 through Grade 8.
- Saint Louis Catholic High School (Lake Charles) — the only Catholic high school
- Immaculate Conception Cathedral School (PreK4–Grade 8), Lake Charles
- St. Margaret of Scotland Catholic School, Lake Charles
- Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic School (PreK4–Grade 8) and Early Childhood Center, Lake Charles
- Our Lady's Catholic School (PreK3–Grade 8), Sulphur
- Our Lady Immaculate Catholic School (PreK3–Grade 8), Jennings
- Approximate enrollment 2024–2025: 2,274 students
Offices and Agencies
The diocesan chancery oversees a wide range of pastoral, fiscal, liturgical and educational offices. Key directors include Robin L. Austin as Chief Finance Officer, Very Rev. Joseph Caraway as Director of Liturgy and Master of Ceremonies, Kimberlee Gazzolo as Superintendent of Catholic Schools, Pamela Seal as Director of Communications, and the Very Rev. Aubrey Guilbeau as Vicar for Clergy. Specialized ministries include Catholic Charities of Southwest Louisiana (directed by Sister Marie Josepha Kluczny, RSM), the Deaf Apostolate, the Office of Hispanic Ministry (St. Henry Catholic Church), the Office of Marriage, Family Life and Pro-Life, and the Society for the Propagation of the Faith.
- Fiscal Office, Office of Communications, Office of Catholic Schools
- Office of Liturgy, Diocesan Tribunal, Diocesan Tribunal Judges
- Office of Vocations, Office of Religious Education
- Catholic Charities of Southwest Louisiana, Deaf Apostolate
- Marriage, Family Life, and Pro-Life offices
- Office of Hispanic Ministry, Propagation of the Faith
Pastoral Ministries and Outreach
The diocese operates an array of specialized apostolates serving Catholics across southwest Louisiana. Catholic Charities of Southwest Louisiana is headquartered at 1225 Second Street, Lake Charles and provides social services and aid. The Stella Maris Seafarers Center at the Port of Lake Charles (150 Marine Street) ministers to port workers through the Apostleship of the Sea under Chaplain Rev. Shaji Jose, H.G.N. Catholic Charismatic Renewal Center, the Deaf Apostolate, the Catholic Student Center (chaired by Rev. Paul Jussen), Camp Karol of Saint Charles Center (Catholic youth camp), and Hispanic Ministry round out the pastoral outreach.
- Catholic Charities of Southwest Louisiana
- Stella Maris Seafarers Center and Apostleship of the Sea at the Port of Lake Charles
- Catholic Charismatic Renewal Center
- Deaf Apostolate
- Catholic Student Center
- Office of Hispanic Ministry at St. Henry Catholic Church
- Camp Karol youth camp at Saint Charles Center
Vocations and Clergy
The Office of Vocations and the Vicar for Clergy (Very Rev. Aubrey V. Guilbeau, V.E.) promote priestly and diaconal vocations across the diocese, assisted by an administrative assistant and Deacon Brian Soileau. Statistics published in 2022 record 60 priests (41 diocesan, 19 religious), 31 deacons, 33 religious (20 brothers and 13 sisters), and 9 seminarians.
- Office of Vocations and Office of Religious Education (Hannah Beard, Admin Assistant)
- Vicar for Clergy: Very Rev. Aubrey Guilbeau, V.E.
- 60 priests (41 diocesan, 19 religious), 31 deacons, 33 religious, 9 seminarians (2022 figures)
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in downtown Lake Charles (telephone 337-436-7251) was designated by Bishop Jude Speyrer as the diocesan cathedral upon the erection of the diocese in 1980. It served as the site of Bishop Glen John Provost's episcopal ordination and installation on April 23, 2007, and was the focus of the multi-million-dollar 'Return to the Lord' capital campaign launched by Bishop Provost in 2015 to fund its restoration.
- Designated cathedral by first Bishop Jude Speyrer, 1980
- Site of Bishop Provost's episcopal ordination and installation, April 23, 2007
- Subject of 2015 'Return to the Lord' $16 million capital campaign for restoration
- Restoration also funded Camp Karol youth camp
Saint Charles Center and Retreats
Located in Moss Bluff, Saint Charles Center was developed by founding Bishop Jude Speyrer as the spiritual heart of the diocese. It includes Tabor Retreat House, the Katharine Drexel Conference Center, New Bethany Cemetery (where Bishop Speyrer is interred), and Camp Karol — a Catholic youth camp. Saint Charles Center serves as the venue for retreats, conferences, summer camps, and other diocesan spiritual formation events.
- Tabor Retreat House
- Katharine Drexel Conference Center
- New Bethany Cemetery (burial site of Bishop Speyrer)
- Camp Karol youth camp
Devotions and Patron Saint
St. Peter Claver, the Jesuit missionary to African slaves who arrived in Cartagena, was proclaimed patron of the Diocese of Lake Charles on September 9, 1980. His feast is observed on the Sunday nearest September 9 each year, allowing more of the faithful to participate in the patron's feast. The diocese also maintains ministries for the deaf and Hispanic Catholics, and the Catholic Charismatic Renewal Center.
- St. Peter Claver — patron (proclaimed September 9, 1980)
- Feast observed on the Sunday nearest September 9
- Catholic Charismatic Renewal Center
Hurricane Response and Rebuilding
Southwest Louisiana's gulf-coast geography has repeatedly tested the diocese. Hurricane Rita (2005) destroyed at least four churches in the Lake Charles area, and Hurricane Ike (2008) re-damaged several that were still being restored. In 2015, Bishop Glen John Provost launched the 'Return to the Lord' capital campaign — a $16 million effort to restore the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and to underwrite Camp Karol. The diocese continues to mark rebuilding and recovery efforts among its ongoing pastoral priorities.
- Hurricane Rita, 2005 — multiple churches destroyed
- Hurricane Ike, 2008 — re-damaged churches still under restoration
- 2015 'Return to the Lord' capital campaign — $16 million for cathedral restoration and Camp Karol
