About Diocese of Shreveport
The Diocese of Shreveport (Latin: Dioecesis Sreveportuensis in Louisiana) is a Latin Church diocese of the Catholic Church covering the sixteen northernmost civil parishes of Louisiana. Erected on June 16, 1986, by Pope John Paul II from the former Diocese of Alexandria-Shreveport, it is a suffragan of the metropolitan Archdiocese of New Orleans and the seventh Catholic diocese in Louisiana. Its mother church is the Cathedral of Saint John Berchmans in Shreveport, a parish founded in 1902 by the Jesuits, and the diocese is currently led by its third bishop, the Most Reverend Francis Ignatius Malone, installed January 28, 2020.
- Bishop
- Francis Ignatius Malone
- Established
- 1986
- Cathedral
- Cathedral of Saint John Berchmans, Shreveport
- Territory
- The sixteen northernmost civil parishes of Louisiana: Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Claiborne, DeSoto, East Carroll, Jackson, Lincoln, Morehouse, Ouachita, Red River, Richland, Sabine, Union, Webster, and West Carroll.
- Parishes
- 27 parishes and 10 missions (2023)
- Province
- Archdiocese of New Orleans (Ecclesiastical Province of New Orleans)
History of the Diocese of Shreveport
The Diocese of Shreveport traces its roots to the missionary era of Spanish and French Louisiana, when chapels were built between 1795 and 1798 and the first priest, Jean Pierre, established a Catholic presence in Shreveport beginning in 1856. The diocese was formally erected on June 16, 1986, by Pope John Paul II, separating the sixteen northern parishes of Louisiana from the Diocese of Alexandria-Shreveport. Successive bishops have grown the diocese from its founding under William B. Friend through the administrations of Michael G. Duca and the current bishop, Francis I. Malone.
- 1853 – Diocese of Natchitoches erected
- 1856 – Jean Pierre arrives in Shreveport
- 1910 – See moved to Alexandria as Diocese of Alexandria
- 1977 – Renamed Diocese of Alexandria-Shreveport
- 1986 – Diocese of Shreveport erected
- 2020 – Bishop Malone installed
Our Bishop — Francis Ignatius Malone
The Most Reverend Francis Ignatius Malone, a Philadelphia native, was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Little Rock on May 21, 1977. He holds a B.A. in History from the University of Dallas (1973), M.Div. and M.Ed. degrees (1977), and a Licentiate in Canon Law from The Catholic University of America (1989). He was named a Prelate of Honor (Monsignor) in 1998 and a Protonotary Apostolic in 2010. Pope Francis appointed him third Bishop of Shreveport on November 19, 2019, and he was ordained and installed on January 28, 2020, at the Shreveport Convention Center, with Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond as principal consecrator and Bishops Anthony B. Taylor and Michael G. Duca as co-consecrators.
- Chancellor for Ecclesial Affairs, Diocese of Little Rock
- Rector, Cathedral of St. Andrew (1989–1996)
- Pastor, Christ the King Church, Little Rock (2001–2019)
- Trustee, Notre Dame Seminary, New Orleans
- Member, Board of Directors, St. Francis Medical Center, Monroe
Cathedral of Saint John Berchmans
The mother church of the diocese is the Cathedral of Saint John Berchmans in Shreveport, established in 1902 by the Jesuit Order at the request of Bishop Anthony Durier and the second-oldest parish in the city. It is named in honor of the young Jesuit saint credited with restoring health to a dying nun at Grand Coteau, Louisiana. A complete interior restoration was undertaken beginning in 1992 and the cathedral was rededicated on August 28, 1993. The diocesan coat of arms incorporates the IHS monogram of St. John Berchmans in a gold sunburst on a red field, with three wavy bars representing the Red, Mississippi, and Ouachita Rivers and the waters of baptism.
- Founded 1902 by the Jesuits
- Named cathedral at diocese's founding, 1986
- Interior rededicated August 28, 1993
- Site of the Prayer Garden of Bishop Friend
Catholic Schools
Catholic education in the Diocese of Shreveport is rooted in a tradition of faith, academic excellence, and service, offering programs from early childhood through twelfth grade. Two high schools—Loyola College Prep in Shreveport and St. Frederick Catholic High School in Monroe—anchor secondary education, while a network of elementary campuses and preschool academies serves younger students across the region.
- Loyola College Prep (7th–12th), Shreveport
- St. Frederick Catholic High School (9th–12th), Monroe
- St. Joseph Catholic School (PreK–8), Shreveport
- Jesus the Good Shepherd School (PreK–8), Shreveport
- Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School (PreK–6), Monroe
- St. John Berchmans Cathedral School, Shreveport
- Little Flower Pre-School Academy, Monroe
- St. Jude Day School, Shreveport
- Elisabetta Renzi Child Development Center
- Renzi Education and Art Center, Monroe
Ministries & Offices
The Diocese of Shreveport is supported by a network of offices and ministries that proclaim the Gospel, celebrate the Sacraments, and care for God's people. These departments form disciples, strengthen parish life, and extend Christ's love across the sixteen parishes of north Louisiana.
- Faith Formation
- Adult Faith Formation / OCIA
- Youth Ministry
- Campus Ministry
- Multicultural Ministry (Hispanic outreach)
- Spiritual Direction
- Marriage & Family Life
- Restorative Justice
- Defense of Life
- Vocations Office
- Catholic Service Appeal
Vocations & Clergy
The Office of Vocations accompanies men and women discerning a call to priesthood, diaconate, religious life, or dedicated lay service through retreats, personal accompaniment, and discernment programs. The diocese is currently served by 37 active diocesan priests, 14 religious priests, and 31 permanent deacons.
- Diocesan vocations program
- Permanent diaconate
- Seminary discernment support
- Religious life promotion
Outreach & Service
The Catholic Service Appeal is the annual diocesan fundraising effort that supports ministries across north Louisiana, including Hispanic outreach through the Office of Multicultural Ministry, faith formation programs, and charitable works. Bishop Malone sits on the Board of Directors of St. Francis Medical Center in Monroe, linking the diocese to regional Catholic health care.
- Catholic Service Appeal
- St. Vincent de Paul Society heritage (promoted by Bishop Van de Ven)
- Catholic hospitals historically founded in north Louisiana
Catholic Center & Diocesan Offices
The Catholic Center at 3500 Fairfield Avenue in Shreveport serves as the administrative and ministerial hub of the diocese. The diocese acquired this property—long the motherhouse and academy of the Daughters of the Cross since 1866—in July 1999 and completed renovations in May 2000. The campus includes the bishop's residence, clergy housing, diocesan offices, and a Catholic conference center. The first diocesan offices had been located at 2500 Line Avenue.
- 3500 Fairfield Avenue, Shreveport, LA 71104
- Phone: (318) 219-7256
- Bishop's residence on site
- Catholic conference center
- Diocesan Archives repository
Saints, Servants of God & Canonization Causes
The Diocese of Shreveport is home to several significant sanctity causes. The cathedral's patron, St. John Berchmans, is a Jesuit patron of the diocese. In 2020 the diocese opened the canonization cause of the pioneer priest Jean Pierre, who built the first Catholic church in Shreveport; he and his colleagues have been named Servants of God by the Vatican. In 2023 Bishop Malone formally supported the cause of the 'Shreveport Martyrs,' five French missionary priests who died in 1873 while caring for yellow fever victims.
- St. John Berchmans — cathedral patron
- Jean Pierre — Servant of God, cause opened 2020
- Shreveport Martyrs — five French priests, 1873
- Daughters of the Cross — historic religious presence
