CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF SHREVEPORT INCORPORATED

The Catholic Center/Fairview House complex is a 107, 000 square foot facility located in the historic Shreveport, Louisiana "Highland" community. The facility is located on the historic grounds formerly housing the St. Vincent Academy Convent and School. This facility is designed to provide a quality conference center for many groups to further develop their own call to serve God, the Church, and one another.

Superbly located adjacent to St. Vincent Mall along I-49 and the King's Highway corridor, the Catholic Center is equipped to serve the needs of our diocese well into the new millennium.

The call to service is a call to the entire community, not just a select few. God's plan is that we serve one another. The Diaconate is an ordained order of the Catholic Church committed to Service. The word deacon derives from the Greek word for service. As an ordained member of the clergy, a permanent deacon is unlike the transitional deacon, which is the first order to the priesthood

The Office of Canonical Services functions as the local church's legal department of religious affairs. Respect for a person's dignity and rights is a fundamental concern of the Catholic Church.

The first duty of this office is to protect the rights of all Catholics in the Diocese of Shreveport - whether they be bishop or catechumen. Secondly, it acts as a trial court for cases referred by the Bishop or the Holy See.

Seeking the truth in the matters presented before it is the goal of this office.

The Office of Coordinator for Religious serves the needs of the Bishop and the religious women and men who minister in dioceses throughout the Church. As Coordinator for Religious, Sister Marilyn Vassallo serves as advisor to the Bishop regarding issues concerning those men and women serving as religious in the Diocese of Shreveport.

The Diaconate Formation is established by the Church to encourage, support and train Catholic Men who feel a call from God to offer their lives to the Lord in service. Deacons serve the community in many ministries. Deacons are official clergy in the Church, although they lead a lay lifestyle. Most are married, have families, and have secular jobs while serving the church and society.

The diaconate continues to grow in the United States. Today there are over 17, 000 ordained deacons serving in their home parishes in many areas of ministries. Over 3, 000 are currently preparing for ministry of diaconate in the United States.

The Diocese of Shreveport is again seeking men who are being called into service. I feel a sense of excitement for these men who answer this call, for themselves, the church and the community they live in.