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Home  / News & Publications /  Michigan Catholic News / 2009 /  Archdiocesan regions, vicariates realigned

by Robert Delaney of The Michigan Catholic
Published December, 2009

 Details: Parish / Vicariate Changes
 Find a Church: Parish information

DETROIT — In line with his intention to make addressing the presence of the Church in the city one of his priorities, Archbishop Allen Vigneron has announced a reconfiguration of archdiocesan regions and vicariates that brings all Detroit, Highland Park and Hamtramck parishes together in a region of their own.

The reconfiguration, presented to the Presbyteral Council two weeks ago and outlined in a Dec. 11 letter to pastors, establishes four "geographically stable" regions – meaning they will not be changing each time the leadership changes.

Eastside and westside Wayne County suburban communities that had been part of the Central Region are now included in adjacent suburban vicariates.

"My hope is that the establishment of the Central Region will provide additional leadership and support for this key part of our archdiocese, with a focus on its unique needs," Archbishop Vigneron said.

With the impending departure of Bishop Daniel Flores to become bishop of Brownsville, Texas, the Detroit Archdiocese will be left with only one active auxiliary bishop, so the title regional bishop has been changed to regional moderator.

"While I do anticipate the Holy Father gracing us with additional auxiliary bishops at some time in the future, it seems wise to designate those who provide leadership in these regions by a common title as regards those responsibilities, whether they are bishops or episcopal vicars," the archbishop said.

Msgr. Donald Hanchon, pastor of Holy Redeemer Parish in southwest Detroit, has been named an episcopal vicar (a priest to whom some episcopal administrative functions has been delegated) so that he can serve as regional moderator for the Central Region.

Msgr. John Zenz, already an episcopal vicar under the old regional configuration, is regional moderator for the new Northwest Region. Auxiliary Bishop Francis Reiss is moderator for the South Region, while Bishop Flores will serve as moderator for the new Northeast Region until his permanent departure for Brownsville in early February. An episcopal vicar will be named to succeed him.

Also as part of the reconfiguration, the total number of vicariates has been reduced to 16, from 17, with four vicariates in each region. The changes include:

• In the Northwest Region, a new vicariate as yet unnamed has been created from the merger of the Birmingham-Bloomfield-Troy and Southeast Oakland vicariates with 10 parishes (in Farmington, Farmington Hills and Southfield) from the Farmington-Southfield vicariate. Until its new name is decided sometime in the next few weeks it is being referred to as the To Be Named Vicariate.
   
• In the Northeast Region, the SERF (St. Clair Shores, Eastpointe, Roseville, Fraser) Vicariate has expanded to include the six non-Detroit parishes (in Grosse Pointe Park, Grosse Pointe Farms, Grosse Pointe Woods and Harper Woods) that had been in the Renaissance Vicariate.
   
• Also in the Northeast Region, the Central Macomb Vicariate has expanded to include the 10 non-Detroit parishes (in Warren and Center Line) that had been part of the Genesis Vicariate.
   
• In the South Region, the Northwest Wayne Vicariate has expanded to include three parishes (in Novi and South Lyon) from the previous Farmington-Southfield Vicariate.
   
• The Central Region now includes the Genesis Vicariate, formerly in the Northeast Region, and Genesis has expanded to include two Detroit parishes from the Renaissance Vicariate and five parishes, also in Detroit, from the Trinity Vicariate.
    
• Also in the Central Region, as outlined above, the Renaissance Vicariate loses two Detroit parishes (to Genesis) and six non-Detroit parishes (to SERF), while the Trinity Vicariate loses five Detroit parishes to Genesis.

  The announcement comes just weeks after completion of a major reorganization of the Central Services departments of the archdiocese, reducing staff by 34 percent in order to address a major revenue shortfall brought on by the economic malaise.

  That initiative was announced in early September when archdiocesan officials revealed that the archdiocese had been spending $42,000 a day more than it had been taking in.

  Among other changes, the Office for Priestly Life and Ministry was reorganized to include the former functions of the delegate for religious, and is now the Office for Clergy and Consecrated Life. Also, the Council of Vicars was merged into the Presbyteral Council.

  Further changes are expected in 2010, with the reconstituting of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council.