As the diocese continues to prepare for further implementation of the Real Presence Real Future initiative in the coming weeks, Bishop Earl Fernandes has announced a structure of additional support for priests with the institution of 10 deaneries based on geography.

Each deanery, also called a vicariate, will be led by a dean or vicar forane, a termed used in Canon Law to describe the priest appointed by the bishop to serve in this role.

Essentially, the dean or vicar forane works to promote and coordinate pastoral activity in his vicariate at the behest of the bishop while providing spiritual, liturgical and personal support to the priests in his region.

The 10 vicariates are spread throughout the diocese and include as few as seven parishes and as many as 16. A list of vicariates and vicar foranes can be found in an accompanying chart.

The vicariate structure will be implemented when new clergy assignments take effect in July. 

This format replaces the current structure of three regional vicariates under the leadership of Fathers David Schalk, David Sizemore and Bob Penhallurick.

The restructuring of the vicariates into 10 deaneries is actually a return to an earlier period in the diocese when there were 12 deaneries.

“The dean or vicar forane helps the bishop to animate the priests in a particular region of the diocese,” Bishop Fernandes explained.

The needs in a particular vicariate or deanery often vary by region.

“If you’re in a rural area, and you have concerns regarding farming or loss of population, or you might not have a robust Catholic school system, you’re much more invested in PSR (Parish School of Religion) and catechetical programs,” Bishop Fernandes said.

“Sometimes within a deanery or a region you’re looking for priests to be confessors and have penance services, so (the dean) can coordinate their activities. Or sometimes you’ve got hospitals, but who’s going to cover the hospitals when you’ve got the parishes? But a coordinated and a collaborative effort among the priests can help us in the mission of evangelization.”

A key element of a dean’s role will be to advise the bishop about happenings in their regions.

“Also, the deans can get the priests together for moments of prayer and spirituality as well as to just lift their own morale,” Bishop Fernandes said. “Sometimes you’re in the trenches, and it’s good to just be with others to strengthen you.”

Ultimately, the deaneries or vicariates along with a diocesan Presbyteral Council will provide a structure that facilitates the mission of evangelization, which forms the backbone of the Real Presence Real Future initiative.

“The priests have a way of eliciting issues from other priests to bring to our attention,” Bishop Fernandes said. “So, we can have, again, a relationship of listening and trying to take concrete actions that will help support the priests and help support the mission of evangelization.”

Diocesan deaneries

Vicariate No. 1 

Marion/Delaware/Union/Madison Deanery

Father David Schalk, Vicar Forane

Ada Our Lady of Lourdes, Delaware St. Mary, Kenton Immaculate Conception, Marion St. Mary, Marysville Our Lady of Lourdes, Cardington Sacred Hearts, Sunbury St. John Neumann, Powell St. Joan of Arc/Columbus St. Peter, Westerville St. Paul, Plain City St. Joseph


Vicariate No. 2 

Tuscarawas/Holmes/Knox/Coshocton Deanery

Father Mark Hammond, Vicar Forane

Coshocton Sacred Heart, Dennison Immaculate Conception, Dover ST. Joseph, Millersburg St. Peter, Glenmont Ss. Peter & Paul, Newcomerstown St. Francis de Sales, New Philadelphia Sacred Heart, Bolivar Holy Trinity, Mount Vernon St. Vincent de Paul, Danville St. Luke


Vicariate No. 3 

Muskingum/Perry Deanery

Father Craig Eilerman, Vicar Forane

Corning St. Bernard, Crooksville Church of the Atonement, Dresden St. Ann, Mattingly Settlement St. Mary, Junction City ST. Patrick, New Lexington St. Rose, Somerset Holy Trinity, Somerset St. Joseph, Zanesville St. Nicholas, Zanesville St. Thomas Aquinas, Bremen St. Mary, Lancaster St. Bernadette, Lancaster St. Mark, Lancaster Basilica of St. Mary of the Assumption, Logan St. John, Sugar Grove St. Joseph


Vicariate No. 4 

South Deanery

Father Christopher Tuttle, Vicar Forane

Circleville St. Joseph, Washington Court House St. Colman of Cloyne, Chillicothe St. Mary, Chillicothe St. Peter, Jackson Holy Trinity, Portsmouth Holy Redeemer, Portsmouth St. Mary of the Annunciation, Waverly St. Mary, Wellston Ss. Peter & Paul, Pond Creek Holy Trinity, Wheelersburg St. Peter, Zaleski St. Sylvester


Vicariate No. 5 

Licking Deanery

Father David Sizemore, Vicar Forane

Buckeye Lake Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Granville St. Edward the Confessor, Heath St. Leonard, Johnstown Church of the Ascension, Newark Blessed Sacrament, Newark St. Francis de Sales, New Albany Church of the Resurrection


Vicariate No. 6 

Center-South Columbus Deanery

Father Stephen Alcott, OP, Vicar Forane

St. Joseph Cathedral/Holy Cross, Ss. Augustine & Gabriel, St. Dominic, St. Patrick, Corpus Christi/St. Ladislas, St. Mary, Mother of God, Holy Rosary-St. John, St. Leo Oratory


Vicariate No. 7 

Northwest Columbus Deanery

Father Robert Penhallurick, Vicar Forane

St. Agatha, St. Andrew, Dublin St. Brigid of Kildare, Hilliard St. Brendan the Navigator, St. Christopher, St. Margaret of Cortona, Our Lady of Victory, St. Timothy


Vicariate No. 8 

North High/Northland Deanery

Father Michael Lumpe, Vicar Forane

St. Francis of Assisi, Holy Name/Santa Cruz/St. Thomas More Newman Center, Immaculate Conception, St. John the Baptist/Sacred Heart/Korean Community, Worthington St. Michael, St. Elizabeth/St. Matthias/St. Anthony, St. James the Less, Our Lady of Peace


Vicariate No. 9 

West Columbus Deanery

Father Thomas Buffer, Vicar Forane

Holy Family, St. Agnes, St. Aloysius, St. Cecilia, St. Mary Magdalene, Grove City Our Lady of Perpetual Help, London St. Patrick, West Jefferson Ss. Simon & Jude, St. Stephen the Martyr


Vicariate No. 10 

East Columbus Deanery

Father Ted Sill, Vicar Forane

Gahanna St. Matthew, St. Catharine, Christ the King/St. Thomas the Apostle, Holy Spirit/St. Phillip, Pickerington St. Elizabeth Ann Seton/Columbus Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, Canal Winchester St. John XXIII/Groveport St. Mary, Reynoldsburg St. Pius X.


A Vicar Forane, according to the 1983 Code of Canon Law, is appointed by the bishop to assist him in overseeing a group of parishes in a deanery and to provide oversight and support to the pastors in carrying out their duties