ARTICLES

Local planning areas replace the 12 regions

With the agreement of the Diocesan Pastoral Planning Commission and the three regional vicars, the current 12 geographical regions of the Diocese of Richmond will now conform to the 19 Local Planning Areas.

Bishop Francis X. DiLorenzo announced the change, pointing out that the Local Planning Areas “were created to better reflect the distribution of our Catholic population and to create a wider cooperation between clergy and laity for future development.”

“The sole purpose of this change is to eliminate any confusion that might arise from the existence of two jurisdictions,” the Bishop explained.

The Eastern Vicariate, whose Regional Vicar is Msgr. Francis Muench, will consist of Local Planning Areas 1–7 (once Regions 1, 2, 3, 4 and 12).

The Central Vicariate, headed by Msgr. Walter Barrett, will encompass Local Planning Areas 8–13 (once Regions 5, 6, 7 and 8).

The Western Vicariate, whose vicar is Msgr. J. Kenneth Rush, will have Local Planning Areas 14–19 (once Regions 9, 10 and 11).

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