The Diocese of Shreveport stretches across northern Louisiana from Mississippi in the east to Texas in the west. It was originally part of the Diocese of Natchitoches, established on the banks of the Mississippi in frontier days. The small Catholic population, largely Sicilian, resides in the Shreveport metropolitan area. In many rural counties, Catholics are few and far between—quite literally, one in a hundred. More then 20 percent of the people live below the poverty line. Twice that number belongs to no church, and some Catholics drive an hour or more to attend Sunday Mass. Many Hispanics are moving into northern Louisiana, seeking jobs in agriculture, construction, and oil and gas extraction. Often, the Church lacks the personnel and funding to reach out to them.
The Diocese of Shreveport has:
- 39,425 Catholics (5% of total population)
- 41 parishes and missions (13 without resident pastor)
- 25 active priests
2010 Grant
$90,000
Contact Information
3500 Fairfield Ave.
Shreveport, LA 71105
318-868-4441
Fax: 318-868-4605
Website
