As part of “maintenance to mission,” the Into the Deep strategic planning initiative has resulted in organizing parishes and churches into pastorates and eventually new parishes in the Diocese of Madison.
This reorganization has formed new relationships between the respective communities.
It has created powerful moments of unity, and the blending of resources and talents has sparked both innovation and challenges.
To further enhance the formation of these new relationships, the diocese has also taken steps to reorganize its vicariates.
Forming the vicariates
Canon law requires that dioceses be divided into parishes, but it also recommends that parishes be grouped together regionally so that there can be a better coordination of pastoral action among them.
These groupings, commonly referred to as “deaneries,” are called “vicariates forane.”
They are entrusted to a priest who is called a “vicar forane,” “dean,” or “archpriest” and who uses the honorific “Very Reverend”.
This priest is responsible for helping the parishes of the vicariate collaborate in the most effective way.
Over the years, the vicariates in the Diocese of Madison have been periodically reconfigured to meet the needs of the time.
The prominence of the vicariate as an organizational structure and of the vicar forane as a local leader have also varied throughout the years, and during some periods the institution has been more or less dormant.
As parishes are merged and pastorate communities are coming together, through the vicariates, there can be further collaboration to serve the people of those areas.
Rather than taking on the names of counties as in the past, the names of the new vicariate groupings are
water-themed.
This mirrors signs of trust in the Lord as the diocese goes “Into the Deep” and celebrates the life-giving resources of the Diocese of Madison.
The new vicariates
The seven new vicariates in the Diocese of Madison are as follows:
Mississippi River Vicariate — the vicariate in the western part of the diocese is comprised of the parishes of St. Joseph the Worker Pastorate, the parishes of St. Dominic Pastorate, the parishes of St. Isidore the Farmer Pastorate, Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament Parish, the parishes of St. Pius of Pietrelcina Pastorate, and St. Augustine University Parish.
The vicar forane is Fr. Steve Brunner, VF, parochial administrator of St. Joseph the Worker Pastorate.
Wisconsin River Vicariate — the vicariate in the northwestern part of the diocese is comprised of the parishes of Ss. Joachim and Anne Pastorate, the parishes of St. John Paul II Pastorate, and the parishes of Mary, Mother of Mercy Pastorate.
The vicar forane is Fr. Miguel Galvez, SJS, VF, parochial administrator of Mary, Mother of Mercy Pastorate.
Green Lake Vicariate — the vicariate in the northeastern part of the diocese is comprised of the parishes of St. John Henry Newman Pastorate, Mater Dei Parish, and the parishes of Nativity of the Lord Pastorate.
The vicar forane is Msgr. James Gunn, VF, pastor of Mater Dei Parish.
Rock River Vicariate — the vicariate in the southeastern part of the diocese is comprised of the parishes of Christ the King Pastorate, Queen of Martyrs Parish, the parishes of St. Jane Frances de Chantal Pastorate, and the parishes of St. Cletus Pastorate.
The vicar forane is Fr. David Wanish, VF, parochial administrator of St. Cletus Pastorate.
Lake Monona Vicariate — the vicariate in the eastern part of the diocese is comprised of the parishes of St. Teresa of Calcutta Pastorate, St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish, Epiphany of the Lord Parish, and Stella Maris Parish.
The vicar forane is Fr. Tim Renz, VF, pastor of St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish.
Lake Wisconsin Vicariate — the vicariate in the central part of the diocese is comprised of the parishes of St. Francis of Assisi Pastorate, St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish, Holy Cross Parish, and Divine Mercy Parish (Madison-Verona-Paoli).
The vicar forane is Msgr. Kevin Holmes, VF, pastor of Divine Mercy Parish.
Lake Mendota Vicariate — the vicariate centered around the Madison area in the diocese is comprised of Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Queen of Apostles Parish, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Blessed Sacrament Parish, St. Paul University Parish, and the Cathedral of St. Bernard of Clairvaux.
The vicar forane is Fr. Brian Wilk, VF, pastor of Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish.