Overview of Vicariate Model

One of the strongest messages the Archbishop has received from many of his priests is their desire for putting pastoral services closer to the people and parishes they serve.

Therefore, the Archbishop will be realigning the Curia (Archdiocesan employees) and has established three vicariates in the Archdiocese of St. Louis. A vicariate is a group of parishes within the Archdiocese that are defined by geographic region for the purposes of parish support and administration. The vicariates are fairly equal in the number of Catholic households. There is a Northern Vicariate, a Southern Vicariate and a Western Vicariate.

Each vicariate will have a priest serve full-time as the Episcopal Vicar in order to foster a spirit of fraternity among the priests, develop regional cooperation and coordinate with the Vicar General and various ministries in the Curia. The priests the Archbishop has appointed are:

• Fr. John Brockland, current pastor of Sts. Joachim and Ann in St. Charles, will serve as Episcopal Vicar of the Western Vicariate.
• Fr. Scott Jones, current pastor of Sts. Teresa and Bridget in North St. Louis City, will serve as Episcopal Vicar of the Northern Vicariate.
• Fr. Mike Lydon, current pastor of Sacred Heart in Troy, will serve as Episcopal Vicar of the Southern Vicariate.
• Fr. Carl Scheble, current pastor of St. Gertrude parish in Krakow and St. Ann parish in Clover Bottom, will serve as Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia.

Each vicariate will have a vicariate team which will provide local pastoral and administrative support. That team could consist of a vicariate coordinator and coordinators of Hispanic Ministry, evangelization, faith formation, youth ministry, social outreach etc., depending on the need of the vicariate. The team will also include a liaison for Human Resources, Catholic Education and Finances. Our hope is that priests will find the resources and support structures more accessible and helpful to their parish ministry. Implementation of this plan will take effect beginning in July 2023.