Welcome to
The Downriver Vicariate Webpage

           
The deadline for the March Newsletter is Friday, February 10 at 12:00 noon.  

Please be aware of the following:
     The due dates for the paper are usually the second Friday of the month.  However this can fluctuate depending on when the last fulI weekend of the month falls.
     Diocesan Printing asks for a two week window for set up, printing & delivery to individual parishes for stuffing into the last full weekend church paper.
     Trying to incorporate notices that are sent at the final moments of the noon deadline can be difficult.  Often times, for whatever the reason, emails sent in the am do not get intercepted until later in the day or the next day.  Please try to plan ahead so that we can have as many events reported as possible  -- every event is important. 
    Spacing for individual churches and schools in our vicariate is the priority.  Other events will be posted as space is available and can be found here on the calendar or web pages.  

  
 Please try to keep your articles as short as possible.  Always include date, time, location & cost if it applies. 
    
As always, thank you for your continued support and understanding.         
     

                  Kathy
  Vicariate Council



Archbishop Alan Vigneron


Bishop Francis Reiss


Fr. Joseph Mallia, Vicar

SHARING THE LIGHT SERIES

 By Archbishop Vigneron   

    All issues of the Archbishop's Sharing the Light bulletins can be found at www.aodonline.org/bulletins.  The bulletins are available in English and Spanish.

 

  What is a Vicariate?

According to one dictionary, a vicariate is "the religious institution under the authority of a vicar." Of course, that's rather easy to surmise from the name and the fact that each vicariate has a vicar, but what does this institution mean for the people in a vicariate?

Vicariates are all but non-existent in the United States, but the Archdioceses of Detroit is taking advantage of them to structure the hundreds of parishes in the archdiocese. By dividing the archdiocese into 4 regions of 4 vicariates each, parishes are better suited to form relationships among other local parishes in their area. These relationships allow parishioners to be better informed about events and services being offered at parishes beyond their own, drawing the vicariate more closely together.

With 22 different parishes in the Downriver Vicariate, communication between the parishes is vital. Monthly newsletters provide the opportunity for all parishioners to be informed about advertised events taking place nearby, and the website (and other web presences such as Facebook) allow a higher level of connectivity between vicariate members. Through these and other media outlets, the Downriver Vicariate has the chance to come together in faith to foster even greater spiritual growth.