The Diocese of Duluth was erected by Pope Leo XIII on October 3, 1889 to proclaim the healing, hope, and joy of Jesus Christ. For over 130 years, the bishops, priests, deacons, religious, and lay faithful have striven to live in and fulfill this mandate. The Holy Spirit that was working in the lives of Venerable Frederic Baraga, Msgr. Joseph Buh, Bishop Paul Sirba, and many other holy women and men in the Diocese of Duluth is the same Holy Spirit calling each one of us to greater healing, hope, and joy in Jesus Christ;
Today, our 70 parishes serve the nearly 260,000 people living within the boundaries of the 10 counties that comprise the nearly 25,000 square miles which is the Diocese of Duluth: Aitkin, Carlton, Cass, Cook, Crow Wing, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, Pine, and St. Louis. Each person within the territory of the Diocese of Duluth is called to receive this healing, hope, and joy in Jesus. We have experienced this in our Diocese, in our Mission Fields, in our parishes, in our communities, and in our Families;
Recognizing that “as disciples on mission, we are called to accompany and lead all people to Jesus Christ, who in his person is the eternal dawning from on high that breaks upon us” (Bishop Daniel Felton, Healing, Hope, and Joy in Jesus, December 25, 2022, pg. 2);
Recognizing that “pre-eminent among all the other communities present in his Diocese, for which the Bishop has primary responsibility: it is with the parishes above all that he must be concerned. [Additionally,] the parish […] remains the fundamental unit in the daily life of the Diocese” (Pope John Paul II, Pastores gregis, October 16, 2003, n. 45);
In order to fulfill universal law which establishes that “every diocese […] is to be divided into distinct parts or parishes” (can. 374 §1 CIC1983);
In order to continue to fulfill this Gospel Mandate that has been given to us, to continue to care for each soul within the Diocese of Duluth, having heard the presbyteral council on September 12, 2024 (cf. can. 515 §2 CIC1983), and having carefully discerned such changes and alterations to parish boundaries;
I, the undersigned Bishop of Duluth, have decided and declare that the boundaries for the 70 parishes within the Diocese of Duluth are constituted as established in the 70-page appendix attached to this decree.
In accord with can. 8 §2 CIC1983, I direct that this decree and the appendix in full be sent via email to every pastor in the Diocese of Duluth. This decree is effective immediately.
Additionally, a copy of this decree with the pertinent attachment is to be given to the pastor of each parish to be kept in the parish records (cf. can. 535 §4 CIC1983).
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary.
Given at the Chancery, Duluth, MN, this 27th day of September in the year of our Lord 2024.
Rev. James B. Bissonette Chancellor
Most Reverend Daniel J. Felton Bishop of the Diocese of Duluth