LAFAYETTE, LA-Bishop Michael Jarrell announced today that he has appointed Father Curtis Mallet, JCL, to serve as Vicar General of the Diocese of Lafayette. In addition to this appointment, Father Mallet remains Pastor of St. Genevieve Parish in Lafayette.
The primary role of a Vicar General is to assist the bishop and share administrative authority in the overall governing of the diocese. Bishop Jarrell's decision to appoint Father Mallet stems from the recent health issues concerning the current Vicar General, Msgr. H. Alexandre Larroque, JCD, VG. While Father Mallet does not replace Msgr. Larroque in this capacity, his appointment does help to ensure that the duties of the Vicar General continue to be fulfilled as Msgr. Larroque recuperates from his illness.
"Father Mallet has proven his competence and dedication as a pastor in his various assignments over the past 18 years," declared Bishop Jarrell. "I am confident that he will serve well in the Office of Vicar General."
A native of Leonville, Father Mallet was ordained a priest of the Lafayette Diocese on June 13, 1992. Prior to his ordination, he earned a BA from St. Joseph Seminary College in St. Benedict, Louisiana, with a major in Religion and a minor in Philosophy. He also earned a Master of Divinity, as well as a Master of Arts in Moral Theology, from Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Father Mallet later earned a Licentiate in Canon Law (JCL) from the Pontificia Università San Tommaso D'Aquino (Angelicum) in Rome, Italy.
Father Mallet is already a familiar face among the staff of the Lafayette Diocese's central offices. In the past, he has served as Director of Continuing Education for Priests; Vocation Director and Director of Seminarians; Director of Catholic Campus Ministry; Defender of the Bond for the Office of the Tribunal; and an instructor in Moral Theology for the diocese's Diaconate Formation program.
Furthermore, Father Mallet has served as Chaplain of organizations which include the Serra Club of Lafayette, Courage International, and the Catholic Daughters. He is a member of the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus, and a founding member of the Board for Crisis Pregnancy Center of Lafayette (currently known as the Desormeaux Foundation). As Pastor of St. Genevieve Parish in Lafayette, Father Mallet serves as Chancellor of St. Genevieve School. He has also served on the Board of Pastors for St. Thomas More and Msgr. Teurlings High Schools in Lafayette.
"I am grateful for the bishop's confidence in me," Father Mallet said in regard to his latest appointment. "The supreme law of the Church is the salvation of souls. In every assignment, I have considered this as an important guiding principle. I hope to bring this same focus into my new responsibilities."
On a closing note, it is not unprecedented for two Vicars General to simultaneously serve the Lafayette Diocese. The role was shared once before between Msgr. Larroque and Msgr. Ronald Broussard (Pastor, St. Edward Parish, New Iberia).

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