Our Bishop has chosen to organize the parishes of the Diocese of Madison into "vicariates forane" in an effort to better provide for the pastoral care of souls through common action (CIC c. 374). Sometimes called "deaneries," vicariates forane are a means to subsidiarity and allow a greater sensitivity to the extraordinary diversity of pastoral situations in the diocese. They render the coordination of pastoral action easier, encourage unity in a region, improve the efficiency of organized pastoral initiatives, and better provide for the needs of a particular community.
In the Diocese of Madison, parishes are grouped into the following vicariates as shown on the map below: