On April 2, Bishop Raica released the names of the new deans for each diocesan deanery. According to Canon Law, a bishop has the ability to form deaneries, which are simply groups of parishes within a specified geographic region. The Diocese of Birmingham is divided into seven deaneries: Central Birmingham, East Birmingham, West Birmingham, Northeast Alabama, Northwest Alabama, Southeast Alabama, and Southwest Alabama.

The dean, or Vicar forane, is a priest appointed by the bishop to oversee a deanery. As Vicar forane, the priest is charged with promoting communication between the parishes within the deanery, offering support to the priests of his deanery, and acting as a liaison to the bishop. 

The following priests were named Vicar forane of their respective deaneries:

Central Birmingham – Father Brad Jantz
East Birmingham – Father Joseph Culotta
West Birmingham - Father Anthony Weis
Northeast Alabama - Father Rick Chenault
Northwest Alabama - Father Tom Ackerman
Southeast Alabama - Father Bill Lucas
Southwest Alabama – Msgr. Michael Deering