The Diocese of Lafayette could see a new bishop in as little as six months.

The canon law of the church requires that at age 75 all bishops must send a letter to the Pope offering to resign and Bishop Jarrell’s 75th birthday is in May. Jarrell, a native of Opelousas has been the presiding bishop of the Lafayette diocese for twelve years, prior to that he was the second bishop of Houma-Thibodaux. He says although he will announce his retirement in May but will still remain active in the church.

“If there’s no crisis and the bishop is in good health usually he’ll stay a while longer, possibly between 6 months and a year” said Jarrell.

Jarrell and all of the other bishops in Louisiana will weigh in on the choosing of the next bishop.