The Catholic Diocese of Kalamazoo is the territory of Catholic churches and community led by Bishop Edward M. Lohse. The diocese was founded in 1971 when the Second Vatican Council called for the creation of smaller dioceses so that bishops could be more available to the people they serve. Today the diocese encompasses 5,337 square miles of nine counties in southwest Michigan: Allegan, Barry, Van Buren, Kalamazoo, Calhoun, Berrien, Cass, St. Joseph and Branch and includes 59 parishes and missions as well as 21 Catholic schools.