ROCKFORD—Bishop David Malloy has approved a reorganization of the seven-deanery director of religious education structure that has been used in the Rockford Diocese for more than two decades.

The reorganization is the result of a study that sought to streamline catechetical administration for accountability and efficiency and to better minister to the growing Spanish-speaking presence in the diocese.

The proposal was presented for evaluation to the Diocesan Presbyteral Council as well as to a number of priests’ deanery meetings.

As of Aug. 1, the  deanery DREs, four of whom were part-time, will be reconfigured into three full time Regional Directors of Religious Education (RDREs).

They will be supervised by the Catholic Education Office and John McGrath, diocesan director of Faith Formation.

Look for more information in the Back to School section of The Observer Aug. 14.