Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory has announced that Deacon Lloyd Sutter has retired as senior administrator of the archdiocesan Department of Religious Education and Faith Formation, effective immediately. Barb Garvin, senior director of the Office of Youth Ministry, will serve as interim director of the department until a replacement is named.

Deacon Sutter has served in this role since August 2000, when he was appointed by Archbishop John F. Donoghue in a reorganization that split the Office of Religious Education and the Office of Catholic Schools.

Ordained in the diaconate class of 2001, Deacon Sutter worked at his parish of St. Andrew Church in Roswell as a volunteer catechist and leader in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults for many years before assuming the reins of the archdiocesan department. He also worked as an attorney in the Atlanta law firm of King and Spalding before retiring to work in full-time ministry with the church.

Deacon Sutter said that he has had the most “personal satisfaction” with his work in catechist formation in the rural areas of the archdiocese.

“I’ve spent a significant amount of time in catechist formation outside the Perimeter,” he noted, remembering fondly the many parents who volunteer their time to teach religious education and work in youth ministry.

Since 2000, Deacon Sutter has worked on a number of events and programs that have occurred in the Archdiocese of Atlanta, including dedication of the archdiocese to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the closure of Catholic schools in the city of Atlanta, transitions of new principals, the annual Eucharistic Congress, the installation of Archbishop Gregory, the National Catholic Youth Conference 2005 convention and the National Catholic Educational Association 2006 convention. In 2006, he led the committee that organized and held the diocesan jubilee celebrations throughout the year. Deacon Sutter said, “It’s been one special project every year,” in addition to his work with DREFF.

With his work for the archdiocese, he feels fortunate to have had a staff of “people doing very good work.” He said, “It’s been a lot of fun—I’ve been blessed with people who are good at what they do and have great senses of humor.”

Deacon Sutter has recently been assigned to serve at St. Clement Church in Calhoun, where he and his wife Jill will move to be closer to their children and grandchildren.