As of 31st of December 2014, the Catholic Church consisted of 2,998 dioceses or equivalent jurisdictions,[7] each overseen by a bishop. Dioceses are divided into individual communities called parishes, each staffed by one or more priest, deacon, or lay ecclesial minister.[8] Ordinarily, care of a parish is entrusted to a priest, though there are exceptions. Approximately 22% of all parishes do not have a resident pastor, and 3,485 parishes worldwide are entrusted to a deacon or lay ecclesial minister.[9]