Roman Catholic Diocese of Tyler

Last updated
Diocese of Tyler

Dioecesis Tylerensis
Catholic
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception - Tyler, Texas 01.jpg
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
Coat of arms of the Diocese of Tyler.svg
Coat of arms
Location
CountryFlag of the United States.svg  United States
Territory33 counties in Eastern Texas
Ecclesiastical province Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
Statistics
Population
- Total
- Catholics		(as of 2024)
1,460,387
121,212 (8.3%)
Information
Denomination Catholic
Sui iuris church Latin Church
Rite Roman Rite
EstablishedFebruary 24, 1987
Cathedral Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
Patron saint Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception [1]
Current leadership
Pope Francis
Bishop-designate Gregory Kelly
Metropolitan Archbishop Daniel DiNardo
Apostolic Administrator Joe Vásquez
Bishops emeritus Joseph Strickland
Map
Diocese of Tyler in Texas.jpg
Website
dioceseoftyler.org
Interior of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Tyler Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Altar, Easter 2013.jpg
Interior of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Tyler

The Diocese of Tyler (Latin : Dioecesis Tylerensis) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory, or diocese, of the Catholic Church in eastern Texas in the United States. The episcopal see is Tyler, and the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Tyler is its mother church.

Contents

The Diocese of Tyler is a suffragan diocese in the ecclesiastical province of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.

History

1690 to 1986

The first Catholic mission in Texas, then part of the Spanish Empire, was San Francisco de los Tejas. It was founded by Franciscan Father Damián Massanet in 1690 in the Weches area. The priests left the mission after three years, then established a second mission, Nuestro Padre San Francisco de los Tejas. near present-day Alto in 1716. [2]

In 1839, three years after the founding of the Republic of Texas, Pope Gregory XVI erected the prefecture apostolic of Texas, largely covering the territory of the present American State of Texas. By the 1840s, missionaries were visiting Clarksville and Nacogdoches. The prefecture was elevated to a vicariate apostolic in 1842, about three years before Texas became an American state. On May 4, 1847, Pope Pius IX elevated the vicariate into the Diocese of Galveston. [3] Marshall received its first missionary visit in 1853. The Tyler area would remain part of several Texas dioceses for the next 139 years.

1986 to present

Pope John Paul II founded the Diocese of Tyler on December 12, 1986, and it was formally erected on February 24, 1987. [2] He appointed Charles Herzig of the Diocese of Galveston-Houston as its first bishop. Herzig died in 1991. In 1992, John Paul II appointed Auxiliary Bishop Edmond Carmody of San Antonio as bishop of Tyler. [4] The pope named Carmody as bishop of the Diocese of Corpus Christi in 2000.

Auxiliary Bishop Álvaro Corrada del Río from the Archdiocese of Washington was named bishop of Tyler by John Paul II in 2001. Pope Benedict XVI appointed del Rio as bishop of the Diocese of Mayagüez in 2011.

Joseph Strickland of the Diocese of Dallas was named bishop of Tyler by Benedict XVI in 2011. Strickland was the first native East Texan to head the diocese. [5]

In June 2023, it was revealed that the Dicastery for Bishops in Rome had completed an apostolic visitation to the diocese. It was conducted by Bishop Emeritus Gerald Kicanas and Bishop Dennis Sullivan. Visitations are frequently a prelude to disciplinary action by the Vatican against a bishop. [6]

Pope Francis relieved Bishop Strickland from the pastoral governance of the diocese on November 11, 2023. [7] The rare removal occurred two months following news that, following the apostolic visitation, several senior cardinals had advised Pope Francis to place pressure on Strickland to resign. In May 2023, Strickland had posted online "I reject [Pope Francis's] program of undermining the Deposit of Faith". [8] Bishop Joe Vasquez of the Diocese of Austin was named apostolic administrator.

On December 20, 2024, Pope Francis named Auxiliary Bishop Gregory Kelly of the Diocese of Dallas as the new Bishop of Tyler. [9]

Sex abuse

Gustavo Cuello was arrested in 1997 on charges of raping a 13-year-old altar girl. The victim said that he attacked her once or twice a week for six months. After posting bail, Cuello fled to his native Ecuador. In 2003, Ecuador extradited him back to the United States. At trial, Cuello pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life in prison. [10] The Vatican laicized him in 2006. [11]

In February 2019, the diocese published the names of three priests associated with the diocese who had been credibly accused of sexually abusing minors. Only one of the three, Cuello, had allegations reported within the diocese. [12]

Bishops of Tyler

  1. Charles Edwin Herzig (1986–1991), died in office [13]
  2. Edmond Carmody (1992–2000), appointed Bishop of Corpus Christi [14]
  3. Álvaro Corrada del Río (2000–2011), appointed Bishop of Mayagüez in Puerto Rico [15]
  4. Joseph E. Strickland (2012–2023), removed by Pope Francis [16]
  5. Gregory Kelly (2025, designate) [17]

Other diocesan priest who became bishop

Geography

The Diocese of Tyler comprises the following 33 counties in east and northeast Texas:

Anderson, Angelina, Bowie, Camp, Cass, Cherokee, Delta, Franklin, Freestone, Gregg, Harrison, Henderson, Hopkins, Houston, Lamar, Leon, Madison, Marion, Morris, Nacogdoches, Panola, Rains, Red River, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, Shelby, Smith, Titus, Trinity, Upshur, Van Zandt, and Wood.

The parishes are grouped into seven deaneries for administrative purposes: Northwest, Northeast, West Central, Central, East Central, Southwest, and Southeast.

Education

High schools

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Antonio</span> Archdiocese in Texas

The Archdiocese of San Antonio is a Latin Church archdiocese of the Catholic Church in the United States. It encompasses 27,841 square miles (72,110 km2) in the U.S. state of Texas. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Antonio had a self-reported 2018 population of 796,954, up from 728,001 in 2014. The archdiocese includes the city of San Antonio and the following counties: Val Verde, Edwards, Real, Kerr, Gillespie, Kendall, Comal, Guadalupe, Gonzales, Uvalde, Kinney, Medina, Bexar, Wilson, Karnes, Frio, Atascosa, Bandera County, and the portion of McMullen County north of the Nueces River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston–Houston</span> Latin Catholic ecclesiastical jurisdiction in Texas, USA

The Archdiocese of Galveston–Houston is a Latin Church ecclesiastical jurisdiction—an archdiocese—of the Catholic Church in the United States. The archdiocese covers a portion of Southeast Texas, and is the metropolitan see of the ecclesiastical province covering east-Texas. The archdiocese was erected in 2004, having been a diocese since 1959 and the "Diocese of Galveston" since 1847. It is the second metropolitan see in Texas after the Archdiocese of San Antonio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joseph Fiorenza</span> American prelate (1931–2022)

Joseph Anthony Fiorenza was an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He was the seventh bishop and the first archbishop of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston in Texas, serving from 1985 to 2006. He previously served as bishop of the Diocese of San Angelo in Texas from 1979 to 1984.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel DiNardo</span> Catholic cardinal

Daniel Nicholas DiNardo is an American cardinal of the Catholic Church. He is the second and current archbishop of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston in Texas serving since 2006. He previously served as bishop of the Diocese of Sioux City in Iowa from 1998 to 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Diocese of Austin</span> Latin Catholic ecclesiastical jurisdiction in Texas, USA

The Diocese of Austin is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory, or diocese, of the Catholic Church comprising 25 counties of Central Texas in the United States. The diocese estimates a population of over 625,000 Catholics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Diocese of Beaumont</span> Latin Catholic ecclesiastical jurisdiction in Texas, USA

The Diocese of Beaumont is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory. or diocese. of the Catholic Church covering nine counties in the state of Texas in the United States. It is a suffragan see in the ecclesiastical province of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica serves as the cathedral church.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Diocese of Corpus Christi</span> Diocese of the Catholic Church in Texas

The Diocese of Corpus Christi is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory, or diocese, of the Catholic Church in southern Texas in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Diocese of Victoria in Texas</span> Latin Catholic ecclesiastical jurisdiction in Texas, USA

The Diocese of Victoria in Texas is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory, or diocese, of the Catholic Church in southern Texas in the United States. The Cathedral of Our Lady of Victory serves as the cathedral church. The diocese is a suffragan diocese in the ecclesiastical province of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. The bishop as of 2024 is Brendan J. Cahill.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Diocese of Dallas</span> Latin Catholic jurisdiction in Texas, United States

The Diocese of Dallas is a Latin Church ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in North Texas in the United States. It is a suffragan diocese of the Archdiocese of San Antonio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edmond Carmody</span> Irish-born American prelate

Edmond Carmody is an Irish-born American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Corpus Christi in Texas, bishop of the Diocese of Tyler in Texas and as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of San Antonio in Texas. While still a priest, Carmody spent five years working as a missionary in Ecuador.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oscar Cantú</span> Mexican-American Catholic prelate

Oscar Cantú is a Mexican-American Catholic prelate who has served as Bishop of San Jose since 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dennis Joseph Sullivan</span> American prelate

Dennis Joseph Sullivan is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who has been serving as bishop of the Diocese of Camden in New Jersey since 2013. He served as vicar general and auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of New York from 2004 to 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Álvaro Corrada del Río</span> Puerto Rican Catholic prelate (born 1942)

Álvaro Corrada del Río, S.J. is a Puerto Rican prelate of the Catholic Church and member of the Society of Jesus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe S. Vásquez</span> Current Catholic Bishop of Austin

Joe Steve Vásquez is a prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, serving as the bishop of the Diocese of Austin in Texas since 2010. Additionally, he served as apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Tyler, Texas from November 2023 to December 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vincent M. Rizzotto</span> American Catholic bishop (1931–2021)

Vincent Michael Rizzotto was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston from 2001 to 2006.

John Ludvik Morkovsky was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Amarillo in Texas from 1958 to 1963 and as bishop of the Diocese of Galveston-Houston in Texas from 1975 to 1984.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joseph Strickland</span> American prelate of the Catholic Church (born 1958)

Joseph Edward Strickland is an American Bishop of the Catholic Church who served as Bishop of Tyler from 2012 until his removal by Pope Francis in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel E. Garcia</span>

Daniel Elias Garcia is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He was consecrated an auxiliary bishop for the Diocese of Austin in Texas on March 3, 2015. On January 29, 2019, Garcia was installed as the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Monterey in California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Italo Dell'Oro</span> Italian prelate

Italo Dell’Oro, CRS is an Italian prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who has been serving as auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston in Texas since 2021.

References

  1. ↑ Strickland, Joseph Edward (April 22, 2017). "A Teaching Diocese: Constitution on Teaching the Catholic Faith" (PDF). Diocese of Tyler. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  2. 1 2 Texas Almanac-Diocese of Tyler
  3. ↑ "History". Archdiocese of Galveston–Houston. Archived from the original on 2012-04-15. Retrieved 2016-03-23.
  4. ↑ "Bishop Edmond Carmody". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2010-04-16.
  5. ↑ Hoeffner, Rebecca. "First East Texas native to oversee diocese". Tyler Morning Telegraph. Retrieved 5 December 2012.
  6. ↑ CNA. "UPDATE: Vatican-ordered investigation targets Bishop Strickland of Tyler, Texas". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
  7. ↑ "Pope Francis Relieves Bishop Joseph Strickland from Pastoral Governance of the Diocese of Tyler and Appoints Bishop Joe Vásquez as Apostolic Administrator Sede Vacante | USCCB". www.usccb.org. Retrieved 2023-11-11.
  8. ↑ "Pope Francis removes Tyler's Bishop Strickland". The Pillar . November 11, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Pope names Dallas auxiliary bishop as successor to Bishop Strickland | News Headlines". www.catholicculture.org. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
  10. ↑ "GUSTAVO CUELLO: Ex-Tyler priest serving life sentence for sex abuse". cbs19.tv. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
  11. ↑ "Permanently Dismissed Diocese Removes Former Priest, Tyler Morning Telegraph, November 18, 2006". www.bishop-accountability.org. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
  12. ↑ Campbell, Louanna (2019-02-01). "3 priests who served Tyler diocese on list of accused". TylerPaper.com. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
  13. ↑ "Rev. Charles E. Herzig". Orlando Sentinel . September 11, 1991. Archived from the original on November 11, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Bishop Carmody to retire as vicar general of Diocese of Tyler". KLTV . May 5, 2015. Archived from the original on November 11, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Pope Names Bishop Alvaro Corrada Del Rio to Puerto Rico Diocese". United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. July 6, 2011. Archived from the original on September 11, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  16. 1 2 Pullella, Philip (November 11, 2023). "In very rare move, Pope dismisses conservative US bishop Strickland". Reuters . Archived from the original on November 11, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Pope Francis Appoints Bishop Gregory Kelly as Bishop of Tyler | USCCB". www.usccb.org. Retrieved 2024-12-20.

32°20′03″N95°18′00″W / 32.33417°N 95.30000°W / 32.33417; -95.30000

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.