Pope names Texas monsignor as new Tyler bishop

Last updated on: October 1, 2012 at 7:08 pm by CNA Daily News

Pope names Texas monsignor as new Tyler bishop 2012-10-01T19:08:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Tyler, Texas, Oct 1, 2012 / 01:08 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- In a rare move, Pope Benedict XVI has named Monsignor Joseph E. Strickland, the vicar general of the Diocese of Tyler, as the next bishop of the same east Texas diocese he has served as a priest for over 25 years.

“I know it’s a tremendous task that I’m given. But I’m here with family,” Bishop-designate Strickland told a Sept. 29 press conference in Tyler.

He thanked God for his “wondrous blessings” and thanked the Pope “for his expression of confidence.” He also expressed his gratitude to his parents and his siblings, who were not present.

“I thank God for my Catholic faith that I was baptized into as an infant,” he added.

Priests are not usually appointed bishops of the diocese in which they are presently ministering, the bishop-designate noted.

“I do feel greatly blessed. It’s a very real call from God to serve here.”

The press conference displayed the bishop-designate’s sense of humor.

He joked that he parked in the previous bishop’s parking space and said that the volume of congratulatory e-mails and text messages was so great that he needed a cooling system for his phone.

Bishop-designate Strickland, 53, was ordained a priest in 1985 for the Diocese of Dallas just before Pope John Paul II created the Diocese of Tyler from its territory in 1986. He has served as parochial vicar, diocesan vocations director, diocesan Scout chaplain, member of the diocesan tribunal and rector of Tyler’s Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.

He was named a monsignor in 1995 and became vicar general of the diocese in 2010, the U.S. bishops’ conference reports.

The bishop-to-be was born Oct. 31, 1958 in Fredericksburg, Texas. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Dallas in 1981 and a master’s degree in divinity from Holy Trinity Seminary in Dallas. He has a licentiate in canon law from the Catholic University of America.

Bishop-designate Strickland succeeds Bishop Alvaro Corrada del Rio, S.J., who is now Bishop of Mayaguez in Puerto Rico.

The Diocese of Tyler has 54,746 Catholics out of a population of almost 1.4 million. Its territory covers 23,443 square miles.

Previous Post

October 1, 2012

Brazilian bishops slam magazine for photo of 'crucified' soccer star

Next Post

October 1, 2012 Supreme Court justices urged to let God inspire their work

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

True or False: Cain killed his brother Abel because God rejected Cain's offering.

Select your answer to see how you score.

TRUE FALSE