Four bishops are still involved in evangelization

The four living Bishops of Corpus Christi are dynamic men still involved in evangelization. Bishop Emeriti Rene H. Gracida and Edmond Carmody are frequently seen and welcomed by the people at various diocesan functions; they often celebrate Masses on special occasions. 

Bishop Roberto Gonzalez, now serves as the Archbishop of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Bishop Wm. Michael Mulvey is the eighth and current ordinary of the diocese.

Bishop Rene H. Gracida, DD (1983-1997) is a decorated war veteran, an architect and a pilot. He served as a flight engineer during World War II and was involved in the bombing of Dresden for which he was awarded the Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters.    

Under Bishop Gracida, the diocese experienced considerable growth.  The bishop placed an emphasis of communications and built a center to house the newspaper and radio station. He built religious education centers in parishes and further expanded diocesan ministries. 

Bishop Gracida initiated the Second Synod in 1988, slightly more than 25 years after the First Synod of 1962. During his administration, Villa Maria was acquired to provide a safe and peaceful home for elderly, many of whom are on a fixed income.  It provides a combination of reasonable rent, beautiful landscaping and an opportunity for independent living in a Catholic environment.

During his tenure, major changes were made in the Cathedral sanctuary with the installation of the presbytorium.  The Blessed Sacrament chapel was added with its altar of repose for the tabernacle and Holy Eucharist.

Bishop Gracida presently resides in Corpus Christi and continues to attend religious and social functions. 

Bishop Roberto Octavio Gonzalez, OFM, DD, (1997-1999) served as coadjutor to Bishop Gracida for two years prior to his installation in 1997.

He crisscrossed the region meeting with priests, religious and laity, seeking their input and cooperation on the ongoing work of the Church in south Texas. Bishop Gonzalez began the Bishop’s Guild, an organization of lay people dedicated to helping the bishop meet critical needs in the diocese, which may take the form of assistance in operating poor and developing parishes and missions, or whatever the bishop may see as a serious need.

Bishop Gonzalez was named Archbishop of San Juan, Puerto Rico in 1999.  He remained as administrator of the Diocese of Corpus Christi until the following March, making monthly visits to Texas until the appointment of a new bishop.

Bishop Edmond Carmody, DD (2000-2010) was the seventh bishop of Corpus Christi. A native of Ireland, he was welcomed by a huge crowd on St. Patrick’s day, March 17, 2000 at Corpus Christi Cathedral. His quick Irish wit was evident when he remarked that “It was nice to go to church where everyone knew your name and everyone is glad you came.”

Bishop Carmody worked to bring church life to the rural areas of South Texas.  He felt that a small parish where personal piety was cultivated was what was needed for the faith community to grow. Bishop Carmody worked to provide each small town its own parish or mission with a resident priest. 

“It’s important that little communities have their own place to worship with their own priest,” Bishop Carmody said. With this in mind Bishop Carmody brought 36 priests, primarily from southern India, Poland and Colombia, to the diocese.

It was with the same spirit of “bringing the people to the Lord” that he founded Blessed John Paul II High School for the education of diocesan youth.  These days he is often found on the school’s campus, teaching and interacting with students to bring them to the Lord.

Bishop Wm. Michael Mulvey, STL, DD  (2010-present) was installed as the eighth bishop of the Diocese of Corpus Christi on March 25, 2010. A native of Houston, he completed his early education at Catholic schools there and in Austin where his family later moved. He earned advanced degrees in Sacred Theology from Gregorian University in Rome in 1976.

Pope Paul VI ordained Bishop Mulvey a priest for the Diocese of Austin in 1975 in St. Peter’s Square. As a priest of the Diocese of Austin, Bishop Mulvey had many assignments both in parishes and seminaries. Prior to his arrival in Corpus Christi he served as chancellor, vicar general and administrator of the Diocese of Austin.

Since his arrival, Bishop Mulvey has worked towards strengthening parish life, building communications and fraternity with the presbyterate and increasing vocations. He is advocating increased ministries to serve families, youth and young adults. He is also committed to the New Evangelization, and is directing the diocese to embrace the new social media that is so much a part of the evangelization of the future.

He has instituted multiple uses of electronic communications through weekly update e-letters; an interactive diocesan Web site that features online forms, calendars, news events, videos and the first-ever episcopal blog; and a presence on social media sites, such as, Facebook and Twitter.

The celebration of the centennial of the diocese is another high profile activity initiated by Bishop Mulvey. Its theme, “Together We Remember, Rejoice, and Renew” will serve as a springboard to continued evangelization and renewal.