Texas

Bishop of Beaumont: Most Reverend Curtis Guillory

The Diocese of Beaumont has 44 parishes, eight missions, two stations, five Catholic elementary schools and one Catholic high school. These parishes are served by 78 priests, 49 permanent deacons, 28 sisters, three brothers, four seminarians. The Catholic population of the diocese is 80,281.

Bishop of Brownsville: Most Reverend Raymundo J. Peña

The Diocese of Brownsville encompasses 4,226 square miles and currently operates 107 parishes and missions for the 799,225 Catholics who live in the Rio Grande Valley. This diocese has one of the largest Catholic populations in the United States and the least amount of resources of any diocese to address that population. With 92 diocesan and religious priests engaged in active ministry, the priest to people ratio is roughly 1:10,220. The national average is one priest per 1,200 Catholics.

Half of the people living in the region are below 25 years of age. Hispanics account for 85% of the population and 85% of all residents are Roman Catholic. The priestly vocation shortage affecting the Church nationwide has placed a heavy strain on the Brownsville Diocese. According to the U.S. Departments of Commerce and Census Bureau, almost half of all residents live at or below the poverty level.

Bishop of Laredo: Most Reverend James A. Tamayo

The Diocese of Laredo is located on the U.S.-Mexico border where it serves a diverse population (302,196) in seven counties. In the seven-years since its establishment, the diocese has struggled to overcome significant challenges to extend the mission of Christ to a mostly immigrant and impoverished population. Among these is the need to serve new sectors of rapidly growing population centers. Laredo, Texas, the seat of the diocese, is among the fastest growing communities in the nation, with approximately 3.3% growth in the last 10 years.

The Diocese of Laredo serves the border, and a vast uncounted population of recent immigrants from Mexico, Central and South America who reside in rural and underserved communities or “colonias.” The diocesan community is made up of 31 full parishes,1 independent mission , 18 missions and 4 religious education centers.

At least one Mass is celebrated in Spanish in every parish and mission, and a majority of the clergy speaks both languages. A large population of undocumented persons are detained in prisons and federal correctional facilities, and they too must be sustained, morally and spiritually.

Catholic schools in the region have been educating the area’s youth for more than a hundred years and continue to grow. Of the seven Catholic schools in the region, four are diocesan schools, two are parish-sponsored schools and one is a private Catholic campus. More than 2,218 students are enrolled in Catholic schools.

Bishop of San Angelo: Most Reverend Michael D. Pfeifer, OMI, DD

Established on October 16, 1961, the Diocese of San Angelo encompasses 37,433 square miles comprised of 29 counties in west and central Texas.