Eduardo Nevares
Encyclopedia
Eduardo Alanis Nevares is auxiliary bishop
of the Diocese of Phoenix
, appointed by Pope Benedict XVI
on May 11, 2010.
, to Andres Valdes Nevares and Beatriz Alanis Tamez. The youngest of six children in a Mexican American
family, he has one sister and four brothers, all of whom were born in Mexico
. The family lived in Chicago
, Illinois
, before settling in Houston. Nevares received his early education at the parochial school
of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Houston. At age 14, he enrolled at La Salette Minor Seminary in Jefferson City
, Missouri
. The following year, when the seminary was closed, he was transferred to St. Henry Preparatory Seminary in Belleville
.
Nevares continued his studies at La Salette Junior College Seminary in Altamont, New York
, where he earned an Associate's degree
in 1974. He attended the Missionary of Our Lady of LaSalette Philosophy Seminary in Ipswich
, Massachusetts
, for one year before entering St. Thomas University in Houston, where earned a Bachelor of Arts
degree in Philosophy in 1976. He entered the novitiate of the Missionaries of Our Lady of LaSalette
in 1976, professing his first vows in 1977 and his final vows in 1980. He completed his theological studies at Kenrick Seminary in St. Louis
, Missouri
, where he earned a Master of Divinity
degree in 1981.
to the priesthood
by Bishop Bernard J. Ganter
on July 18, 1981. His first assignment was as a parochial vicar
at St. Patrick's Church in Lufkin
, where he remained for seven years. From 1988 to 1991, he served as vocations director for the LaSalette Missionaries. He then resumed his pastoral ministry, serving as a parochial vicar at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Jacksonville
(1991) and a Catholic chaplain
at Stephen F. Austin State University
in Nacogdoches
(1991–93).
From 1993 to 2002, Nevares served as pastor
of St. Patrick's Church in Lufkin. During his tenure at St. Patrick's, he oversaw the construction of a new church, which was completed and consecrated in 2001. In addition to his pastoral duties, he served as provincial counselor to the St. Louis province of the LaSalette Missionaries (1994–97). Nevares became co-director of Vocations for Holy Orders and Consecrated Life in the Diocese of Tyler
in 2002. In this capacity, he organized and conducted the first Spanish
-speaking program for candidates for the permanent diaconate
. He also served as diocesan director of charismatic
groups.
After twenty-five years as a LaSalette Missionary, Nevares was incardinated into the Diocese of Tyler in 2007. In 2008, he was appointed vice-rector
of the College of Liberal Arts at the Pontifical College Josephinum
in Columbus
, Ohio
. As vice-rector, he has assisted with the administration of the priestly formation program, coordinated the formation for college level seminarians, and taught Spanish to the college seminarians.
of Phoenix
, Arizona
, and Titular Bishop
of Natchesium
by Pope Benedict XVI
. In response to his appointment, he said, "I am so grateful to Almighty God for entrusting me with this great ministry of being a successor to the
Apostles
. I am so grateful to the Holy Father
for giving me this graced opportunity to serve God and the Holy People of Phoenix." He will be the first auxiliary bishop of and the first Hispanic
bishop of the Diocese of Phoenix. His episcopal motto
is: "Serve the Lord with gladness."
Nevares received his episcopal
consecration
on July 19, 2010 at 2:00 pm from The Most Reverend Thomas J. Olmsted
, Bishop of Phoenix, at the Saint Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Avondale, AZ.
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of the Diocese of Phoenix
Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix
-History:The Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix in Arizona is a particular church of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. It was established on December 2, 1969 when it was split off of the Diocese of Tucson...
, appointed by Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
on May 11, 2010.
Early life and education
Eduardo Nevares was born in San Antonio, TexasTexas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, to Andres Valdes Nevares and Beatriz Alanis Tamez. The youngest of six children in a Mexican American
Mexican American
Mexican Americans are Americans of Mexican descent. As of July 2009, Mexican Americans make up 10.3% of the United States' population with over 31,689,000 Americans listed as of Mexican ancestry. Mexican Americans comprise 66% of all Hispanics and Latinos in the United States...
family, he has one sister and four brothers, all of whom were born in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. The family lived in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, before settling in Houston. Nevares received his early education at the parochial school
Parochial school
A parochial school is a school that provides religious education in addition to conventional education. In a narrower sense, a parochial school is a Christian grammar school or high school which is part of, and run by, a parish.-United Kingdom:...
of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Houston. At age 14, he enrolled at La Salette Minor Seminary in Jefferson City
Jefferson City, Missouri
Jefferson City is the capital of the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Cole County. Located in Callaway and Cole counties, it is the principal city of the Jefferson City metropolitan area, which encompasses the entirety of both counties. As of the 2010 census, the population was 43,079...
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
. The following year, when the seminary was closed, he was transferred to St. Henry Preparatory Seminary in Belleville
Belleville, Illinois
Belleville is a city in St. Clair County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city has a population of 44,478. It is the eighth-most populated city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area and the most populated city south of Springfield in the state of Illinois. It is the county...
.
Nevares continued his studies at La Salette Junior College Seminary in Altamont, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, where he earned an Associate's degree
Associate's degree
An associate degree is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by community colleges, junior colleges, technical colleges, and bachelor's degree-granting colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study usually lasting two years...
in 1974. He attended the Missionary of Our Lady of LaSalette Philosophy Seminary in Ipswich
Ipswich, Massachusetts
Ipswich is a coastal town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 12,987 at the 2000 census. Home to Willowdale State Forest and Sandy Point State Reservation, Ipswich includes the southern part of Plum Island...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, for one year before entering St. Thomas University in Houston, where earned a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in Philosophy in 1976. He entered the novitiate of the Missionaries of Our Lady of LaSalette
Missionaries of La Salette
The Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette are a religious congregation of priests and brothers in the Latin Church one of the 23 sui iuris churches which make up the Catholic Church which is led by the Bishop of Rome. They are named after the apparition of Our Lady of La Salette in France La...
in 1976, professing his first vows in 1977 and his final vows in 1980. He completed his theological studies at Kenrick Seminary in St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, where he earned a Master of Divinity
Master of Divinity
In the academic study of theology, the Master of Divinity is the first professional degree of the pastoral profession in North America...
degree in 1981.
Priesthood
Nevares was ordainedHoly Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
to the priesthood
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
by Bishop Bernard J. Ganter
Bernard J. Ganter
Bernard Jacques Ganter was an American clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Tulsa and Bishop of Beaumont, TX .-Biography:...
on July 18, 1981. His first assignment was as a parochial vicar
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
at St. Patrick's Church in Lufkin
Lufkin, Texas
Lufkin is a city in Angelina County, Texas, United States. Founded in 1882, the population was 35,067 in 2010. It is the county seat of Angelina County, and is situated in Deep East Texas.-History:...
, where he remained for seven years. From 1988 to 1991, he served as vocations director for the LaSalette Missionaries. He then resumed his pastoral ministry, serving as a parochial vicar at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Jacksonville
Jacksonville, Texas
Jacksonville is located in Cherokee County, Texas, United States. The population was 13,868 at the 2000 census. It is the principal city of the Jacksonville Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Cherokee County and part of the larger Tyler-Jacksonville Combined Statistical...
(1991) and a Catholic chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
at Stephen F. Austin State University
Stephen F. Austin State University
Stephen F. Austin State University is a public university located in Nacogdoches, Texas, United States. Founded as a teachers' college in 1923, the university was named after one of Texas' founding fathers, Stephen F. Austin. Its campus resides on part of the homestead of another Texas founding...
in Nacogdoches
Nacogdoches, Texas
Nacogdoches is a city in Nacogdoches County, Texas, in the United States. The 2010 census recorded the city's population to be 32,996. It is the county seat of Nacogdoches County and is situated in East Texas. Nacogdoches is a sister city of Natchitoches, Louisiana.Nacogdoches is the home of...
(1991–93).
From 1993 to 2002, Nevares served as pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
of St. Patrick's Church in Lufkin. During his tenure at St. Patrick's, he oversaw the construction of a new church, which was completed and consecrated in 2001. In addition to his pastoral duties, he served as provincial counselor to the St. Louis province of the LaSalette Missionaries (1994–97). Nevares became co-director of Vocations for Holy Orders and Consecrated Life in the Diocese of Tyler
Roman Catholic Diocese of Tyler
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Tyler is a Roman Catholic diocese in Texas. It was founded on December 12, 1986.The Diocese of Tyler was created December 12, 1986 and erected on February 24, 1987.It comprises 33 counties:* Anderson* Angelina* Bowie...
in 2002. In this capacity, he organized and conducted the first Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
-speaking program for candidates for the permanent diaconate
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
. He also served as diocesan director of charismatic
Catholic Charismatic Renewal
The Catholic Charismatic Renewal is a movement within the Catholic Church. Worship is characterized by vibrant Masses, as well as prayer meetings featuring prophecy, healing and "praying in tongues." This movement is based on the belief that certain charismata , bestowed by the Holy Spirit, such as...
groups.
After twenty-five years as a LaSalette Missionary, Nevares was incardinated into the Diocese of Tyler in 2007. In 2008, he was appointed vice-rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of the College of Liberal Arts at the Pontifical College Josephinum
Pontifical College Josephinum
The Pontifical College Josephinum is a four-year, Roman Catholic liberal arts college and graduate school of theology founded by Monsignor Joseph Jessing in 1888 and located in Columbus, Ohio, USA. The seminary prepares its students to become priests in the Roman Catholic Church. Students come...
in Columbus
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. As vice-rector, he has assisted with the administration of the priestly formation program, coordinated the formation for college level seminarians, and taught Spanish to the college seminarians.
Episcopacy
On May 11, 2010, Nevares was appointed Auxiliary BishopAuxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of Phoenix
Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix
-History:The Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix in Arizona is a particular church of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. It was established on December 2, 1969 when it was split off of the Diocese of Tucson...
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, and Titular Bishop
Titular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Natchesium
Natchesium
Natchesium or Natchez is a Roman Catholic Diocese. As it is a titular see, it is not an active diocese. The diocese was founded on July 28, 1837 and originally was the Catholic diocese for the entire state of Mississippi. Even though the diocese was officially created in 1837, the first bishop of...
by Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
. In response to his appointment, he said, "I am so grateful to Almighty God for entrusting me with this great ministry of being a successor to the
Apostolic Succession
Apostolic succession is a doctrine, held by some Christian denominations, which asserts that the chosen successors of the Twelve Apostles, from the first century to the present day, have inherited the spiritual, ecclesiastical and sacramental authority, power, and responsibility that were...
Apostles
Apostle (Christian)
The term apostle is derived from Classical Greek ἀπόστολος , meaning one who is sent away, from στέλλω + από . The literal meaning in English is therefore an "emissary", from the Latin mitto + ex...
. I am so grateful to the Holy Father
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
for giving me this graced opportunity to serve God and the Holy People of Phoenix." He will be the first auxiliary bishop of and the first Hispanic
Hispanic and Latino Americans
Hispanic or Latino Americans are Americans with origins in the Hispanic countries of Latin America or in Spain, and in general all persons in the United States who self-identify as Hispanic or Latino.1990 Census of Population and Housing: A self-designated classification for people whose origins...
bishop of the Diocese of Phoenix. His episcopal motto
Motto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
is: "Serve the Lord with gladness."
Nevares received his episcopal
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
consecration
Consecration
Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service, usually religious. The word "consecration" literally means "to associate with the sacred". Persons, places, or things can be consecrated, and the term is used in various ways by different groups...
on July 19, 2010 at 2:00 pm from The Most Reverend Thomas J. Olmsted
Thomas J. Olmsted
Thomas Olmsted is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the fourth and current Bishop of Phoenix, having previously served as Bishop of Wichita from 2001 to 2003.-Early life:...
, Bishop of Phoenix, at the Saint Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Avondale, AZ.