Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Antonio
Encyclopedia
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Antonio encompasses 27841 square miles (72,107.9 km²) in Texas.
The archdiocese includes the city of San Antonio
and the following counties: Val Verde
, Edwards, Kerr
, Gillespie
, Kendall
, Comal
, Guadalupe
, Gonzales
, Uvalde
, Kinney
, Medina, Bexar
, Wilson
, Karnes
, Frio, Atascosa, and McMullen.
On August 28, 1874 the Roman Catholic Diocese of Galveston was divided and the northern territory was canonically erected by the Holy See as the diocese of San Antonio. Originally part of the Ecclesiastical Province of New Orleans
, it was subsequently elevated on August 3, 1926 to a metropolitan archdiocese.
The archbishop of San Antonio also serves as the Metropolitan of the ecclesiastical province of San Antonio, with oversight of the Texas suffragan sees of Amarillo
, Dallas
, El Paso
, Fort Worth
, Laredo
, Lubbock
and San Angelo
. All of Texas' dioceses had been suffragan sees under San Antonio until December 2004, when Pope John Paul II
created the new Ecclesiastical Province of Galveston-Houston and elevated the See of Galveston-Houston to a Metropolitan See.
. It was elevated to an archdiocese on August 3, 1926. As of 2010, it has 139 parishes
, 34 missions
and two pastoral centers.
With the appointment of Archbishop José Horacio Gómez as the Coadjutor Archbishop of Los Angeles
, its cathedral was considered sede vacante
until October 14, 2010.
On October 14, 2010, Pope Benedict XVI
appointed Gustavo Garcia-Siller as Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Antonio
, in Texas.
The archdiocese includes the city of San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
and the following counties: Val Verde
Val Verde County, Texas
Val Verde County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2008, estimated population was 55,000. Its county seat is Del Rio. In 1936, Val Verde County received Recorded Texas Historic Landmark number 5625 to commemorate its founding.Val Verde, which means "green...
, Edwards, Kerr
Kerr County, Texas
Kerr County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2010, its population was 49,625. Its county seat is Kerrville. Kerr County was named by Joshua D. Brown for his fellow Kentucky native, James Kerr, a congressman of the Republic of Texas...
, Gillespie
Gillespie County, Texas
Gillespie County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2010, its population was 24,837. It is located in the heart of the Texas Hill Country. Gillespie is named for Robert Addison Gillespie, who came to Texas in 1837. He was a Texas Ranger, an Indian fighter, a...
, Kendall
Kendall County, Texas
Kendall County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2008 census, its population was 32,886. Its seat is Boerne....
, Comal
Comal County, Texas
Comal County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2010, its population was 108,472. Its seat is New Braunfels.Comal County is part of the San Antonio Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History Timeline:...
, Guadalupe
Guadalupe County, Texas
Guadalupe County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 89,023. It is named for the Guadalupe River. The seat of the county is Seguin. It was founded in 1846....
, Gonzales
Gonzales County, Texas
Gonzales County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 18,628. It is named for its seat, the city of Gonzales.-History Timeline:* Paleo-Indians Hunter-gatherers, and later Coahuiltecan, Tonkawa, Karankawa...
, Uvalde
Uvalde County, Texas
Uvalde County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 25,926. Its county seat is Uvalde. The county is named for Juan de Ugalde, the Spanish governor of Coahuila. Uvalde County was founded by Reading Wood Black who also founded the city of Uvalde,...
, Kinney
Kinney County, Texas
Kinney County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 3,379. Its seat is Brackettville. Kinney County is named for Henry Lawrence Kinney, an early settler.-Geography:...
, Medina, Bexar
Bexar County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,392,931 people, 488,942 households, and 345,681 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,117 people per square mile . There were 521,359 housing units at an average density of 418 per square mile...
, Wilson
Wilson County, Texas
Wilson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 32,408. Its county seat is Floresville. The county is named after James Charles Wilson....
, Karnes
Karnes County, Texas
Karnes County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of 2000, the population was 15,446. Its county seat is Karnes City. Karnes County is named for Henry Karnes, a soldier in the Texas Revolution.-Geography:...
, Frio, Atascosa, and McMullen.
On August 28, 1874 the Roman Catholic Diocese of Galveston was divided and the northern territory was canonically erected by the Holy See as the diocese of San Antonio. Originally part of the Ecclesiastical Province of New Orleans
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans, officially in Latin Archidioecesis Novae Aureliae, is an ecclesiastical division of the Roman Catholic Church administered from New Orleans, Louisiana...
, it was subsequently elevated on August 3, 1926 to a metropolitan archdiocese.
The archbishop of San Antonio also serves as the Metropolitan of the ecclesiastical province of San Antonio, with oversight of the Texas suffragan sees of Amarillo
Roman Catholic Diocese of Amarillo
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Amarillo is a Roman Catholic diocese in Amarillo Texas. It was founded on August 3, 1926 .The diocese's past bishops include:*Rudolph Gerken *Robert Emmet Lucey *Laurence Julius...
, Dallas
Roman Catholic Diocese of Dallas
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Dallas is a Roman Catholic diocese in Texas. It was founded on July 15, 1890 by Pope Leo XIII. The diocese's cathedral is the Cathedral Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe....
, El Paso
Roman Catholic Diocese of El Paso
The Roman Catholic Diocese of El Paso is a particular church of the Roman Catholic Church in West Texas. Covering , it encompasses the Texas counties of El Paso, Brewster, Culberson, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Loving, Presidio, Reeves, Ward and Winkler with approximately 668,000 professing members,...
, Fort Worth
Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth, USA, was established August 9, 1969, after being part of the Diocese of Dallas for 79 years. At present, the Diocese has more than 560,000 Catholics in 89 parishes and missions, served by 123 priests, 110 deacons, 24 sisters, and 5 brothers...
, Laredo
Roman Catholic Diocese of Laredo
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Laredo is a Roman Catholic diocese located in Laredo, Texas. It was founded on July 3, 2000. The San Agustin Cathedral is the Mother Church of the Diocese of Laredo. James Anthony Tamayo is the current bishop of the Diocese. It covers an area of 10,905 sq. mi. and...
, Lubbock
Roman Catholic Diocese of Lubbock
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Lubbock is a Roman Catholic diocese in Texas. It was founded on March 25, 1983. The Diocese of Lubbock—encompassing 25 counties on the Llano Estacado and Rolling Plains of West Texas—is a church of 83,000 Roman Catholics who gather in 62 parish churches as of June of...
and San Angelo
Roman Catholic Diocese of San Angelo
The Roman Catholic Diocese of San Angelo is a Roman Catholic diocese covering twenty-nine counties in western and central Texas. It was founded on October 16, 1961.The Roman Catholic Diocese of San Angelo, Texas, encompasses some...
. All of Texas' dioceses had been suffragan sees under San Antonio until December 2004, when Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
created the new Ecclesiastical Province of Galveston-Houston and elevated the See of Galveston-Houston to a Metropolitan See.
History of diocese
The Archdiocese of San Antonio was erected as a diocese on August 28, 1874 under the then Diocese of GalvestonRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston encompasses of ten counties in the southeastern area of Texas: Galveston; Harris; Austin; Brazoria; Fort Bend; Grimes; Montgomery; San Jacinto; Walker; and Waller.The chancery of the diocese is located in Downtown Houston. The Archdiocese's...
. It was elevated to an archdiocese on August 3, 1926. As of 2010, it has 139 parishes
Parish (Catholic Church)
In the Roman Catholic Church, a parish is the lowest ecclesiastical geographical subdivision: from ecclesiastical province to diocese to deanery to parish.-Requirements:A parish needs two things under common law to become a parish...
, 34 missions
Catholic missions
As the church normally organizes itself along territorial lines, and because they had the human and material resources, religious orders—some even specializing in it—undertook most missionary work, especially in the early phases...
and two pastoral centers.
With the appointment of Archbishop José Horacio Gómez as the Coadjutor Archbishop of Los Angeles
Coadjutor bishop
A coadjutor bishop is a bishop in the Roman Catholic or Anglican churches who is designated to assist the diocesan bishop in the administration of the diocese, almost as co-bishop of the diocese...
, its cathedral was considered sede vacante
Sede vacante
Sede vacante is an expression, used in the Canon Law of the Catholic Church, that refers to the vacancy of the episcopal see of a particular church...
until October 14, 2010.
On October 14, 2010, 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...
appointed Gustavo Garcia-Siller as Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Antonio
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Antonio
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Antonio encompasses in Texas.The archdiocese includes the city of San Antonio and the following counties: Val Verde, Edwards, Kerr, Gillespie, Kendall, Comal, Guadalupe, Gonzales, Uvalde, Kinney, Medina, Bexar, Wilson, Karnes, Frio, Atascosa, and McMullen.On...
, in Texas.
Diocese of San Antonio
- Anthony Dominic Ambrose Pellicer (September 2, 1874 Appointed – April 14, 1880 Died)
- John Claude NerazJohn Claude NerazJohn Claude Neraz was a French-born clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of San Antonio from 1881 until his death in 1894.-Biography:...
(February 18, 1881 Appointed – November 15, 1894 Died) - John Anthony ForestJohn Anthony ForestJohn Anthony Forest was a French-born clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of San Antonio from 1895 until his death in 1911.-Biography:...
(August 27, 1895 Appointed – March 11, 1911 Died) - John William ShawJohn Shaw (archbishop)John William Shaw was an American clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of San Antonio and Archbishop of New Orleans .-Biography:...
(March 11, 1911 Succeeded – January 25, 1918 Appointed, Archbishop of New Orleans, Louisiana) - Arthur Jerome DrossaertsArthur Jerome DrossaertsArthur Jerome Drossaerts was a Dutch-born American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of San Antonio from 1918 until his death.-Biography:...
(July 18, 1918 Appointed – August 3, 1926 Elevated to Archbishop)
Archdiocese of San Antonio
- Arthur Jerome DrossaertsArthur Jerome DrossaertsArthur Jerome Drossaerts was a Dutch-born American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of San Antonio from 1918 until his death.-Biography:...
(August 3, 1926 Elevated to Archbishop – September 8, 1940 Died) - Robert Emmet LuceyRobert Emmet LuceyArchbishop Robert Emmet Lucey was the second Bishop of Amarillo and the second Archbishop of San Antonio.-Early years:...
(January 23, 1941 Appointed – May 23, 1969 Retired) - Francis James Furey (May 23, 1969 Appointed – April 23, 1979 Died)
- Patrick Fernández Flores (August 23, 1979 Appointed – December 29, 2004 Retired)
- José Horacio GómezJosé Horacio GomezJosé Horacio Gómez is a Mexican-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States, currently serving as the Archbishop of Los Angeles. He previously served as Auxiliary Bishop of Denver from 2001–2004 and as Archbishop of San Antonio from 2004–2010.Born in Monterrey, Mexico, Gómez was...
(December 29, 2004 Appointed – April 6, 2010) - Gustavo Garcia-SillerGustavo Garcia-SillerGustavo Garcia-Siller, M.Sp.S. is a Mexican American prelate of the Catholic Church of the Western Roman Rite...
(October 14, 2010 Appointed- present)
Universities
- University of the Incarnate WordUniversity of the Incarnate WordThe University of the Incarnate Word is a private Catholic university located within the cities of San Antonio and Alamo Heights in Texas, United States....
(est. 1881) - Our Lady of the Lake UniversityOur Lady of the Lake UniversityOur Lady of the Lake University is an independent Catholic, co-ed university located in San Antonio, Texas, United States. It was founded in 1895 by the Sisters of the Congregation of Divine Providence, a religious order originating in Lorraine, France, during the 18th century...
(est. 1895) - St. Mary's UniversitySt. Mary's University, TexasSt. Mary's University is a Catholic and Marianist liberal arts institution located on northwest of downtown San Antonio, Texas, United States. St. Mary’s is a nationally recognized master’s level school ranked among the top colleges in the west for best value and academic reputation by U.S. News...
(est. 1852)
High schools
- Antonian College Preparatory High SchoolAntonian College Preparatory High SchoolAntonian College Preparatory High School is a co-educational, National Blue Ribbon Catholic high school in San Antonio, Texas. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Antonio...
, San Antonio - Atonement AcademyAtonement AcademyThe Atonement Academy is a parochial, Catholic school in the Archdiocese of San Antonio, Texas. It is a part of Our Lady of the Atonement Catholic parish and was opened on August 15, 1994. The college preparatory school curriculum was inaugurated in 2004, the first seniors graduating in 2008...
, San Antonio - Central Catholic Marianist High SchoolCentral Catholic Marianist High SchoolCentral Catholic High School, is a Catholic, all-male, non-boarding college preparatory school located in downtown San Antonio, Texas, in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Antonio.-History:...
, San Antonio - Holy Cross High SchoolHoly Cross High School (San Antonio, Texas)Holy Cross High School, is a Catholic, Coeducational, college preparatory school located on the west side of San Antonio, Texas, in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Antonio.-History:...
, San Antonio - Incarnate Word High School, San Antonio
- Our Lady of the Hills High SchoolOur Lady of the Hills High SchoolOur Lady of the Hills High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Kerrville, Texas. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Antonio.-Background:...
, Kerrville - Providence High SchoolProvidence High School (San Antonio)Providence High School is a Catholic, college preparatory high school for girls located in downtown San Antonio, Texas, USA. It is accredited by the Texas Catholic Conference Education Department and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and is a member of The College Board...
, San Antonio - St. Anthony Catholic High SchoolSt. Anthony Catholic High SchoolSt. Anthony Catholic High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school located in the Monte Vista Historic District, San Antonio, Texas. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Antonio.-Background:...
, San Antonio - St. Gerard Catholic High SchoolSt. Gerard Catholic High SchoolSt. Gerard Catholic High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in San Antonio, Texas. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Antonio. The program and staff are here to serve students and to help them in their educational endeavors. Interest and concern for students is...
, San Antonio - John Paul II Catholic High SchoolJohn Paul II Catholic High School (Schertz, Texas)John Paul II High School is a private Roman Catholic college preparatory high school in Schertz, Texas. It is operated by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Antonio.-Background:...
, Schertz