Sam Jacobs (bishop)
Encyclopedia
Sam Gallip Jacobs is an American
prelate
of the Roman Catholic Church
. He is the third and current Bishop of Houma-Thibodaux
, having previously served as Bishop of Alexandria from 1989 to 2003.
, but raised in Lake Charles, Louisiana
. He studied at Immaculata Seminary in Lafayette
from 1951 to 1957, and at the Catholic University of America
in Washington, D.C.
from 1957 to 1964. On June 6, 1964, he was ordained
to the priesthood
for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette
by Bishop Warren L. Boudreaux. Jacobs served as pastor
, chaplain
, and associate pastor
of several parishes
in the Diocese of Lafayette and the Diocese of Lake Charles
. He has served as chairman
of the National Service Committee for the Charismatic Renewal
and Diocesan Director of Vocations
and Seminarians
for the Diocese of Lake Charles.
On July 1, 1989, Jacobs was appointed the tenth Bishop of Alexandria by Pope John Paul II
. He received his episcopal consecration
on the following August 24 from Archbishop Francis Schulte
, with Bishops Boudreaux and Jude Speyrer
serving as co-consecrators
. Jacobs was later named the third Bishop of Houma-Thibodaux
on August 1, 2003, and was installed
on October 10 of that year. Some have categorized Bishop Jacobs approach to the mass as charismatic.
Within the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
, he was chairman of the for Evangelization (2005-2007), and is currently a member of the Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth and the Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. He is the third and current Bishop of Houma-Thibodaux
Roman Catholic Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux
The Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux is a Roman Catholic diocese in southeastern Louisiana. It comprises Terrebonne and Lafourche Parishes, the eastern part of St. Mary Parish including Morgan City, and Grand Isle in Jefferson Parish. The diocese was created on June 5, 1977, and was previously part of...
, having previously served as Bishop of Alexandria from 1989 to 2003.
Biography
Jacobs was born in Greenwood, MissouriGreenwood, Missouri
Greenwood is a city in Jackson and Cass Counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. The population was 3,952 at the 2000 census.-Settlement:Over 140 years ago the name Greenwood was filed for court record June 25, 1867, by R.W. Price, Frank Brooks, Alfred Hanscomb and the Rev. S.B. Clark...
, but raised in Lake Charles, Louisiana
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Lake Charles is the fifth-largest incorporated city in the U.S. state of Louisiana, located on Lake Charles, Prien Lake, and the Calcasieu River. Located in Calcasieu Parish, a major cultural, industrial, and educational center in the southwest region of the state, and one of the most important in...
. He studied at Immaculata Seminary in Lafayette
Lafayette, Louisiana
Lafayette is a city in and the parish seat of Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, United States, on the Vermilion River. The population was 120,623 at the 2010 census...
from 1951 to 1957, and at the Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America is a private university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States. It is a pontifical university of the Catholic Church in the United States and the only institution of higher education founded by the U.S. Catholic bishops...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
from 1957 to 1964. On June 6, 1964, he was ordained
Holy 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....
for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette
Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana
The Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana is an ecclesiastical division of the Catholic Church in the United States. The oldest church in the diocese is the parish church of St. Martinville, dating back to 1756. The diocese was created on January 11, 1918 from the western part of the Archdiocese of New...
by Bishop Warren L. Boudreaux. Jacobs 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"....
, 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...
, and associate pastor
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...
of several 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...
in the Diocese of Lafayette and the Diocese of Lake Charles
Roman Catholic Diocese of Lake Charles
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Lake Charles , is a particular church located in southwest Louisiana . It is a fairly new diocese of the Roman Catholic Church, being founded on January 29, 1980. It is suffragan to the Archdiocese of New Orleans.The diocese is administered from the city of Lake...
. He has served as chairman
Chair (official)
The chairman is the highest officer of an organized group such as a board, committee, or deliberative assembly. The person holding the office is typically elected or appointed by the members of the group. The chairman presides over meetings of the assembled group and conducts its business in an...
of the National Service Committee for the Charismatic Renewal
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...
and Diocesan Director of Vocations
Vocational discernment in the Catholic Church
Vocational discernment is the process in which men or women in the Catholic Church discern, or determine, their vocation in the Church. Though one may also speak of discerning a vocation to marriage or to life as a single person, discerning a vocation most frequently refers to a special vocation...
and Seminarians
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
for the Diocese of Lake Charles.
On July 1, 1989, Jacobs was appointed the tenth Bishop of Alexandria by 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 ...
. He received his episcopal consecration
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....
on the following August 24 from Archbishop Francis Schulte
Francis B. Schulte
Francis Bible Schulte is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Wheeling-Charleston from 1985 to 1988, and Archbishop of New Orleans from 1989 to 2001.-Biography:...
, with Bishops Boudreaux and Jude Speyrer
Jude Speyrer
Jude Speyrer D.D., is an U.S Roman Catholic bishop. Born in Leonville, Louisiana, Speyrer was ordained to the priesthood on July 25, 1953 and appointed the first Bishop of Lake Charles on January 29, 1980 by Pope John Paul II; he was consecrated and installed on April 25, 1980...
serving as co-consecrators
Consecrator
Consecrator is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to designate a bishop who ordains a priest to the episcopal state. The term is often used in Eastern Rite Churches and in Anglican communities. The term "Principal Consecrator" is used to designate the primary bishop who ordains a new bishop...
. Jacobs was later named the third Bishop of Houma-Thibodaux
Roman Catholic Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux
The Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux is a Roman Catholic diocese in southeastern Louisiana. It comprises Terrebonne and Lafourche Parishes, the eastern part of St. Mary Parish including Morgan City, and Grand Isle in Jefferson Parish. The diocese was created on June 5, 1977, and was previously part of...
on August 1, 2003, and was installed
Enthronement
An enthronement is a ceremony of inauguration, involving a person—usually a monarch or religious leader—being formally seated for the first time upon their throne. This ritual is generally distinguished from a coronation because there is no crown or other regalia that is physically...
on October 10 of that year. Some have categorized Bishop Jacobs approach to the mass as charismatic.
Within the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is the episcopal conference of the Catholic Church in the United States. Founded in 1966 as the joint National Conference of Catholic Bishops and United States Catholic Conference, it is composed of all active and retired members of the Catholic...
, he was chairman of the for Evangelization (2005-2007), and is currently a member of the Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth and the Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis.