Diocese of Corpus Christi

Dioecesis Corporis Christi

Bishop(s)

William Michael Mulvey, Bishop
Edmond Carmody, Bishop Emeritus
René Henry Gracida, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 23 March 1912
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
State: Texas
Country: United States of America
Square Kilometers: 29,690 (11,467 Square Miles)
Description: Comprises the Counties of Aransas, Bee, Brooks, Dubal, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Kleberg, Kenedy, Live Oak, Nueces, Refugio, San Patricio, Webb, Zapata, and parts of LaSalle and McMullen in the State of Texas.
Conference Region: X (AR, OK, TX)
Catholic Directory Abbreviation: CC
Catholic Communications Network: http://www.GoCCN.org/
Mailing Address: Chancery Office, P.O. Box 2620, Corpus Christi, TX 78403-2620; 620 Lipan Street, Corpus Christi, TX 78401
Telephone: (361)882-6191
Fax: 882-1018

Historical Details

Vicariate Apostolic of Brownsville
- Latin Name: Brownsvillensis
- Erected: 28 August 1874
- Vicariate
- State: Texas
- Country: United States of America

Past and Present Ordinaries

Dominic Manucy † (18 Sep 1874 Appointed - 18 Jan 1884 Appointed, Bishop of Mobile, Alabama)
Peter Verdaguer y Prat † (25 Jul 1890 Appointed - 26 Oct 1911 Died)
Paul Joseph Nussbaum, C.P. † (4 Apr 1913 Appointed - 26 Mar 1920 Resigned)
Emmanuel Boleslaus Ledvina † (30 Apr 1921 Appointed - 15 Mar 1949 Retired)
Mariano Simon Garriga † (15 Mar 1949 Succeeded - 21 Feb 1965 Died)
Thomas Joseph Drury † (19 Jul 1965 Appointed - 19 May 1983 Retired)
René Henry Gracida (19 May 1983 Appointed - 1 Apr 1997 Resigned)
Roberto Octavio González Nieves, O.F.M. (1 Apr 1997 Succeeded - 26 Mar 1999 Appointed, Archbishop of San Juan de Puerto Rico)
Edmond Carmody (3 Feb 2000 Appointed - 18 Jan 2010 Retired)
William Michael Mulvey (18 Jan 2010 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Vicariate Apostolic of Brownsville
28 August 1874	Erected	Diocese of Galveston	Vicariate Apostolic of Brownsville (erected)
Diocese of Corpus Christi
23 March 1912	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Brownsville (Name changed and Vicariate raised to a Diocese)	Diocese of Corpus Christi (erected)
10 July 1965	Territory Lost	Diocese of Corpus Christi	Diocese of Brownsville (erected)
13 April 1982	Territory Lost	Diocese of Corpus Christi Diocese of Galveston-Houston Archdiocese of San Antonio	Diocese of Victoria in Texas (erected)
3 July 2000	Territory Lost	Diocese of Corpus Christi (Webb, Zapata, Jim Hogg, and half of La Salle County) Archdiocese of San Antonio (Maverick, Zavala, Dimmit and half of La Salle County)	Diocese of Laredo (erected)
29 December 2004	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Corpus Christi (from San Antonio)

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Diocese of Corpus Christi

1913 82,400 116,850 70.5% 35 2,354 73 ce

1950 454,000 646,154 70.3% 58 89 147 3,088 40 413 72 ap1951

1966 185,187 483,577 38.3% 68 83 151 1,226 182 473 61 ap1967

1970 423,211 .0% 26 26 52 0 40 62 37 ap1971

1976 200,733 527,000 38.1% 67 81 148 1,356 2 96 373 72 ap1977

1980 166,000 552,000 30.1% 80 78 158 1,050 14 97 226 76 ap1981

1990 345,240 683,560 50.5% 91 64 155 2,227 44 82 300 83 ap1991

1999 363,000 863,242 42.1% 105 60 165 2,200 74 36 273 84 ap2000

2000 250,770 555,834 45.1% 86 43 129 1,943 33 79 190 66 ap2001

2001 250,000 548,198 45.6% 95 47 142 1,760 63 79 193 66 ap2002

2002 250,000 547,196 45.7% 94 43 137 1,824 62 77 188 65 ap2003

2003 328,447 547,411 60.0% 98 43 141 2,329 64 58 174 65 ap2004

2004 384,308 549,012 70.0% 103 41 144 2,668 67 64 161 67 ap2005

2006 388,878 555,540 70.0% 114 32 146 2,663 65 37 114 68 ap2007

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Diocese of Corpus Christi
1913	82,400	116,850	70.5%			35	2,354				73	ce
1950	454,000	646,154	70.3%	58	89	147	3,088		40	413	72	ap1951
1966	185,187	483,577	38.3%	68	83	151	1,226		182	473	61	ap1967
1970		423,211	.0%	26	26	52	0		40	62	37	ap1971
1976	200,733	527,000	38.1%	67	81	148	1,356	2	96	373	72	ap1977
1980	166,000	552,000	30.1%	80	78	158	1,050	14	97	226	76	ap1981
1990	345,240	683,560	50.5%	91	64	155	2,227	44	82	300	83	ap1991
1999	363,000	863,242	42.1%	105	60	165	2,200	74	36	273	84	ap2000
2000	250,770	555,834	45.1%	86	43	129	1,943	33	79	190	66	ap2001
2001	250,000	548,198	45.6%	95	47	142	1,760	63	79	193	66	ap2002
2002	250,000	547,196	45.7%	94	43	137	1,824	62	77	188	65	ap2003
2003	328,447	547,411	60.0%	98	43	141	2,329	64	58	174	65	ap2004
2004	384,308	549,012	70.0%	103	41	144	2,668	67	64	161	67	ap2005
2006	388,878	555,540	70.0%	114	32	146	2,663	65	37	114	68	ap2007

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Edmond Carmody (Bishop: 3 Feb 2000 to 18 Jan 2010)
Daniel Ernest Flores (Priest: 30 Jan 1988 to 28 Oct 2006)
Roberto Octavio González Nieves, O.F.M. (Coadjutor Bishop: 16 May 1995; Bishop: 1 Apr 1997 to 26 Mar 1999)
René Henry Gracida (Bishop: 19 May 1983 to 1 Apr 1997)
William Michael Mulvey (Bishop: 18 Jan 2010 - )
Raymundo Joseph Peña (Priest: 25 May 1957 to 16 Oct 1976)
James Anthony Tamayo (Priest: 11 Jul 1976 to 26 Jan 1993)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Thomas Joseph Drury † (Bishop: 19 Jul 1965 to 19 May 1983)
Mariano Simon Garriga † (Priest: 2 Jul 1911; Coadjutor Bishop: 20 Jun 1936; Bishop: 15 Mar 1949 to 21 Feb 1965)
Emmanuel Boleslaus Ledvina † (Bishop: 30 Apr 1921 to 15 Mar 1949)
Dominic Manucy † (Vicar Apostolic: 18 Sep 1874 to 18 Jan 1884)
Adolph Marx † (Priest: 2 May 1940; Auxiliary Bishop: 6 Jul 1956 to 9 Jul 1965)
John Claude Neraz † (Apostolic Administrator: 1887 to 25 Jul 1890)
Paul Joseph Nussbaum, C.P. † (Bishop: 4 Apr 1913 to 26 Mar 1920)
Peter Verdaguer y Prat † (Vicar Apostolic: 25 Jul 1890 to 26 Oct 1911)