Galveston-Houston (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Joe Steve Vásquez, Archbishop
Italo Dell’Oro, C.R.S., Auxiliary Bishop
Daniel Nicholas DiNardo, Cardinal, Archbishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 29 December 2004
Metropolitan See
Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
State: Texas
Country: United States of America
Square Kilometers: 23,257 (8,983 Square Miles)
Conference Region: X (AR, OK, TX)
Catholic Directory Abbreviation: GAL
Official Web Site: https://www.archgh.org
Mailing Address: Chancery Office, 1700 San Jacinto St., Houston, TX 77002; P.O. Box 907, Houston, TX 77001-0907, USA
Telephone: (713)659-5461
Fax: 759-9151

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Texas
- Latin Name: Texensem
- Erected: 1839
- State: Texas
- Country: United States of America
Vicariate Apostolic of Texas
- Latin Name: Texensem
- Erected: 10 July 1841
- Vicariate
- State: Texas
- Country: United States of America
- Description: (A Republic until 1845 when it was admitted to the USA)
Diocese of Galveston
- Latin Name: Galvestoniensis
- Erected: 4 May 1847
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of San Antonio
- State: Texas
- Country: United States of America
- Catholic Directory Abbreviation: Gal
Diocese of Galveston-Houston
- Latin Name: Galvestoniensis Houstoniensis
- Name Changed: 25 July 1959
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of San Antonio
- State: Texas
- Country: United States of America
- Conference Region: X (AR, OK, TX)
- Telephone: (713)659-5461
- Fax: 759-9151

Past and Present Ordinaries

John Timon, C.M. † (12 Apr 1840 Appointed - 23 Apr 1847 Appointed, Bishop of Buffalo, New York)
Jean-Marie (John Mary) Odin, C.M. † (16 Jul 1841 Appointed - 15 Feb 1861 Appointed, Archbishop of New Orleans, Louisiana)
Claude Marie Dubuis † (21 Oct 1862 Appointed - 4 Dec 1892 Retired)
Nicholas Aloysius Gallagher † (16 Dec 1892 Appointed - 21 Jan 1918 Died)
Christopher Edward Byrne † (18 Jul 1918 Appointed - 1 Apr 1950 Died)
Wendelin Joseph Nold † (1 Apr 1950 Succeeded - 22 Apr 1975 Retired)
John Louis Morkovsky † (22 Apr 1975 Succeeded - 21 Aug 1984 Retired)
Joseph Anthony Fiorenza † (6 Dec 1984 Appointed - 28 Feb 2006 Retired)
Daniel Nicholas DiNardo (28 Feb 2006 Succeeded - 20 Jan 2025 Retired)
Joe Steve Vásquez (20 Jan 2025 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Texas
1839	Erected	Diocese of Linares o Nueva León	Prefecture Apostolic of Texas (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Texas
10 July 1841	Erected	Prefecture Apostolic of Texas	Vicariate Apostolic of Texas (erected)
Diocese of Galveston
4 May 1847	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Texas	Diocese of Galveston (erected) (Name changed and Vicariate raised to a Diocese)
19 July 1850	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Galveston (from Baltimore to New Orleans) Diocese of Little Rock (from Baltimore to New Orleans) Diocese of Mobile (from Baltimore to New Orleans) Diocese of Natchez (from Baltimore to New Orleans)
28 August 1874	Territory Lost	Diocese of Galveston	Vicariate Apostolic of Brownsville (erected) (From the Nueces River to the Rio Grande River) Diocese of San Antonio (erected) (From the Colorado River to the Nunes River)
15 July 1890	Territory Lost	Diocese of Galveston	Diocese of Dallas (erected)
3 August 1926	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Galveston (from New Orleans)
15 November 1947	Territory Lost	Diocese of Dallas (Coleman, Brown, Mills, and Hamilton) Diocese of Galveston (Lampasas, Coryeli, McLenan, Limestone, Bell, Falls, Robertson, Williamson, Milam, Brazos, Lee, Burleson, Washington, Austin along with parts of Burnet, Colorado, Fayette, Bastrop, and Travis) Archdiocese of San Antonio (McCulloch, St. Saba, Mason, Llano, Blanco, Rays, and Caldwell along with parts of Burnet, Trams, and Bastrop)	Diocese of Austin (erected)
Diocese of Galveston-Houston
25 July 1959	Name Changed	Diocese of Galveston	Diocese of Galveston-Houston
25 June 1966	Territory Lost	Diocese of Galveston-Houston (Counties of : Angelina Cherokee, Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Nacogdokes, Newton, Orange, Polk, Sabine, San Augustine, Shelby, Tyler, and parts of Chambers and Liberty, and the bays of Trinity Bay and Galveston Bay)	Diocese of Beaumont (erected)
13 April 1982	Territory Lost	Diocese of Corpus Christi (Goliad County) Diocese of Galveston-Houston (Parts of Matagorda and Wharton Counties) Archdiocese of San Antonio (Calhoun, DeWitt, Jackson, Lavaca, and Victoria Counties and parts of Colorado, Fayette, Matagorda, and Wharton Counties)	Diocese of Victoria in Texas (erected)
12 December 1986	Territory Lost	Diocese of Beaumont (Angelina, Cherokee, Nacogdoches, Sabine, San Augustine, and Shelby) Diocese of Dallas (Bowie, Camp, Gass, Delta, Franklin, Gregg, Harrison, Henderson, Hopkins. Iamar, Marion, Morris, Panola, Rains, Red River, Rusk, Smith, Titus, Upshur, Van Zandt, and Wood) Diocese of Galveston-Houston (Anderson, Freestone, Houston, Leon, and Trinity)	Diocese of Tyler (erected)
25 January 1999	Territory Lost	Diocese of Galveston-Houston (Madison county)	Diocese of Tyler
Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
29 December 2004	Elevated	Diocese of Galveston-Houston	Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston

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

Prefecture Apostolic of Texas

Vicariate Apostolic of Texas

Diocese of Galveston

1909 56,000 53 29 82 682 6 375 82 ce

1918 85,000 75 35 110 772 127 ocdk1919

1928 130,419 105 35 140 931 149 ocdk1929

1950 205,148 1,505,602 13.6% 122 103 225 911 42 850 92 ap1951

Diocese of Galveston-Houston

1966 386,395 2,931,000 13.2% 166 188 354 1,091 110 1,200 104 ap1967

1970 301,647 2,250,000 13.4% 161 196 357 844 216 760 111 ap1971

1976 362,511 2,660,000 13.6% 156 222 378 959 80 258 500 128 ap1977

1980 437,170 2,960,000 14.8% 185 185 2,363 106 22 649 157 ap1981

1990 646,000 3,741,000 17.3% 207 248 455 1,419 183 277 607 160 ap1991

1999 906,330 4,396,876 20.6% 195 218 413 2,194 256 18 508 151 ap2000

2000 908,190 4,442,230 20.4% 216 221 437 2,078 292 261 518 151 ap2001

2001 951,360 4,528,005 21.0% 219 220 439 2,167 297 256 498 151 ap2002

2002 974,312 4,704,532 20.7% 217 226 443 2,199 300 257 503 150 ap2003

2003 1,006,425 4,704,532 21.4% 215 223 438 2,297 250 244 482 150 ap2004

Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston

2004 1,041,123 4,972,544 20.9% 216 221 437 2,382 362 254 499 150 ap2005

2006 1,045,030 5,250,984 19.9% 219 222 441 2,369 357 254 523 149 ap2007

2009 1,128,065 5,572,087 20.2% 224 218 442 2,552 390 242 471 149 ap2010

2012 1,170,403 6,099,524 19.2% 227 214 441 2,653 402 238 449 146 ap2013

2013 1,181,398 6,249,904 18.9% 227 209 436 2,709 386 234 449 145 ap2014

2016 1,723,062 6,518,674 26.4% 217 211 428 4,025 438 233 412 147 ap2017

2019 1,804,100 6,661,600 27.1% 223 195 418 4,316 377 221 395 146 ap2020

2021 1,822,540 6,729,700 27.1% 225 210 435 4,189 521 234 366 146 ap2022

2023 1,825,800 6,742,700 27.1% 229 219 448 4,075 399 231 380 146 ap2024

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Prefecture Apostolic of Texas
Vicariate Apostolic of Texas
Diocese of Galveston
1909	56,000			53	29	82	682		6	375	82	ce
1918	85,000			75	35	110	772				127	ocdk1919
1928	130,419			105	35	140	931				149	ocdk1929
1950	205,148	1,505,602	13.6%	122	103	225	911		42	850	92	ap1951
Diocese of Galveston-Houston
1966	386,395	2,931,000	13.2%	166	188	354	1,091		110	1,200	104	ap1967
1970	301,647	2,250,000	13.4%	161	196	357	844		216	760	111	ap1971
1976	362,511	2,660,000	13.6%	156	222	378	959	80	258	500	128	ap1977
1980	437,170	2,960,000	14.8%	185		185	2,363	106	22	649	157	ap1981
1990	646,000	3,741,000	17.3%	207	248	455	1,419	183	277	607	160	ap1991
1999	906,330	4,396,876	20.6%	195	218	413	2,194	256	18	508	151	ap2000
2000	908,190	4,442,230	20.4%	216	221	437	2,078	292	261	518	151	ap2001
2001	951,360	4,528,005	21.0%	219	220	439	2,167	297	256	498	151	ap2002
2002	974,312	4,704,532	20.7%	217	226	443	2,199	300	257	503	150	ap2003
2003	1,006,425	4,704,532	21.4%	215	223	438	2,297	250	244	482	150	ap2004
Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
2004	1,041,123	4,972,544	20.9%	216	221	437	2,382	362	254	499	150	ap2005
2006	1,045,030	5,250,984	19.9%	219	222	441	2,369	357	254	523	149	ap2007
2009	1,128,065	5,572,087	20.2%	224	218	442	2,552	390	242	471	149	ap2010
2012	1,170,403	6,099,524	19.2%	227	214	441	2,653	402	238	449	146	ap2013
2013	1,181,398	6,249,904	18.9%	227	209	436	2,709	386	234	449	145	ap2014
2016	1,723,062	6,518,674	26.4%	217	211	428	4,025	438	233	412	147	ap2017
2019	1,804,100	6,661,600	27.1%	223	195	418	4,316	377	221	395	146	ap2020
2021	1,822,540	6,729,700	27.1%	225	210	435	4,189	521	234	366	146	ap2022
2023	1,825,800	6,742,700	27.1%	229	219	448	4,075	399	231	380	146	ap2024

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Christopher Edward Byrne † (Bishop: 18 Jul 1918 to 1 Apr 1950)
John Joseph Cassata † (Priest: 8 Dec 1932 to 12 Mar 1968)
Claude Marie Dubuis † (Bishop: 21 Oct 1862 to 4 Dec 1892)
Peter Dufal, C.S.C. † (Coadjutor Bishop: 14 May 1878 to 6 Dec 1879)
Joseph Anthony Fiorenza † (Priest: 29 May 1954 to 4 Sep 1979; Bishop: 6 Dec 1984; Archbishop: 29 Dec 2004 to 28 Feb 2006)
Patrick Fernández Flores † (Priest: 26 May 1956 to 9 Mar 1970)
John Anthony Forest † (Priest: 12 Apr 1863 to 27 Aug 1895)
Nicholas Aloysius Gallagher † (Apostolic Administrator: 10 Jan 1882; Bishop: 16 Dec 1892 to 21 Jan 1918)
Bernard James Ganter † (Priest: 22 May 1952 to 13 Dec 1972)
Vincent Madeley Harris † (Priest: 19 Mar 1938 to 4 Jul 1966)
John Edward McCarthy † (Priest: 26 May 1956; Auxiliary Bishop: 23 Jan 1979 to 19 Dec 1985)
Aloysius Joseph Meyer, C.M. † (Apostolic Administrator: 5 Jul 1881 - Did Not Take Effect)
John Louis Morkovsky † (Coadjutor Bishop: 16 Apr 1963; Bishop: 22 Apr 1975 to 21 Aug 1984)
John Claude Neraz † (Priest: 19 Mar 1853 to 18 Feb 1881)
Wendelin Joseph Nold † (Coadjutor Bishop: 29 Nov 1947; Bishop: 1 Apr 1950 to 22 Apr 1975)
Jean-Marie (John Mary) Odin, C.M. † (Vicar Apostolic: 16 Jul 1841; Bishop: 21 May 1847 to 15 Feb 1861)
Louis Joseph Reicher † (Priest: 6 Dec 1918 to 29 Nov 1947)
Vincent Michael Rizzotto † (Priest: 26 May 1956; Auxiliary Bishop: 22 Jun 2001 to 6 Nov 2006)
Enrique San Pedro, S.J. † (Auxiliary Bishop: 1 Apr 1986 to 13 Aug 1991)
George Arthur Sheltz † (Priest: 15 May 1971; Auxiliary Bishop: 21 Feb 2012 to 22 Jun 2021)
John Timon, C.M. † (Prefect: 12 Apr 1840 to 23 Apr 1847)

Source(s)

Diocese of Galveston
- Series Episcoporum Ecclesiæ Catholicæ, Volume 1, Page 175
- Acta Apostolicæ Sedis, Volume 19, Page 169, to Page 172
Diocese of Galveston-Houston
- Acta Apostolicæ Sedis, Volume 51, Page 826, and Page 827
Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
- Acta Apostolicæ Sedis, Volume 97, Page 129, and Page 130

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Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston

Archidioecesis Galvestoniensis Houstoniensis