Father Brendan Cahill Set To Become New Bishop of Victoria Diocese

The Diocese of Victoria is making final preparations for the Episcopal Ordination and Installation of His Excellency The Most Rev. Brendan J. Cahill, S.T.D. as its new bishop on Monday, June 29, 2015, at 2:00 p.m. in Our Lady of Victory Cathedral.  He will succeed Bishop David E. Fellhauer as the third shepherd of the Victoria Diocese, upon his retirement at the Church’s age limit of 75.

Pope Francis named Father Brendan Cahill, 51, bishop of Victoria on April 23, 2015.  On that same date, the Holy Father accepted the resignation of Bishop Fellhauer from pastoral governance, after shepherding the diocese for more than twenty-five years. Following the Pope’s approval of this notice, he assumed the duties of Bishop Emeritus for the Diocese of Victoria. Fr. Gary Janak has been serving as Victoria’s diocesan administrator during the interim period of leadership transition.

Brendan Cahill was born November 28, 1963, in Coral Gables, Florida. He received a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master of divinity from the University of St. Thomas in Houston in 1985 and 1990, respectively.

Following ordination, he served as parochial vicar of St. Frances Cabrini Parish in Houston (1990-1992) and Christ the Good Shepherd in Spring, Texas (1992-1998). He earned a master’s degree in Black Catholic Studies from Xavier University, New Orleans, in 1993, and a doctor of sacred theology from the Gregorian University, Rome, in 1998. He served on the formation faculty (1998-2001) and later as rector (2001-2010) of St. Mary Seminary in Houston. Since 2010, he has served as director of the Secretariat for Clergy Formation and Chaplaincy Services of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.

Due to space limitations, seating for the Episcopal Ordination and Installation at Our Lady of Victory Cathedral is by ticket only.  The Mass can be viewed at Our Lady of Victory Gym or through live television coverage on the EWTN and CatholicTV networks. For more information, visitwww.VictoriaDiocese.org.

The faithful of the Victoria Diocese can also meet their new bishop during a series of receptions:

• July 10 • El Campo • 7:00 p.m. • KC Hall

• July 13 • Victoria • 7:00 p.m. • Holy Family Parish

• July 15 • Hallettsville • 7:00 p.m. • KC Hall

• July 20 • Palacios • 5:30 p.m. • Vietnamese Apostolate