The fifth bishop served the Diocese of Corpus Christi for 14 years, leaving a lasting impact on the Coastal Bend Catholic community
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The Diocese of Corpus Christi announced the death of René Henry Gracida, who passed away on Friday.
Gracida served as the fifth bishop of the diocese from 1983 to 1997, leading the Coastal Bend Catholic community for 14 years.
During his tenure, he helped establish a diocesan radio station, a youth camp, and retreat houses in both Corpus Christi and Laredo, shaping outreach and ministry efforts across the region.
Before arriving in Corpus Christi, Gracida served as auxiliary bishop in Miami and later as the first bishop of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee.
Born June 9, 1923, in New Orleans, he served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II before earning a degree in architecture from the University of Houston.
He later entered religious life, becoming a Benedictine monk and ordained priest in 1959.
Church leaders expressed gratitude for his decades of service, calling him a faithful and dedicated shepherd.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
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