The fifth bishop served the Diocese of Corpus Christi for 14 years, leaving a lasting impact on the Coastal Bend Catholic community<\/p>\n
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas \u2014 The Diocese of Corpus Christi announced the death of Ren\u00e9 Henry Gracida, who passed away on Friday.<\/p>\n
Gracida served as the fifth bishop of the diocese from 1983 to 1997, leading the Coastal Bend Catholic community for 14 years.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Before arriving in Corpus Christi, Gracida served as auxiliary bishop in Miami and later as the first bishop of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee.<\/p>\n
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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He later entered religious life, becoming a Benedictine monk and ordained priest in 1959.<\/p>\n
Church leaders expressed gratitude for his decades of service, calling him a faithful and dedicated shepherd.<\/p>\n
Funeral arrangements are pending.<\/p>\n
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