{"id":71861,"date":"2025-12-01T20:01:12","date_gmt":"2025-12-01T20:01:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/71861\/"},"modified":"2025-12-01T20:01:12","modified_gmt":"2025-12-01T20:01:12","slug":"pope-leo-accepts-resignation-of-bishop-mulvey-of-corpus-christi-names-bishop-aviles-as-successor-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/71861\/","title":{"rendered":"Pope Leo accepts resignation of Bishop Mulvey of Corpus Christi; names Bishop Avil\u00e9s as successor"},"content":{"rendered":"

WASHINGTON (OSV News) \u2014 Pope Leo XIV has accepted the resignation of Bishop W. Michael Mulvey, 76, from the pastoral governance of the Diocese of Corpus Christi, Texas, and has appointed Bishop Mario A. Avil\u00e9s, currently auxiliary bishop of Brownsville, Texas, as his successor.<\/p>\n

The resignation and appointment were announced in Washington Dec. 1 by Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States.<\/p>\n

Bishop Mulvey said the diocese welcomed his successor \u201cwith open hearts and deep prayer.\u201d \u201cAs we begin the holy season of Advent, a time of hope and joy, we are reminded that Christ continues to guide and shepherd His Church. This is a moment of grace for the Diocese of Corpus Christi,\u201d he said in a statement.<\/p>\n

Brownsville Bishop Daniel E. Flores received the news \u201cwith joy and thanksgiving,\u201d saying the appointment \u201ccalls Bishop Mario to offer his many gifts for the glory of God and good of the people in the Diocese of Corpus Christi.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Diocese of Brownsville will greatly miss Bishop Mario\u2019s wise counsel and good judgment, his joyful presence in our parish communities, and his administrative skills in the service of our diocesan offices and Catholic Schools,\u201d Bishop Flores said in a statement. \u201cYet at the same time we share in the special joy of the Diocese of Corpus Christi at the news of Bishop Mario\u2019s appointment.\u201d<\/p>\n

He noted the Diocese of Corpus Christi \u201chas over the years generously shared\u201d her clergy to serve as bishops in Brownsville, including the first bishop of Brownsville, Bishop Adolph Marx. Bishop Flores added that both he and the late Bishop Raymundo J. Pe\u00f1a of Brownsville (1995-2009) began their priestly ministry in Corpus Christi.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow, by God\u2019s providence, a moment has arrived for the Diocese of Brownsville to share of her clergy for service to the people of the Diocese of Corpus Christi,\u201d Bishop Flores said and asked the faithful to pray for Bishop Avil\u00e9s \u201cas he prepares to take up his new mission of service in Corpus Christi.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bishop Avil\u00e9s was born in Mexico City on Sept. 16, 1969. After attending the Universidad Panamericana in Mexico City, he obtained a bachelor\u2019s degree in philosophy and theology from the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum in Rome and a master of divinity from Holy Apostles College and Seminary in Cromwell, Connecticut.<\/p>\n

He was ordained a priest on July 21, 1998, for the Confederation of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri.<\/p>\n

Bishop Avil\u00e9s served nearly two decades in parish ministry in Pharr and Hidalgo, Texas, and later held leadership roles within the Oratory Academy and Oratory Athenaeum in Pharr, and the Confederation of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri, where he was procurator general between 2012 and 2018.<\/p>\n

Pope Francis appointed him auxiliary bishop of Brownsville in 2017, and he was ordained a bishop the following year.<\/p>\n

The Diocese of Corpus Christi is comprised of 10,951 square miles in the State of Texas and has a total population of 582,684, of which 209,726, are Catholic.<\/p>\n

This story was updated at 2:45 p.m.<\/p>\n

Read More Bishops<\/p>\n

Copyright \u00a9 2025 OSV News<\/p>\n

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