Diocesan DEANERIES and COMMITTEES
Diocese of TylerDeaneries
Under Canon Law, the bishop has the ability to group parishes into regional areas within a diocese, according to their geographic location. These regions are called deaneries. Deans are priests who act as the overseer of a deanery appointed to them by the bishop. A dean’s main task is to first and foremost provide support to the faithful and priests of his deanery, but also to act as a liaison between the activities of his deanery and the bishop. The dean serves to coordinate the common pastoral activity of the priests and parishes in his area. The Diocese of Tyler is divided into seven deaneries.
Deanery Map of the Diocese of Tyler (PDF)
Northwest Deanery
Dean: Very Rev. Victor Hernandez
Counties: Delta, Franklin, Hopkins, Lamar, Red River, Wood
Parishes
Clarksville – St. Joseph
Holly Lake – Holy Spirit
Mineola – St. Peter the Apostle
Mt. Vernon – Sacred Heart
Paris – Our Lady of Victory
Sulphur Springs – St. James
Winnsboro – St. Ann
Northeast Deanery
Dean: Very Rev. Francis O’Dowd
Counties: Bowie, Camp, Cass, Morris, Titus, Upshur
Parishes
Atlanta – St. Catherine of Siena
Daingerfield – Our Lady of Fatima
Gilmer – St. Francis of Assisi
Gladewater – St. Theresa of the Infant Jesus
Mt. Pleasant – St. Michael
New Boston – St. Mary of the Cenacle
Pittsburg – Holy Cross
Texarkana – Sacred Heart
West Central Deanery
Dean: Very Rev. Nolan Lowry
Counties: Henderson, Rains, Van Zandt
Parishes
Athens – St. Edward
Canton – St. Theresa
Chandler – St. Boniface
Emory – St. John the Evangelist
Gun Barrel City – St. Jude
Malakoff – Mary Queen of Heaven
Wills Point – St. Luke
Missions
Grand Saline – St. Celestine
Central Deanery
Dean: Very Rev. James Rowland
Counties: Cherokee, Smith
Parishes
Tyler – Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
Tyler – Our Lady of Guadalupe
Tyler – St. Joseph the Worker
Tyler – St. Peter Claver
Flint – St. Mary Magdalene
Jacksonville – Our Lady of Sorrows
Lindale – Holy Family
Rusk – Sacred Heart
Whitehouse – Prince of Peace
Missions
Alto – Ven. Antonio Margil
New Summerfield – Our Lady of Guadalupe
Campus Ministry
Tyler – St. John Paul II Campus Ministry (UT Tyler/Tyler JC)
Schools
Tyler – St. Gregory Cathedral School
Tyler – Bishop Gorman Middle School & High School
East Central Deanery
Dean: Rev. Msgr. Zach Kunnakkattuthara
Counties: Gregg, Harrison, Marion, Panola, Rusk
Parishes
Carthage – St. William of Vercelli
Henderson – St. Jude
Jefferson – Immaculate Conception
Kilgore – Christ the King
Longview – St. Anthony
Longview – St. Mary
Longview – St. Matthew
Marshall – St. Joseph
Missions
Hallsville – Our Lady of Grace
Overton – Our Lady, Queen of Angels
Tatum – San Pedro the Fisherman
Waskom – St. Lawrence of Brindisi
Schools
Longview – St. Mary
Southwest Deanery
Dean: Very Rev. Mark Kusmirek
Counties: Anderson, Freestone, Houston, Leon, Madison, Trinity
Parishes
Buffalo – Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha
Centerville – St. Leo the Great
Crockett – St. Francis of the Tejas
Fairfield – St. Bernard of Clairvaux
Frankston – St. Charles Borromeo
Madisonville – St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Palestine – Sacred Heart
Trinity – Most Holy Trinity
Missions
Hilltop Lakes – St. Tomas More
Teague – St. Mary
Southeast Deanery
Dean: Very Rev. Denzil Vithanage
Counties: Angelina, Nacogdoches, Sabine, San Augustigne, Shelby
Parishes
Center – St. Therese
Diboll – Our Lady of Guadalupe
Hemphill – St. Pius I
Lufkin – St. Patrick
Lufkin – St. Andrew the Apostle
Nacogdoches – Sacred Heart
Missions
Moral – Immaculate Conception
Nacogdoches – Our Lady of Guadalupe
San Augustine – St. Augustine
Timpson – Epiphany
Campus Ministry
Nacogdoches – St. Mary (SFA)
Schools
Lufkin – St. Patrick
Nacogdoches – St. Boniface Classical
Committees
Various groups of priests and lay persons assist the diocesan bishop in the governance of the diocese by offering their wisdom and experience on many issues affecting the life of the Catholic community in East Texas.
College of Consultors
The college of consultors assists the diocesan bishop in the governance of the diocese in accord with the provisions of Church law. For particular exercises of ecclesiastical governance, canon law requires that the diocesan bishop consult the college, and even obtain its consent. When the see is vacant, the college assumes the functions of the presbyteral council.
Father Justin Braun
Father John Gomez
Father Guillermo Gabriel-Maisonet
Father Hank Lanik
Father Nolan Lowry
Father Gavin Vaverek
Permanent Deacon Council
The perrmanent deacon council provides the bishop with feedback related to issues impacting the life and ministry of deacons in the diocese.
Dcn. Fred and Mary Arrambidez, Ex officio
Dcn. Marcelino and Guadalupe Espinosa
Dcn. Luis Garza
Dcn. Ramiro and Emelia Martinez
Dcn. Stephen Ondrick
Dcn. Dan and Kathy Rose
Dcn. John and Kathy Sargent
Dcn. Santiago and Cirila Suarez
Dcn. Gary Trevino
Presbyteral Council
In accord with the norms of canon law, the presbyteral council acts as a senate of the bishop assisting him in the governance of the diocese so that the pastoral welfare of the people of God may be more effectively achieved. Consultation with the presbyteral council is at the discretion of the diocesan bishop. The diocesan bishop is required, however, to seek the advice of the council in matters of greater importance, and to obtain its explicit consent in those instances stipulated in Church law.
Father Justin Braun
Father Daniel Dower
Father George Elliott
Father Jonathon Frels
Father Roselio Fuentes
Father Guillermo Gabriel-Maisonet
Father John Gomez
Father Zach Kunnakkattuthara
Father Hank Lanik
Father Nolan Lowry
Father Lawrence Rasaian
Father James Rowland
Father Jesudoss Thomas
Father Gavin Vaverek
Diocesan Finance Council
The finance council exists to advise the diocesan bishop on financial matters affecting the diocese. Among its primary duties are to approve the annual diocesan fiscal statement and to prepare the annual budget. Canon law requires that the bishop consult the finance council in many instances, and in some cases, it requires that he obtain the members consent before acting.
Mr. Dwayne Friesen
Mr. Jack Gabriel
Father John Gomez
Father Hank Lanik
Mr. Peyton Low
Mr. Robert Monaghan
Mr. Mark Salitore