The Catholic Diocese of Tyler

Our Priests

Priests of the Diocese of Tyler

A priest is a baptised man who has received the Sacrament of Holy Orders.  Through this sacrament, a man enters into the ministerial priesthood which gives him a sacred power to serve (CCC 1592).  The ministerial priesthood is given to serve the common priesthood; all the people of God are called to participate in the common priesthood (CCC 1546-1547).  A priest is “a means by which Christ unceasingly builds up and leads His Church” ; therefore it is the mission of the Catholic priest “to feed the Church by the word and grace of God”  (LG, 11).   As such, a priest is a mediator or ‘bridge-builder’ between God and humanity; he does this by participating in the one priesthood of Jesus Christ, who unites God and humanity in his very being. The priest carries out this ‘bridge-building’ through teaching, divine worship and leading the people (CCC 1592).

A priest offers the ministry of Jesus Christ to us today. When a priest offers the holy sacrifice of the Mass, it is Christ who offers the sacrifice. When he absolves sins in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, it is Christ who forgives. When he partakes in the mission of the Church to teach and evangelise, it is Christ who speaks through him. When he offers love, comfort and support to God’s people, Christ is truly present with them. For this reason,  St John Vianney explained the priesthood in the following terms: “The priest continues the work of redemption on earth … If we really understood the priest on earth we would not die of fright but of love … The priest is the love of the heart of Jesus” (CCC 1589).

Adams, Michael (Rev.)

Adams, Michael (Rev.)

Texarkana
Ahiaba, Martin (Rev.)

Ahiaba, Martin (Rev.)

Washington
Akpobolokemi, Emmanuel (Rev.)

Akpobolokemi, Emmanuel (Rev.)

Hemphill & San Augustine
Arroyave, Jesus (Rev.)

Arroyave, Jesus (Rev.)

Tyler
Arroyave, Luis (Rev.)

Arroyave, Luis (Rev.)

Diboll
Arulappa, Devaraj (Rev.)

Arulappa, Devaraj (Rev.)

Palestine
Arvizu, Hector (Rev.)

Arvizu, Hector (Rev.)

Gilmer
Avula, Maria Susai (Rev.)

Avula, Maria Susai (Rev.)

Wills Point
Bailey, David (Rev.)

Bailey, David (Rev.)

Lindale
Barone, Michael (Rev.)

Barone, Michael (Rev.)

Diocese of Tyler
Betancourt, Cesar (Rev.)

Betancourt, Cesar (Rev.)

Trinity
Blasick, George (Rev.)

Blasick, George (Rev.)

Atlanta
Boteju, Bernard (Rev.)

Boteju, Bernard (Rev.)

Diocese of Tyler
Bowlin, John-Mary (Rev.)

Bowlin, John-Mary (Rev.)

Gun Barrel City
Braun, Justin (Rev.)

Braun, Justin (Rev.)

Texarkana
Celano, Freddy (Rev.)

Celano, Freddy (Rev.)

New Summerfield
Chellaian, Lawrence (Rev.)

Chellaian, Lawrence (Rev.)

Texarkana
Cigainero, Robert (Rev.)

Cigainero, Robert (Rev.)

Mt. Pleasant
Cortes, Ariel (Rev.)

Cortes, Ariel (Rev.)

Mt. Pleasant
Demski, Ronald (Rev.)

Demski, Ronald (Rev.)

Diocese of Tyler
Diegel, Ronald (Rev. Msgr.)

Diegel, Ronald (Rev. Msgr.)

Diocese of Tyler
Dinguis, Jorge (Rev.)

Dinguis, Jorge (Rev.)

Rusk & Alto
Dobosz, Jerzy (Rev.)

Dobosz, Jerzy (Rev.)

Poland
Dominguez, Zach (Rev.)

Dominguez, Zach (Rev.)

Tyler
Dower, Daniel (Rev.)

Dower, Daniel (Rev.)

Longview
Dunne, Mark (Very Rev.)

Dunne, Mark (Very Rev.)

Mt. Vernon
Edelen, Thomas (Rev.)

Edelen, Thomas (Rev.)

Diocese of Tyler
Elliott, George (Rev.)

Elliott, George (Rev.)

Nacogdoches
Fenton, Patrick (Rev.)

Fenton, Patrick (Rev.)

Malakoff
Figueroa, Ruben

Figueroa, Ruben

Diocese of Tyler
Frels, Jonathon (Very Rev.)

Frels, Jonathon (Very Rev.)

Palestine
Fuentes, Roselio (Rev.)

Fuentes, Roselio (Rev.)

Hallsville
Gabriel-Maisonet, Guillermo (Rev.)

Gabriel-Maisonet, Guillermo (Rev.)

Madisonville
Garcia, Raymundo (Rev.)

Garcia, Raymundo (Rev.)

Paris & Clarksville
Gomez, John (Very Rev.)

Gomez, John (Very Rev.)

Tyler
Gonzalez, Daniel (Rev.)

Gonzalez, Daniel (Rev.)

Diocese of Tyler
Gonzalez, Juan Pedro (Rev.)

Gonzalez, Juan Pedro (Rev.)

Tyler
Hamon, Victor (Rev.)

Hamon, Victor (Rev.)

Colombia
Hartnett, Patrick (Rev.)

Hartnett, Patrick (Rev.)

Ireland
Henao, John (Rev.)

Henao, John (Rev.)

Kilgore & Overton
Hernandez, Victor (Rev.)

Hernandez, Victor (Rev.)

Emory
Kalarickal, Luke (Rev.)

Kalarickal, Luke (Rev.)

Whitehouse
Kannampuzha, Jose (Rev.)

Kannampuzha, Jose (Rev.)

Henderson
Kelly, Timothy (Rev.)

Kelly, Timothy (Rev.)

Louisiana
Key, Paul (Rev.)

Key, Paul (Rev.)

Chandler
Kunnakkattuthara, Zach (Rev. Msgr.)

Kunnakkattuthara, Zach (Rev. Msgr.)

Marshall & Jefferson
Kusmirek, Mark (Rev.)

Kusmirek, Mark (Rev.)

Frankston
Lanik, Hank (Very Rev.)

Lanik, Hank (Very Rev.)

Tyler
Larrea, Luis (Rev.)

Larrea, Luis (Rev.)

Tyler
Ledesma, Michael (Rev.)

Ledesma, Michael (Rev.)

Emory & Grand Saline
Lopez, Elpidio (Rev.)

Lopez, Elpidio (Rev.)

Tatum
Lourdusamy, Joseph (Rev.)

Lourdusamy, Joseph (Rev.)

Centerville & Hilltop Lakes
Love, Lawrence (Rev.)

Love, Lawrence (Rev.)

Mineola
Lowry, Nolan (Very Rev.)

Lowry, Nolan (Very Rev.)

Athens
Lucas, Jay (Rev.)

Lucas, Jay (Rev.)

Jacksonville
Marin, Jose (Rev.)

Marin, Jose (Rev.)

Nacogdoches
Mathai, Mani (Rev.)

Mathai, Mani (Rev.)

Winnsboro
Melkias, Selvan (Rev.)

Melkias, Selvan (Rev.)

Waskom
Motte, Albert (Rev.)

Motte, Albert (Rev.)

Athens
Munoz, Nelson (Rev.)

Munoz, Nelson (Rev.)

Center & Timpson
Nappier, Nicholas (Rev.)

Nappier, Nicholas (Rev.)

Tyler
Neu, Joshua (Rev.)

Neu, Joshua (Rev.)

Louisiana
Nwankwocha, Ignatius (Rev.)

Nwankwocha, Ignatius (Rev.)

Texarkana
O’Dowd, Francis (Very Rev.)

O’Dowd, Francis (Very Rev.)

Gladewater
Oghenerukevwe, Daniel (Rev.)

Oghenerukevwe, Daniel (Rev.)

Tyler
Oviedo, Isaac (Rev.)

Oviedo, Isaac (Rev.)

Marshall & Jefferson
Palmer, William (Rev.)

Palmer, William (Rev.)

New Boston
Pappu, Xavier (Rev. Msgr.)

Pappu, Xavier (Rev. Msgr.)

Longview
Paradis, Steven (Rev.)

Paradis, Steven (Rev.)

Carthage
Pena, Luis Carlos (Rev.)

Pena, Luis Carlos (Rev.)

Kilgore
Piedrahita, Carlos

Piedrahita, Carlos

Palestine
Rasaian, Lawrence (Very Rev.)

Rasaian, Lawrence (Very Rev.)

Tyler
Rivera, Juan Carlos (Rev.)

Rivera, Juan Carlos (Rev.)

Pittsburg
Rodriguez, Matias (Rev.)

Rodriguez, Matias (Rev.)

Tyler
Roncancio, Luis (Rev.)

Roncancio, Luis (Rev.)

Diocese of Tyler
Rottman, Gary (Rev.)

Rottman, Gary (Rev.)

Diocese of Tyler
Rowland, James (Very Rev.)

Rowland, James (Very Rev.)

Flint
Ruggles, Christopher (Rev.)

Ruggles, Christopher (Rev.)

Diocese of Tyler
Sardinas, Juan Carlos (Rev.)

Sardinas, Juan Carlos (Rev.)

Fairfield & Teague
Savarimithu, Pancras (Rev.)

Savarimithu, Pancras (Rev.)

Diocese of Tyler
Sinnappan, Selvaraj (Rev.)

Sinnappan, Selvaraj (Rev.)

Crockett
Snider, Michael (Rev.)

Snider, Michael (Rev.)

Holly Lake Ranch
Stehling, Matthew (Rev.)

Stehling, Matthew (Rev.)

Nacogdoches
Stoeppel, Anthony (Rev.)

Stoeppel, Anthony (Rev.)

California
Strickland, Joseph (Most Rev.)

Strickland, Joseph (Most Rev.)

Tyler
Tharappel, Augustine (Rev.)

Tharappel, Augustine (Rev.)

Tyler
Thason, John Robinson

Thason, John Robinson

Tyler
Thomas, Jesudoss (Rev.)

Thomas, Jesudoss (Rev.)

Canton
Thomas, Joby (Rev.)

Thomas, Joby (Rev.)

Lufkin
Tillekeratne, Eugene (Rev.)

Tillekeratne, Eugene (Rev.)

Daingerfield
Torres, Mario (Rev.)

Torres, Mario (Rev.)

Rome
Uzoechi, Uchenna (Rev.)

Uzoechi, Uchenna (Rev.)

Longview
Uzondu, Gabriel (Rev.)

Uzondu, Gabriel (Rev.)

Buffalo
Valentine, Joseph (Rev.)

Valentine, Joseph (Rev.)

Tyler
Vaverek, Gavin (Rev.)

Vaverek, Gavin (Rev.)

Paris & Clarksville
Vidarte, Jose Luis (Rev.)

Vidarte, Jose Luis (Rev.)

Longview
Vithanage, Denzil (Very Rev.)

Vithanage, Denzil (Very Rev.)

Lufkin
Walsh, Denis (Rev.)

Walsh, Denis (Rev.)

Diocese of Tyler
White, Morgan (Rev.)

White, Morgan (Rev.)

Ireland
Wylie, Justin (Rev.)

Wylie, Justin (Rev.)

Tyler
Young, James (Rev. Msgr.)

Young, James (Rev. Msgr.)

Dioecse of Tyler
Young, Kevin (Rev.)

Young, Kevin (Rev.)

New York
Zelaya, Cristian (Rev.)

Zelaya, Cristian (Rev.)

Palestine