Corpus Christi Welcomes New Bishop Elect Mulvey, Ordained by the Pope

The Corpus Christi Diocese has some 395,000 Catholics served by 157 priests, 62 permanent deacons and 195 religious.

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX (Zenit.org) - Benedict XVI named Monsignor William Michael Mulvey, administrator of the Diocese of Austin, Texas, as the bishop of the Corpus Christi Diocese.

Bishop-elect Mulvey, 60, will succeed Bishop Edmond Carmody, 76, who retired due to reasons of age.

William Mulvey was born in Houston, Texas, as the second of six children. He was ordained a priest by Pope Paul VI in 1975 in St. Peter's Square.

As a priest, he served as director of the Center for Spirituality for Diocesan Priests of the Focolare Movement in Italy and in New York.

In a press conference this morning, the bishop-elect described the moment he received the news about his appointment from Archbishop Pietro Sambi, apostolic nuncio to the United States.

"The nuncio's call was a shock and caused time to stand still," he said. "For a moment I asked the questions: 'Did he make a mistake? Did he have the right telephone number?'"

Bishop-elect Mulvey continued: "The morning after the archbishop's call, after a 'less than refreshing' one hour of sleep, I found myself at Our Lady of Guadalupe parish in Austin. [...]

"During the Mass, I not only entrusted myself to our mother, but also the Diocese of Corpus Christi."

In response to his appointment, the bishop-elect pledged to the Holy Father his "loyal communion, fraternal love and respect as a bishop of the Church."

He told the priests of his diocese: "I hope to spend time with you to know each of you personally. No person can work in isolation and much less a bishop. Your collaboration will be essential to me in announcing God's Love and the Gospel of Jesus Christ."

Bishop-elect Mulvey directed a greeting to the youth of the diocese: "You are essential to the vitality of the Church and I look forward to sitting down with you and your pastors to reinforce our commitment to you and your faith."

To the seminarians, he said, "Your vocation is a gift; a special glance of the Lord; I want to help you to respond generously to his love for you."

The Corpus Christi Diocese has some 395,000 Catholics served by 157 priests, 62 permanent deacons and 195 religious.