Pope Names Auxiliary Bishop Seitz Head Diocese Of El Paso, Texas

WASHINGTON—Pope Francis has named Auxiliary BishopMark Seitz of Dallas, 59, as bishop of El Paso, Texas.

Theappointment was publicized in Washington, May 6, by Archbishop Carlo MariaViganò, apostolic nuncio to the United States.

Hesucceeds Bishop Armando Ochoa, who was named bishop of Fresno, California,December 1, 2011.

BishopSeitz was born in Milwaukee, January 10, 1954, and earned a bachelor of arts degreein philosophy, master of divinity and master of arts in theology degrees fromthe University of Dallas. He was ordained a priest for the Dallas Diocese in1980.

He earneda master in liturgical studies degree from St. John's University, Collegeville,Minnesota, in 1985. In 2004, Pope John Paul II named him a prelate of honor,carrying the title "monsignor."

Assignmentsafter ordination included parochial vicar, Good Shepherd Parish, 1980-1985;adjunct professor, University of Dallas, 1985-1994; spiritual director, HoyTrinity Seminary, 1986-1987; vice-rector, Holy Trinity Seminary, 1987-1993;pastor, St. Joseph Parish, Waxahachie, Texas, 1993-2003; and pastor, St. RitaParish, since 2003.

Bishop Seitz was named auxiliary bishop of Dallas, March11, 2010.

The ElPaso Diocese includes 26,686 square miles. The diocese has 858,546 people, with686,037, or 80 percent of them, Catholic.

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