Diocesan DEANERIES and COMMITTEES

Diocese of Tyler

Deaneries

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. Morgan White

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