Our Priests
Priests of the Diocese of TylerA 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.)
Retired
Akpobolokemi, Emmanuel (Rev.)
Hemphill & San Augustine
Arroyave, Jesus (Rev.)
Tyler
Arroyave, Luis (Rev.)
Diboll
Arulappa, Devaraj (Rev.)
Outside Diocese - India
Arvizu, Hector (Rev.)
Gilmer
Avula, Maria Susai (Rev.)
Wills Point
Bailey, David (Rev.)
Lindale
Barone, Michael (Rev.)
Retired
Blasick, George (Rev.)
Atlanta
Boteju, Bernard (Rev.)
Retired
Bowlin, John-Mary (Rev.)
Gun Barrel City
Braun, Justin (Rev.)
Texarkana
Celano, Freddy (Rev.)
Mt. Pleasant
Chabarria, Steven (Rev.)
Tyler
Cigainero, Robert (Rev.)
Pittsburg
Cortes, Ariel (Rev.)
Holly Lake Ranch
Demski, Ronald (Rev.)
Diocese of Tyler
Diegel, Ronald (Rev. Msgr.)
Retired
Dinguis, Jorge (Rev.)
Rusk, Alto, & New Summerfield
Dower, Daniel (Rev.)
Longview
Edelen, Thomas (Rev.)
Retired
Elliott, George (Rev.)
Nacogdoches
Fenton, Patrick (Rev.)
Malakoff
Figueroa, Ruben (Rev.)
Retired
Frels, Jonathon (Rev.)
Palestine
Fuentes, Roselio (Rev.)
Chandler
Gabriel-Maisonet, Guillermo (Rev.)
Madisonville
Garcia, Raymundo (Rev.)
Paris & Clarksville
Gomez, John (Very Rev.)
Tyler
Gonzalez, Daniel (Rev.)
Retired
Gonzalez, Juan Pedro (Rev.)
Hallsville
Hamon, Victor (Rev.)
Out of Diocese - Colombia
Hartnett, Patrick (Rev.)
Out of Diocese - Ireland
Henao, John (Rev.)
Kilgore
Hernandez, Victor (Rev.)
Sulphur Springs
Kalarickal, Luke (Rev.)
Whitehouse
Kannampuzha, Jose (Rev.)
Henderson
Kelly, Timothy (Rev.)
Mt. Pleasant
Key, Paul (Rev.)
Retired
Kunnakkattuthara, Zach (Rev. Msgr.)
Marshall & Jefferson
Kusmirek, Mark (Rev.)
Retired
Lanik, Hank (Very Rev.)
Tyler
Larrea, Luis (Rev.)
Tyler
Ledesma, Michael (Rev.)
Emory & Grand Saline
Lopez, Elpidio (Rev.)
Tatum
Lourdusamy, Joseph (Rev.)
Centerville & Hilltop Lakes
Love, Lawrence (Rev.)
Gun Barrel City
Lowry, Nolan (Very Rev.)
Athens
Lucas, Jay (Rev.)
Jacksonville
Marin, Jose (Rev.)
Lufkin
Mathai, Mani (Rev.)
Winnsboro
Melkias, Selvan (Rev.)
Mt. Vernon
Motte, Albert (Rev.)
Out of Diocese - Rome
Munoz, Nelson (Rev.)
Mineola
Nappier, Nicholas (Rev.)
Nacogdoches
Neu, Joshua (Rev.)
Out of Diocese - San Francisco, CA
Nwankwocha, Ignatius (Rev.)
Texarkana
O’Dowd, Francis (Very Rev.)
Gladewater & Overton
Oviedo, Isaac (Rev.)
Marshall & Jefferson
Palmer, William (Rev.)
New Boston
Pappu, Xavier (Rev. Msgr.)
Longview
Paradis, Steven (Rev.)
Carthage
Pena, Luis Carlos (Rev.)
Center & Timpson
Piedrahita, Carlos (Rev.)
Palestine (Prison Ministry)
Rasaian, Lawrence (Very Rev.)
Tyler
Rivera, Juan Carlos (Rev.)
Trinity
Rodriguez, Matias (Rev.)
Fairfield
Roncancio, Luis (Rev.)
Retired
Rottman, Gary (Rev.)
Retired
Rowland, James (Very Rev.)
Flint
Ruggles, Christopher (Rev.)
Retired
Sardinas, Juan Carlos (Rev.)
Fairfield & Teague
Savarimithu, Pancras (Rev.)
Retired
Sinnappan, Selvaraj (Rev.)
Crockett
Smith, Andrew (Rev.)
Tyler
Snider, Michael (Rev.)
Athens
Stehling, Matthew (Rev.)
Nacogdoches
Stoeppel, Anthony (Rev.)
Out of Diocese - San Francisco, CA
Tharappel, Augustine (Rev.)
Tyler
Thomas, Jesudoss (Rev.)
Canton
Thomas, Joby (Rev.)
Lufkin
Tillekeratne, Eugene (Rev.)
Daingerfield
Torres, Mario (Rev.)
Tyler
Uzoechi, Uchenna (Rev.)
Longview
Uzondu, Gabriel (Rev.)
Waskom
Valentine, Joseph (Rev.)
Tyler
Vaverek, Gavin (Rev.)
Paris & Clarksville
Vidarte, Jose Luis (Rev.)
Longview
Vithanage, Denzil (Very Rev.)
Lufkin
White, Morgan (Very Rev.)
Buffalo
Wylie, Justin (Rev.)
Sulphur Springs
Young, James (Rev. Msgr.)
Retired
Young, Kevin (Rev.)
Out of Diocese - Buffalo, NY