Patrick Zurek

Patrick James Zurek (born 17 August 1948) has served as Bishop of Amarillo since his installation on 22 February 2008. Zurek trained in Rome as a moral theologian who was a chaplain at the Bambino Gesu Children's Hospital during his seminary days.

His Excellency, The Most Reverend Patrick James Zurek
Bishop of Amarillo
Archdiocese	San Antonio
Diocese	Amarillo
Appointed	January 3, 2008
Installed	February 22, 2008
Predecessor	John Walter Yanta
Orders
Ordination	June 29, 1975 by Pope Paul VI
Consecration	February 16, 1998 by Patrick Flores, John E. McCarthy, and Edmond Carmody
Personal details
Born	August 17, 1948 Sealy, Texas
Previous post	Auxiliary Bishop of San Antonio
Motto	SECUNDUM COR TUUM

Styles of Patrick James Zurek
Reference style	His Excellency The Most Reverend
Spoken style	Your Excellency
Religious style	Bishop

Biography

Zurek was ordained a priest in Rome on 29 June 1975 by Pope Paul VI along with 359 others for the Holy Year of 1975.

He has been on the board of the directors of missions, the Assumption Seminary, and the Ad Hoc Committee for the Spanish-language Bible.[1] In his capacity as Bishop, he has participated in numerous charity events, including one for 13 area Catholic schools that raised $230,000.[2] He has also appeared on television concelebrating Mass in honor of the faith connection between The Archdioceses of San Antonio and Tegucigalpa, Honduras.[3]

Zurek served 21 years as a priest of the Diocese of Austin, Texas, including 10 years as the original pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in College Station. While a priest, he also led the National Conference of Diocesan Vocation Directors.

Auxiliary Bishop of San Antonio

On January 5, 1998, Zurek was appointed an auxiliary bishop of San Antonio by Pope John Paul II and consecrated on February 16, 1998.

Bishop of Amarillo

On January 3, 2008, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Zurek as bishop of Amarillo where he replaced John Yanta.[4][5] He was installed on February 22, 2008.

He speaks five languages, including his ancestral Czech, Italian and Spanish.

See also

• Catholic Church hierarchy
• Catholic Church in the United States
• Historical list of the Catholic bishops of the United States
• List of Catholic bishops of the United States
• Lists of patriarchs, archbishops, and bishops

References

1. "Bishop Yanta Retires; Auxiliary Bishop in San Antonio to Succeed Him". Archived from the original on 2007-10-20. Retrieved 2008-03-19.
2. "Catholic Life Draws Sweepstakes Winner". Wilson County News. Archived from the original on 2008-03-03. Retrieved 2008-03-19.
3. McMorrough, Jordan (August 17, 2007). "Televised Mass Celebrates Religious Partnership, Spread of the Gospel in Honduras". Today's Catholic. San Antonio Archdiocesan Publishing Society, Inc. Retrieved 2008-03-19.
4. "Pope Accepts Resignation Of Amarillo Bishop John Yanta, Names San Antonio Auxiliary Bishop Patrick Zurek To Succeed Him". Retrieved 2008-03-19.
5. Southern, Joe (January 4, 2008). "A Changing of the Guard: Diocese Gets New Bishop". Amarillo.com. Amarillo Globe-News. Archived from the original on June 3, 2011. Retrieved March 19, 2008.

External links

• Diocese of Amarillo
• National Conference of Diocesan Vocation Directors
• St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church

Episcopal succession