Father Brendan J. Cahill ordained as third bishop of the Diocese of Victoria
July 14, 2015
VICTORIA, Texas — On June 29 at Our Lady of Victory Cathedral, Victoria, the Diocese of Victoria welcomed the episcopal ordination and installation of Bishop Brendan John Cahill, third bishop of the diocese.
There were hundreds in attendance, and thousands more watched live coverage on EWTN and via live streaming.
Bishop Emeritus David Fellhauer and Bishop Charles V. Grahmann, the second and first bishops of the Diocese of Victoria, respectively, and Auxiliary Bishop George A. Sheltz and retired Auxiliary Bishop Vincent M. Rizzotto were among the bishops in attendance.
Daniel Cardinal DiNardo served as the principal celebrant with Archbishop Emeritus Joseph A. Fiorenza and Bishop Emeritus Fellhauer as concelebrants.
Pope Francis named then-Father Cahill as the new bishop of the Diocese of Victoria on April 23. Since 2010, Bishop Cahill had been serving as the Director of Clergy Formation and Chaplaincy Services and Vicar for Clergy for the Archdiocese when the announcement was made by the Vatican. Bishop Fellhauer, who had served as the Victoria bishop since 1990, was granted retirement by the Holy See.
The showing of the Apostolic Letter to the College of Consultors was done in the presence of Father Gary Janak, diocesan administrator and chancellor for the Diocese of Victoria.
Bishop-Elect Cahill was presented to Daniel Cardinal DiNardo requesting he be ordained to the responsibility of the Episcopate for the Church of Victoria. Most Rev. Carlo Maria Vigano, Apostolic Nuncio to the U.S. was not present, but Monsignor Fermin Emilio Sosa Rodriguez, Charge’ d’ affaires of the Apostolic Nunciature of the Holy See in the U.S. located in Washington, D.C. read the Apostolic Mandate. It was inspected by the College of Consultors and was shown to the people. The entire congregation applauded.
Cardinal DiNardo imparted the homily. He spoke about how the day of June 29 is celebrated and remembered all around the world as being the day of the Solemnity of the Apostles Peter and Paul and how it is even a civil holiday in Rome.
The cardinal said the festival of Peter and Paul is crucial because, “They are a radiance of Christ in truth proclamation, in witness, in blood, in joyful and in firm conviction. Bishop-Elect Cahill, I cannot think of any more beautiful day in which we could ordain a bishop.”
He wished Bishop Cahill well in his new home of Victoria and reiterated how Catholicism is the one, true faith.
“Bishop Cahill, I hope you will always count on the intense and constant intercession of the Church,” he said. “Because you can’t do what you’re doing without it. It’s an impossibility.”
Cardinal DiNardo said Bishop Cahill needs the prayers of the people of God, beginning with the priests.
“Always keep him in mind,” he said. “He must guide and listen. He must teach and he must learn. He must sanctify and he has to be a good leader.” Cardinal DiNardo said.
The Laying on of Hands was performed by all of the bishops in attendance and Bishop Cahill’s head was anointed with the sacred chrism. After the Liturgy of the Eucharist and holy Communion, Bishop Cahill processed through the congregation and blessed all who were present.
In communion with the order of bishops under the authority of the successor of the holy Apostle Peter, Bishop Cahill humbly expressed his promise to carry out his office in accord with the mind of Christ and of the Catholic Church. In his closing remarks, he thanked his parents, family, priests, consecrated religious and all who have helped him in his life. He is looking forward to helping and praying for all in the diocese.
Bishop Cahill, 51, was born in Coral Gables, Fla. His family moved to Houston in 1971. The son of Joe and Joan Cahill, Bishop Cahill has two brothers and two sisters, seven nieces and nephews and a great-nephew and great niece — all of whom live in the Houston area. Bishop Cahill attended St. Cecilia Catholic School in Houston and graduated from St. Thomas High School in Houston in 1981. He attended Rice University for a year before entering St. Mary’s Seminary in Houston in 1982.
Bishop Cahill was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Galveston-Houston in 1990 by Archbishop Emeritus Fiorenza. He was as parochial vicar at St. Frances Cabrini in Houston and Christ the Good Shepherd in Spring before serving as the formation director at St. Mary’s Seminary from 1998-2001. He later served as the rector at St. Mary’s Seminary from 2001 to 2010 and was an adjunct professor at the University of St. Thomas School of Theology. Since September of 2014, he has served as Administrator pro-tem of St. Joseph Church in Houston.
The bishop-elect studied at the Pontifical Gregorian University and has theology degrees with specializations in the history and the theologians that were influential at the opening of the Second Vatican Council and on the Catholic doctrine on the interpretation of Scripture as developed in the Second Vatican Council. In addition, he has a Masters in Theology from Xavier University in New Orleans with a specialization on the experience and theology of African-American Catholics.
Bishop Cahill is a spiritual director of the Houston Senatus of the Legion of Mary and a Chaplain of the Houston Serra Club and Knights of Columbus, Galveston-Houston Chapter. He is an associate chaplain of the Knights of Malta; a knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre, Southwest Lieutenancy; and a Knight of Columbus, 4th Degree Member.