Bishop &amp; Clergy

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Bishop Patrick J. Zurek

Eighth Bishop of the Diocese of Amarillo
2008 to Present
- Former Bishops
- Priests & Deaneries
- Vocations
- Credibly Accused Clergy
- Decrees & Letters
  
  Pastoral Policy on Holy Days of Obligation
- Most REv. Patrick J. Zurek
  
  Born in Sealy, TX in 1948 to Arnold and Victoria Zurek, Bishop Patrick J. Zurek was the youngest of three children. He received his Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from the University of St. Thomas, Houston, TX, graduating Magna Cum Laude. He attended St. Mary’s Seminary in Houston and the Pontifical North American College in Rome. He received his STB (Bachelor of Sacred Theology, Cum Laude) from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas (The Angelicum) in Rome. Bishop Zurek also received his STL (License in Sacred Theology) in the field of Moral Theology from the Alfonsianum, in Rome, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude.
  
  Bishop Zurek continues to hold several important offices on the regional, national, and international levels. He serves on the USCCB Planning Committee to develop the New Spanish Bible. He also remains a member of the Border Bishops Committee organized to discuss pastoral initiatives and immigration issues; and is the president and CEO of the Czech American Priests Association.
More Information
- General Information
  Born: August 17, 1948 – Sealy, TX
  Parents: Arnold and Victoria (Bohac) Zurek (both deceased)
  Siblings: Lawrence Zurek and Dennis Zurek (both deceased)
  Ordained Priest by Pope Paul VI
  June 29, 1975
  St. Peter's Basilica - Rome, Italy
  Age: 26
  Ordained Auxiliary Bishop of San Antonio by Archbishop Patrick F. Flores/Titular Bishop of Tamugadi
  February 16, 1998
  San Antonio, TX
  Age: 49
  Installed Bishop of Amarillo by Archbishop Gomez
  February 22, 2008
  Amarillo, TX
  Age: 60
  Speaks the following languages:
  English, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, and Czech
- Academics
  Bachelor’s of Science in Mathematics – Magnum Cum Laude
  University of St. Thomas – Houston, TX
  Major Seminary
  St. Mary’s Seminary – Houston, TX
  S.T.B. in Theology 1974 – Magna Cum Laude
  University of St. Thomas - Angelicum
  S.T.L. in Moral Theology, 1976 – Magna Cum Laude
  Institute of the Lateran University - Alfonsianum
- Priestly Assignments
  St. Mary’s Catholic Church – Temple, TX
  Associate Pastor, 1976 - 1979
  St. Joseph’s Catholic Church – Bryan, TX
  Associate Pastor, 1979 - 1982
  St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church – College Station, TX
  Founding Pastor, 1982 - 1992
  St. John Neumann Catholic Church – Austin, TX
  Pastor, 1992 - 1998
  Archdiocese of San Antonio – San Antonio, TX
  Auxiliary Bishop, 1998 - 2008
  Diocese of Amarillo – Amarillo, TX
  Bishop, 2008 - Present
- Priestly Ministries & Positions Held
  Presbyteral Council – Diocese of Austin, TX
  Member, 1976 - 1998
  Matrimonial Tribunal – Diocese of Austin, TX
  Advocate, 1976 - 1979
  Matrimonial Tribunal – Diocese of Austin, TX
  Judge, 1976 -1982
  Continuing Formation of Priests – Diocese of Austin, TX
  Director, 1986 - 1998
  Office of Vocations – Diocese of Austin, TX
  Director, 1986 - 1998
  Board of Directors, St. Mary’s Seminary – Houston, TX
  Member, 1987 - 1998
  Medical Ethics Committee – St. Joseph Hospital, Bryan, TX
  Chairman, 1987 - 1988
  Board of Directors, National Organization for the Continuing Education of Roman Catholic Clergy – Diocese of Austin, TX
  Member, 1988 - 1989
  Priest Personnel Committee – Diocese of Austin, TX
  Member, 1991 - 1998
  National Conference of Diocesan Vocation Directors – Diocese of Austin, TX
  Vice-President, 1991 - 1993
  National Conference of Diocesan Vocation Directors – Diocese of Austin, TX
  President, 1993 - 1995
- Ministry as Bishop
  Presbyteral Council – Archdiocese of San Antonio, TX
  Member, 1998 - Present
  Board of Directors, Assumption Seminary – San Antonio, TX
  Member, 1999 - Present
  Western Vicariate – Archdiocese of San Antonio, TX
  Vicar, 1998 - 2001
  Office of the Synod – Archdiocese of San Antonio, TX
  Archbishop’s Liaison, 1998 - Present
  Office of the Synod-Implementation of the Archdiocesan Synodal Documents – Archdiocese of San Antonio, TX
  Coordinator, 1998 - Present
  Partnership with the Archdiocese of Tegucigalpa – Archdiocese of San Antonio, TX
  Archbishop’s Liaison, 1998 - Present
  Priest Pension Board – Archdiocese of San Antonio, TX
  Member, 1998 - Present
  Board of Directors, Catholic Television of San Antonio – Archdiocese of San Antonio, TX
  Member, 1998 - Present
  Board of Directors, ACTS Missions – Archdiocese of San Antonio, TX
  Member, 1998 - Present
  Board of Directors, Holy Trinity Seminary – Dallas, TX
  Member, 1999 - Present
  Oblate School of Theology – San Antonio, TX
  Guest Professor, 1999 - Present
  Mayor’s Committee on Integrity and Trust in Local Government, City of San Antonio – San Antonio, TX
  Member, 2002 - 2003
- United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)
  National Advisory Council
  USCCB Liaison, 1999 - 2002
  USCCB Committee on Evangelization
  Member, 1999 - 2003
  USCCB Planning Committee to Develop New Spanish Bible for USCCB, CCC, CELAM
  Member, 1999 - 2003
  USCCB Subcommittee: New Translation of Bible into Spanish Language
  2006 - 2016
  USCCB Subcommittee: Aid to Central and Eastern Europe
  2014 - Present
  USCCB Committee for Protection of Young People and Children
  2015 - Present
- National & International Positions
  Board of Governors, Sub Committee for Finance – North American College, Rome, Italy
  Member, 2002 - 2005
  Board of Governors, North American College – Rome, Italy
  2004 - 2016
  Czech American Priests Association (CAPA) – Temple, TX
  President & CEO, 2002 - Present
  Border Bishops Committee – Texas/Mexico
  Member, 2003 - Present
  Organized to discuss Pastoral Initiatives and Immigration issues. This committee was the genesis of the pastoral letter “Strangers No Longer: Together on the Journey of Hope” issued by the USCCB and CEM (Conferencia del Episcopado Mexicano) in January 2003.