TYLER (KYTX) - Saturday was a big day for East Texas Catholics, as the diocese welcomed a brand new bishop.
Bishop Joseph Strickland is now the fourth bishop of the 25-year-old diocese, which covers 33 counties in Northeast Texas. Strickland will represent nearly 55,000 Catholics in the area.
He was chosen by Pope Benedict XVI to replace Bishop Alvaro Corrada, who held the rank for the last 12 years.
Strickland is from the area, and says it is rare for a bishop to be from his own diocese, and that he feels blessed to be chosen for such a high honor.
"I want to spend a lot of time listening to the priests to the deacons to the men and women who are religious, to the staff here at the chancery, to the leaders of the diocese throughout the 33 counties," Strickland says.
He says one of his main goals is to make sure priests from every county in the diocese feel connected and represented.
He will be ordained of the episcopacy on November 28, 2012.
