Curtis J. Guillory

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Roman Catholic Church
SeeDiocese of Beaumont
AppointedJune 2, 2000
InstalledJuly 28, 2000
RetiredJune 9, 2020
PredecessorJoseph Anthony Galante
SuccessorDavid Toups
Orders
OrdinationDecember 16, 1972
by Carlos Ambrosio Lewis Tullock
ConsecrationFebruary 19, 1988
by Joseph Fiorenza, Philip Hannan, and J. Terry Steib
Personal details
Born (1943-09-01) September 1, 1943 (age 80)
Mallet, Louisiana, US
Previous post(s)Auxiliary Bishop of Galveston–Houston (1988–2000)
EducationDivine Word College
Catholic Theological Union
MottoDiligentibus Deum omnia cooperantur
(For those who love God, all things work together for good)
Styles of
Curtis John Guillory
Reference style
Spoken style
Your Excellency
Religious styleBishop

Curtis John Guillory, S.V.D. (born September 1, 1943) is an American prelate of the Catholic Church and member of the Society of the Divine Word. Guillory served as Bishop of Beaumont from 2000 to 2020. He was the first non-canonist to hold this position.

Guillory previously served as an auxiliary bishop for the Diocese of Galveston–Houston from 1988 to 2000, the first (and, as of 2022, the only) Black Catholic bishop in Texas history.

Biography

Early years

Curtis Guillory was born on September 1, 1943, to Wilfred and Theresa Guillory (née Jardoin) on September 1, 1943, in Bayou Mallet, Louisiana. He is the oldest of 17 children (six sons, eleven daughters).[1]

Gillory is a descendant of Louisiana free people of color. His father owned a small farm and worked another one. Curtis and his siblings helped pick cotton, shuck corn, and feed the animals. During the school year, he would get up early to work on the farm, attend school and return home to work until dark.[1]

Guillory entered the Society of Divine Word's

Beaumont Enterprise, Guillory recalled that both his parents were hospitalized at one point. He told his mother that he was going to leave the seminary to come home and help the family. She told him to do his part by staying at the seminary and praying for them.[2]

In 1968, Guillory earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Divine Word College at Epworth, Iowa, in 1968. He later earned a Master of Divinity degree at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, Illinois.[1]

Priesthood

On December 16, 1972, Guillory was ordained to the priesthood for the Society of Divine Work at his home parish of St. Ann in Mallet Bayou by Auxiliary Bishop Carlos Ambrosio Lewis Tullock from the Archdiocese of Panamá.[3][4]The Society first sent Guillory to St. Augustine Parish in New Orleans. He served three years there as an associate pastor and six years as pastor.

Guillory was the founding director of the Tolton House of Studies in New Orleans, the seminary residence for Divine Word students. Guillory also served as a member of the executive committee of the National Association of Black Catholic Administrators, the Louisiana One Church/One Family adoption program, national chaplain to the Knights of Peter Claver, a member of the archdiocesan presbyteral council, and a board member of the Spirituality Center.[1]

In 1986, Guillory earned a Master of Christian Spirituality degree from

Jungian psychology in Switzerland. In September 1987, Guillory coordinated the visit of Pope John Paul II
to New Orleans.

Auxiliary Bishop of Galveston–Houston

On December 29, 1987, John Paul II appointed Guillory as

Romans 8:28: "For those who love God, all things work together for good."[4]

In the

Harris County Hospital District
in Harris County, Texas.

For the

Olympic torch in Texas during its tour around the United States, the only Catholic bishop to receive the honor. On February 4, 2019, Guillory issued a letter of apology in response to a remark by a parish priest that minimalized the criminality of child sexual abuse; "Any act of sexual abuse of a minor is a heinous crime and it is a sin...It’s a grave sin."[5]

Bishop of Beaumont

On June 2, 2000, John Paul II appointed Guillory

African American bishop to lead a Texas diocese and the first Beaumont bishop to belong to a religious congregation
. He remained a member of the Society of the Divine Word but while an active bishop was not under its jurisdiction.

While in Beaumont, Guillory established the

capital campaign for it.[1][2] In 2016, Guillory received the Rabbi Samuel Rosinger Humanitarian Award, presented by Temple Emanuel in Beaumont, Texas.[1]

Retirement and legacy

Pope Francis accepted Guillory's resignation on June 9, 2020. and named Reverend David Toups as his successor.[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Jakobeit, Larry. "Bishop's Biography". Diocese of Beaumont. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
  2. ^ a b Ramos, Jorge (August 20, 2020). "Beaumont Archdiocese Bishop Curtis Guillory reflects on 20-year legacy". Beaumont Enterprise. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
  3. ^ "Panamá (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c "Bishop Curtis John Guillory [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  5. ^ Bain`, Caitlyn (February 4, 2019). "Bishop reiterates sexual abuse by priests was criminal conduct". AP. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
  6. ^ "Pope Francis Accepts Resignation of Bishop Curtis Guillory, SVD of Beaumont; Names Monsignor David Toups of Diocese of Saint Petersburg as Successor". United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. June 9, 2020. Retrieved June 9, 2020.

External links

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Bishop of Beaumont
2000–2020 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
–
 Auxiliary Bishop of Galveston–Houston
1988–2000 		Succeeded by
–
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