Browsing News Entries
Lawmakers, activists rally behind proposed ban of ‘inhumane’ dismemberment abortion
Posted on 05/1/2026 16:29 PM (EWTN News - World Catholic News)
Lawmakers, activists rally behind proposed ban of ‘inhumane’ dismemberment abortion
Posted on 05/1/2026 16:29 PM (EWTN News - US Catholic News)
It’s the Good Friday of the pro-life cause in Mexico, lawyer says
Posted on 05/1/2026 13:41 PM (EWTN News - World Catholic News)
‘Truthful, respectful’: Czech bishop backs Sudeten German gathering in Brno
Posted on 05/1/2026 12:01 PM (EWTN News - World Catholic News)
Priest beaten, robbed at church amid wave of attacks on Catholics in Bangladesh
Posted on 05/1/2026 11:31 AM (EWTN News - World Catholic News)
New York Archdiocese agrees to nearly $1 billion settlement for sexual abuse victims
Posted on 05/1/2026 11:01 AM (EWTN News - World Catholic News)
New York Archdiocese agrees to nearly $1 billion settlement for sexual abuse victims
Posted on 05/1/2026 11:01 AM (EWTN News - US Catholic News)
Pope Leo XIV appoints 4 new bishops to multiple U.S. dioceses
Posted on 05/1/2026 09:46 AM (EWTN News - US Catholic News)
Pope Leo XIV Accepts Resignation of Bishop James Tamayo of the Diocese of Laredo; Appoints Reverend John Gomez as Successor
Posted on 05/1/2026 08:30 AM (USCCB News Releases)
WASHINGTON – Pope Leo XIV has accepted the resignation of Bishop James A. Tamayo, 76, from the pastoral governance of the Diocese of Laredo, and has appointed Reverend John Jairo Gomez, as Bishop-elect of Laredo. Father Gomez is a priest of the Diocese of Tyler and currently serves as the vicar general of the diocese. The resignation and appointment were publicized in Washington, D.C., on May 1, 2026, by Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States.
The following biographical information for Bishop-elect Gomez was drawn from preliminary materials provided to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops:
Father Gomez was born on December 15, 1975, in Colombia. He received his master of divinity from the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas (2009), and a licentiate in canon law from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome (2012). He was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Tyler on May 23, 2009.
His parish assignments after ordination include: pastor at Holy Cross parish in Pittsburgh, Texas (2012-2017); pastor at Christ the King parish in Kilgore (2017-2018); and pastor at St. Charles in Frankston (2018-2020). His assignments for the Diocese of Tyler include: judicial vicar (2014-2015); member of the diocesan presbyteral council (2014 to present);; member of the diocesan college of consultors (2015 to present); member of the board of directors for Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Tyler (2015 to present); member of the diocesan review board (2017 to present); member of the East Texas Catholic Foundation Board of Directors (2017 to present); member of the board of directors for the diocesan priest retirement plan (2017-2022); diocesan director of the Pontifical Mission Societies (2017 to present); member if the Catholic Association of Diocesan Directors of Hispanic Ministry (2022 to present); delegate of the apostolic administrator (2023-2025). He served as vicar general and moderator of the curia for the Diocese of Tyler from 2015 to 2023 and has also been serving in the role again from 2025 to present.
Bishop-elect Gomez is a native speaker of Spanish.
The Diocese of Laredo is comprised of 10,905 square miles in the State of Texas.
###
Pope Leo XIV Accepts Resignation of Bishop Mark Brennan of Wheeling-Charleston; Appoints Bishop Evelio Menjivar-Ayala as Successor
Posted on 05/1/2026 08:30 AM (USCCB News Releases)
WASHINGTON – Pope Leo XIV has accepted the resignation of Most Reverend Mark E. Brennan, 79, from the pastoral governance of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, and has appointed Most Reverend Evelio Menjivar-Ayala, currently auxiliary bishop of Washington, as his successor.
The resignation and appointment were publicized in Washington, D.C. on May 1, 2026, by Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States.
Bishop Menjivar-Ayala’s biography may be found here.
The Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston is comprised of 24,041 square miles in the State of West Virginia.
###