Bishop Gregory Kelly now fifth bishop of Diocese of Tyler

Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, pictured with Christophe Cardinal Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the U.S., was the celebrant of the installation Mass for Bishop Gregory Kelly, who installed as the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Tyler on Feb. 24. (Courtesy photo)

Pope Francis appointed Most Reverend Gregory Kelly, Auxiliary Bishop of Dallas, as the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Tyler. The appointment was announced in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 20, 2024, by Christophe Cardinal Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the U.S.

His installation Mass took place on Monday, Feb. 24. Daniel Cardinal DiNardo celebrated the Mass, and Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, CRS, was in attendance.

“I am grateful to the Holy Father for this surprising pre-Christmas gift, and I am eager to begin this ministry in the New Year,” Bishop Kelly said.

“I am grateful to Pope Francis for his manner of shepherding the Universal Church, and for his pastoral concern for this local Church of Tyler. I am honored that he has entrusted this responsibility to me, and I hope to learn how to best fulfill this ministry. I look forward to getting to know you, to know the richness of this local Church, and to learn how best to lead this flock along the path the Risen Lord marks out for us to follow together in the time ahead.”

Bishop Joe S. Vásquez, archbishop-designate of Galveston-Houston and Bishop of the Diocese of Austin, led the Diocese of Tyler as the apostolic administrator until Bishop Kelly’s installation.

“I have known Bishop Kelly for many years as a bishop. He is a humble man who loves the Church and is faithful to our Holy Father, Pope Francis,” Bishop Vásquez said. “Bishop Kelly has a heart filled with love for his brother priests, and he is a man of deep prayer. I believe he will be an excellent shepherd of this local Church and that he will lead the clergy and people of God to know and love Jesus Christ.”

Bishop Gregory J. Kelly was born to John and Marilean Kelly on Feb. 15, 1956 in LeMars, Iowa. He was baptized at St. Mary’s Church in Alton, Iowa. He grew up in Colorado Springs, Colorado, attending Sacred Heart Elementary School, St. Mary’s High School and Colorado State University in Ft. Collins, Colorado.

Bishop Kelly entered Holy Trinity Seminary in 1976 and received his BA and Masters of Divinity degrees from the University of Dallas. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Dallas on May 15, 1982, at his home parish of Sacred Heart. He served 4 years as associate pastor at All Saints Church in Dallas and, in 1986, was assigned as chaplain of the University of Dallas. In 1995, he was named vocations director for the Diocese of Dallas and, in 1996, was appointed pastor of the newly established parish of St. Gabriel the Archangel in McKinney, Texas. He served in that position until January 2008, when he was named vicar for clergy by now-Kevin Cardinal Farrell.

Bishop Kelly has served on the Presbyteral Council and as a member of the College of Consultors for the last 17 years. He has also chaired the Priests’ Personnel Board and has served on the boards of the University of Dallas, St. John Paul II High School in Plano, and Catholic Charities of Dallas. He served briefly as interim rector of Holy Trinity Seminary in Irving in the spring of 2014. On Feb. 1, 2013, he was given the title of Monsignor by Pope Benedict XVI.

On Dec. 16, 2015 Monsignor Kelly was appointed auxiliary bishop of Dallas by Pope Francis and was ordained at the Cathedral Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe on Feb. 11, 2016. On April 18, 2016, he was appointed vicar general and appointed to serve as the Moderator of the Curia.

Bishop Kelly attributes his vocation to the deep faith and example of his parents, John and Marilean, both deceased. Also, to his childhood pastor, Father George Julian, OMI, whose example of priesthood inspired his own.