Bishop Sheltz retires after 50 years of serving the faithful of Galveston-Houston

Auxiliary Bishop George A. Sheltz preaches a homily at St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church in Huffman. On June 22, Pope Francis accepted Bishop Sheltz’s resignation as auxiliary bishop of Galveston-Houston, who turned 75 on April 20, the mandatory age of retirement for bishops in the Catholic Church. (File photos by James Ramos/Herald)

HOUSTON — On June 22, Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Auxiliary Bishop George A. Sheltz from the Office of Auxiliary Bishop of Galveston-Houston.

On April 20, Bishop Sheltz turned 75 years old, the mandatory age for retirement for bishops of the Catholic Church.

Daniel Cardinal DiNardo expressed his gratitude to the bishop for his more than 50 years of service to the Archdiocese as both a priest and a bishop.

“I am grateful for his friendship, counsel and boundless commitment to the local faithful; his knowledge and love of his home diocese has always been evident in his words and actions,” he said. “In addition, his calm, insightful manner, and dry sense of humor was invaluable in overseeing the administrative operations of the Archdiocese as chancellor.” 
Bishop Sheltz, though retired, will continue to temporarily serve as chancellor and Moderator of the Curia.

The seventh auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese, Bishop Sheltz is a native Houstonian, a graduate of St. Thomas High School and of St. Mary’s Seminary. He was ordained a priest on May 15, 1971.

He was appointed an auxiliary bishop on Feb. 21, 2012 by then Pope Benedict XVI. He was consecrated auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese on May 2, 2012, and remained the sole auxiliary bishop until Bishop Italo Dell’Oro’s appointment.