Mark J. Seitz

Mark Joseph Seitz (born January 10, 1954) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is currently the bishop of the Diocese of El Paso. On May 6, 2013, he was appointed Bishop of El Paso, Texas. He was installed on July 9, 2013.

Early life and education

Mark Seitz was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on January 10, 1954. He is the eldest of ten siblings. In 1972, he entered Holy Trinity Seminary at the University of Dallas in Texas. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy in 1976 and a Master of Divinity degree in 1980.

Ordination and ministry

Seitz was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Thomas A. Tschoepe on May 17, 1980. His first assignment was as a parochial vicar at Good Shepherd Church in Garland, where he served from 1980 to 1985. During this period, he earned a M.A. in Theology from the University of Dallas (1982) and an M.A. in Liturgical Studies from Saint John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota (1985). He also took summer courses at the University of Notre Dame and Duquesne University.

Seitz served as an adjunct professor at the University of Dallas from 1985 to 1994, teaching liturgy and sacramental theology. He also served as associate spiritual director (1986-1987), director of liturgy (1986-1993), and vice-rector (1987-1993) at Holy Trinity Seminary. From 1993 to 2003, he was pastor of St. Joseph Church in Waxahachie. He was an instructor at Christ the Servant Institute in Dallas during the fall of 2001, and interned at the National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, during the fall of 2002. In 2003, he became pastor of St. Rita's Church in Dallas. He was named a Prelate of Honor by Pope John Paul II in December 2004. In 2009, he made news after donating one of his own kidneys to an ailing parishioner. Since 2010, he has been pastor of All Saints Church in Dallas.

Seitz also served as a member of the Presbyteral Council of the Diocese of Dallas (1988–1993, 1999–2006, 2007–2010), spiritual director of Dallas/Fort Worth Courage (1998–2010), member of the Diocesan Honduras Solidarity Team (2002–2010), member of the College of Consultors of the Diocese of Dallas (2007–2010), spiritual director of the White Rose Women's Center (2009–2010), and member of the Board of Directors of the BirthChoice Catholic Crisis Pregnancy Center (2009-2010).

Auxiliary Bishop of Dallas

On March 11, 2010, Seitz was appointed auxiliary bishop of Dallas and titular bishop of Cozyla by Pope Benedict XVI. Following his appointment, he said, "I have learned through the years that following Christ is an adventure filled with totally unexpected dips and turns. When you give your life to His service you better learn to enjoy the ride." Along with J. Douglas Deshotel, he will be one of the first two auxiliary bishops of the Diocese of Dallas since the Diocese of Fort Worth was split from it in 1969.

He received his episcopal consecration on the following April 27, 2010 from Bishop Kevin Farrell, with Charles V. Grahmann and Michael Duca serving as co-consecrators.

Bishop of El Paso

On May 6, 2013, Pope Francis appointed Seitz the 6th Bishop of El Paso, Texas. He was installed on July 9, 2013, at a two-hour Mass concelebrated by more than 20 bishops and more than 100 priests and attended by around 4000 people.