It is with great joy that I inform you that our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI has graciously decided to appoint two auxiliary bishops to assist me in ministering to the Catholic faithful in the Diocese of Dallas. I know you will be pleased to learn that our Holy Father has named Father Doug Deshotel and Monsignor Mark Seitz as Auxiliary Bishops for the Diocese of Dallas. The Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Pietro Sambi, made the announcement this morning in Washington, D.C.

Father Deshotel and Monsignor Seitz are long-time priests of the Diocese of Dallas. Father Deshotel was ordained a priest for this diocese in 1978. Monsignor Seitz was also ordained for this diocese in 1980. They have both served in numerous parishes throughout the diocese and on consultative boards and committees. I am confident that their collective 62 years of experience as priests and pastors will be of great help to me in our ministry to the 1.2 million Catholics in the Diocese of Dallas.

These appointments are very significant in that they demonstrate that our Holy Father continues to be keenly aware of the tremendous growth of the Catholic Church in Texas.Just three years ago, Pope Benedict made history in the American Church when he appointed the first cardinal to serve south of the Mason-Dixon Line. Today, these appointments are evidence that he also appreciates the incredible growth in the Diocese of Dallas over the last 30 years.

I know you will join me in congratulating Bishop-elect Doug Deshotel and Bishop -Elect Mark Seitz, and that you will also join me in praying that God will bless them with courage, wisdom and joy!

The bishops-elect will be ordained as bishops on Tuesday, April 27, 2010 at the Cathedral Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe in dowtown Dallas.