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Stephen D. Parkes

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
His Excellency,The Most Reverend

Stephen Douglas Parkes
Bishop of Savannah
DioceseSavannah
AppointedJuly 8, 2020
InstalledSeptember 23, 2020
PredecessorGregory John Hartmayer
Orders
OrdinationMay 23, 1998
byNorbert Dorsey
ConsecrationSeptember 23, 2020
byGregory John Hartmayer,Gregory Parkes,andJohn Gerard Noonan
Personal details
Born(1965-06-02)June 2, 1965(age 59)
Mineola, New York,US
EducationUniversity of South Florida
St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary
MottoGaudete In Domino semper
(Rejoice in the Lord always)
Styles of
Stephen Douglas Parkes
Reference style
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleBishop

Stephen Douglas Parkes(born June 2, 1965) is an American prelate of theRoman Catholic Churchwho has served as the bishop of theDiocese of Savannahin Georgia since September 2020.

Early life and education

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Stephen D. Parkes was born inMineola, New York,on June 2, 1965. He is the youngest of three sons born to Joan and Ron Parkes. His older brother,Gregory Parkes,is the bishop of theDiocese of St. Petersburgin Florida.

Stephen Parkes attendedMassapequa High Schoolin Massapequa, New York.[1][2]He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration/Marketing degree from theUniversity of South Floridain Tampa, Florida, in 1987, then worked in banking and the retail sector for several years.

In 1992, having decided to become a priest, Parkes entered theSt. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminaryin Boynton Beach, Florida, receiving aMaster of Divinitydegree.[3]Parkes is fluent in Spanish, having studied it in high school, college, and seminary, plus a six-weeklanguage immersioncourse inCosta Rica.[4][2]

Priesthood

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On May 23, 1998, Parkes was ordained by BishopNorbert Dorseyto the priesthood for theDiocese of OrlandoatSaint James Cathedralin Orlando.[5]After his ordination, the diocese assigned Parkes asparochial vicarto Annunciation Catholic Parish inAltamonte Springs, Florida.In 2004, he was also named spiritual director for the Catholic campus ministry at theUniversity of Central Floridain Orlando.

Parkes's first appointment as pastor was in 2005 at Most Precious Blood Parish inOviedo, Florida.Then-BishopThomas Wenskiappointed Parkes as dean of the North CentralDeaneryin 2008.[6]The next year, the diocese returned Parkes to Annunciation Parish, where he also served as pastor for the next nine years.[2]

During his time in Orlando, Parkes was also a member of the Investment Committee and, starting in 2019, a spiritual director to the Catholic Foundation of Central Florida.[7][2][8]

Bishop of Savannah

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Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist, Savannah, Georgia

On July 8, 2020,Pope Francisappointed Parkes as bishop of the Diocese of Savannah.[9][10]On September 23, 2020, he was consecrated by ArchbishopGregory Hartmayer,with his brother Gregory Parkes and Noonan as co-consecrators, at theCathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptistin Savannah.[1][2]

On September 29, 2020, Stephen Parkes and the diocese were sued by William Fred Baker Jr. Baker said that the diocese knew that Reverend Wayland Brown was molesting him in 1987 and 1988 when he was a 10-year-old attending St. James Catholic School inSavannah.Brown received a 20-year sentence for sexual abuse crimes.[11]

In May 2022, Parkes contacted the Vatican Dicastery for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments requesting permission to continue the Traditional Latin Mass in the Diocese of Savannah. This dispensation was granted for the period of one year, and in September 2023, the Dicastery extended this dispensation for an additional two years.[12][13]

After the Prosecuting Attorneys' Council (PAC) of Georgia released its report on sexual abuse by clergy, Parkes made the following statement on March 24:

The sexual abuse crisis has been a blight on the Church and a source of profound suffering. While the sins of the past cannot be overlooked – and indeed must be acknowledged – I assure you that the Church of today is firmly committed to the safety and protection of children.[14]

Within theUS Conference of Catholic Bishops,Parkes is a member of the Committee on Pro Life Activities and the Subcommittee on Native American Affairs.[15][16]He is a board member forAve Maria Universityin Immokalee, Florida, and St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary.[2]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ab"Unique ceremony installs region's new Catholic bishop".WRDW News. September 24, 2020.RetrievedSeptember 24,2020.
  2. ^abcdef"Bishop Stephen D. Parkes - The Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah".diosav.org.Retrieved2022-04-14.
  3. ^"Pope Francis Names Father Stephen Parkes of Diocese of Orlando as Bishop of Savannah".July 8, 2020.
  4. ^Skutch, Jan."Savannah's Catholic Bishop-elect Stephen D. Parkes preaches hope in the face of pandemic".Savannah Morning News.Retrieved2021-10-13.
  5. ^"Bishop Stephen Douglas Parkes [Catholic-Hierarchy]".www.catholic-hierarchy.org.Retrieved2022-02-13.
  6. ^"Bishop Stephen D. Parkes - The Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah".diosav.org.Retrieved2024-02-08.
  7. ^"Father Stephen Parkes is appointed 15th bishop of Savannah".DioceseofOrlando.org.July 8, 2020.
  8. ^"Pope Francis Names Father Stephen Parkes of Diocese of Orlando as Bishop of Savannah | USCCB".www.usccb.org.Retrieved2024-01-07.
  9. ^"THE DIOCESE OF SAVANNAH WELCOMES BISHOP-ELECT STEPHEN D. PARKES".RetrievedJuly 8,2020.
  10. ^"Pope Francis Names Father Stephen Parkes of Diocese of Orlando as Bishop of Savannah".usccb.org.RetrievedJuly 13,2020.
  11. ^Poole, Shelia."Lawsuit alleges Catholic Diocese of Savannah covered up sex abuse claims".The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.Retrieved2021-10-13.
  12. ^"Update on the Use of the Missale Romanum of 1962 - The Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah".diosav.org.Retrieved2024-02-08.
  13. ^CNA."Savannah diocese to end Traditional Latin Masses".Catholic News Agency.Retrieved2024-02-08.
  14. ^Cawthon, Graham (2023-03-25)."'May the Lord grant us his healing and his peace': Diocese of Savannah responds to abuse allegations ".WJCL.Retrieved2024-01-07.
  15. ^"Committee on Prolife Activities".USCCB.Retrieved2024-01-07.
  16. ^"Subcommittee on Native American Affairs".USCCB.Retrieved2024-01-07.
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Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Bishop of Savannah
2020–present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
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