About Diocese of Beaumont
The Diocese of Beaumont is a Latin Church diocese of the Catholic Church in Southeast Texas, established on September 29, 1966, and encompassing nine counties along the Gulf Coast and Piney Woods region. It is a suffragan diocese of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, with St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica in Beaumont serving as its mother church since its 1966 erection and as a minor basilica since 2006. The diocese was the second in the United States created after the Second Vatican Council and is currently shepherded by the Most Reverend David L. Toups, its sixth bishop, installed in 2020.
- Bishop
- David L. Toups
- Established
- 1966
- Cathedral
- St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica
- Territory
- Nine counties in Southeast Texas: Chambers, Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Newton, Orange, Polk, and Tyler (covering approximately 7,878 sq mi / 20,400 km²).
- Parishes
- 44
- Province
- Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
History of the Diocese of Beaumont
Catholic missionary activity in the Beaumont area traces back to 1690 and the first Spanish Franciscan missions in East Texas. The Diocese of Beaumont itself was erected by Pope Paul VI on June 25, 1966, and canonically installed on September 29, 1966, when Bishop Vincent Madeley Harris became its first ordinary. It was the second U.S. diocese created after the Second Vatican Council. Originally carved from the Diocese of Galveston-Houston with thirteen counties, it has been served by six bishops and today covers nine counties of Southeast Texas.
- Erected June 25, 1966 by Pope Paul VI
- Installed September 29, 1966 under Bishop Vincent Harris
- Originally 13 counties; now 9
- Second U.S. diocese created after Vatican II
- Six bishops since 1966
Bishops of Beaumont in Succession
Six ordinary bishops have led the diocese since 1966. The episcopal line runs from Vincent Madeley Harris (1966–1971), Warren Louis Boudreaux (1971–1977), Bernard J. Ganter (1977–1993), Joseph Anthony Galante (1994–1999), Curtis J. Guillory, S.V.D. (2000–2020), to the current bishop, David L. Toups (installed August 21, 2020).
- Vincent M. Harris — first bishop (1966–1971)
- Warren L. Boudreaux — second bishop (1971–1977)
- Bernard J. Ganter — third bishop (1977–1993)
- Joseph A. Galante — fourth bishop (1994–1999)
- Curtis J. Guillory, S.V.D. — fifth bishop (2000–2020)
- David L. Toups — sixth bishop (2020–present)
Bishop David L. Toups
The Most Reverend David Leon Toups, born March 26, 1971 in Seattle, Washington, was appointed sixth Bishop of Beaumont by Pope Francis on June 9, 2020 and consecrated at St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica on August 21, 2020 by Cardinal Daniel DiNardo. A Doctor of Sacred Theology (Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas), he previously served as rector of St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach, Florida, and as a faculty member in sacramental and liturgical theology. His episcopal motto is drawn from Romans 8:28 — 'Diligentibus Deum omnia cooperantur in bonum' (All things work together for good to those who love God).
- Born March 26, 1971 in Seattle, WA
- Educated at St. John Vianney College Seminary, Pontifical Gregorian University, and the Angelicum
- Ordained priest June 14, 1997 for the Diocese of St. Petersburg
- Appointed Bishop of Beaumont June 9, 2020
- Installed August 21, 2020
St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica
St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica, the mother church of the diocese, traces its roots to 1879 when Bishop Jean-Marie Odin and Fr. Vital Quinon founded St. Louis Parish — the first formal Catholic parish in Beaumont. The present brick church was built during the Lucas Oil Boom with its cornerstone blessed in 1903 and dedicated in 1907 under Bishop Nicolaus Gallagher of Galveston. Upon erection of the diocese in 1966, Pope Paul VI raised St. Anthony to the rank of cathedral. On July 11, 2006, Pope Benedict XVI elevated it to the status of a minor basilica. The cathedral holds a relic of Pope John Paul II (a signed zucchetto), and was designated a City of Beaumont heritage site in 1975 and a Recorded Texas Historical Landmark in 1980.
- First Catholic parish in Beaumont: St. Louis, 1879
- Cornerstone blessed 1903; dedicated 1907
- Elevated to cathedral in 1966
- Raised to minor basilica by Pope Benedict XVI in 2006
- Papal ombrellino and tintinnabulum installed October 21, 2007
- Recorded Texas Historical Landmark (1980)
Diocesan Territory and Statistics
The Diocese of Beaumont covers nine counties of Southeast Texas — Chambers, Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Newton, Orange, Polk, and Tyler — a total area of approximately 7,878 square miles (20,400 km²). As of 2016, the diocese recorded about 71,000 Catholics out of a total population of 630,000 (11.2%), served by 44 parishes and missions.
- 9 counties in Southeast Texas
- Area: ~7,878 sq mi / 20,400 km²
- Parishes: 44
- Catholics: ~71,000 (2016)
- Total population: ~630,000
Catholic Schools
The Diocese of Beaumont establishes, organizes, and supports a system of elementary and secondary Catholic schools to assist families in forming their children in the Catholic faith. The Office of the Superintendent facilitates connectivity between schools and the parishes they serve and works to keep Catholic education affordable and accessible across the region.
- Diocesan Office of the Superintendent of Schools
- Diocesan School Board
- Elementary and secondary Catholic schools
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Faith formation in the diocese is coordinated through the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis, which supports parish religious education programs, the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), the Catholic Education and Ministry Institute (C.E.M.I.), and adult biblical study. Bishop Ganter founded a biblical school for adults in his tenure, a tradition continued today.
- Office of Evangelization and Catechesis
- R.C.I.A. (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Catholic Education and Ministry Institute (C.E.M.I.)
- Adult biblical study
Ministries and Outreach
The diocese maintains a broad portfolio of pastoral and charitable ministries. Catholic Charities of Southeast Texas provides social services, immigration assistance, counseling, disaster response, and parish social ministry. Apostleship of the Sea centers serve commercial fishermen and merchant mariners, a ministry begun by Bishop Boudreaux in 1974. Other major ministries include Hispanic Ministry, African American Ministry, Family Life Ministry, the Permanent Diaconate, Nursing Home Ministry, Criminal Justice Ministry, Charismatic Renewal, Catholic Scouting, and the Serra Clubs for vocations.
- Catholic Charities of Southeast Texas
- Apostleship of the Sea (seafarer ministry)
- Hispanic Ministry
- African American Ministry and Advisory Committee
- Family Life Ministry
- Permanent Diaconate (since 1979)
- Nursing Home Ministry
- Criminal Justice Ministry
- Disaster Response
- Immigration Services
- Serra Clubs
Worship and Liturgy
The Office of Worship supports the liturgical life of the diocese through the Diocesan Liturgical Commission, the Music Commission, and parish liturgical teams. St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica itself was re-dedicated and consecrated on October 17, 2004, after a major liturgical renovation under Bishop Guillory, including a free-standing altar, a 2,500-pipe Wicks organ, and renewed art and acoustics.
- Diocesan Liturgical Commission
- Music Commission
- Office of Worship
- Cathedral re-dedication October 17, 2004
- 2,500-pipe Wicks organ in cathedral
Vocations and Clergy
The diocese maintains a Vocations Ministry, a Vocations Board, a Presbyteral Council, a College of Consultors, a Clergy Personnel Board, and a Diocesan Review Board. Continuing education programs support clergy and religious throughout their ministry. The Permanent Diaconate program, founded by Bishop Ganter in 1979, has ordained dozens of men to serve in parishes across the diocese.
- Vocations Ministry and Vocations Board
- Presbyteral Council and College of Consultors
- Permanent Diaconate
- Continuing Education for Clergy and Religious
- Clergy Personnel Board
Retreats and Monasteries
The Holy Family Retreat Center, established under Bishop Ganter, hosts retreats and spiritual formation events for parishes and groups across Southeast Texas. Holy Cross Monastery, an Order of St. Benedict community, is also located within the diocese and offers monastic prayer and hospitality.
- Holy Family Retreat Center
- Holy Cross Monastery (Order of St. Benedict)
Communications and Stewardship
The Office of Stewardship and Communications publishes the East Texas Catholic newspaper, maintains the diocesan website, and oversees the Bishop's Faith Appeal annual campaign. The diocese also operates a Planned Giving Commission, a Stewardship Council, a Catholic Foundation of the Diocese of Beaumont (founded by Bishop Guillory), and a Finance Council.
- East Texas Catholic newspaper
- Bishop's Faith Appeal (B.F.A.)
- Catholic Foundation of the Diocese of Beaumont
- Planned Giving Commission
- Diocesan Finance Council
Tribunal and Canonical Affairs
The Diocesan Tribunal handles canonical cases under the Very Rev. Kevin Badeaux as Judicial Vicar. The diocese also maintains a Chancellor, a Moderator of the Curia, Vicars General and Pro-Vicar General, Episcopal Vicars, and a Victim Assistance Coordinator in compliance with the U.S. Bishops' Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.
- Diocesan Tribunal — Judicial Vicar Very Rev. Kevin Badeaux
- Moderator of the Curia
- Vicar General — Very Rev. Shane Baxter
- Victim Assistance Coordinator
- Diocesan Review Board
Vietnamese Catholic Heritage
The Diocese of Beaumont is home to one of the most significant Vietnamese Catholic communities in the United States, a legacy of the resettlement program led by Bishop Warren Boudreaux after the Fall of Saigon in 1975. The program was praised by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Frances Fitzgerald in the New York Times and featured on the cover of Texas Monthly (June 1976). Under Bishop Bernard Ganter in the late 1970s and early 1980s, the diocese established what is widely recognized as the first Vietnamese-language Catholic parish in the United States, a foundational moment for Vietnamese-American Catholic life.
- Vietnamese refugee resettlement under Bishop Boudreaux (post-1975)
- Featured in Texas Monthly (June 1976)
- Praised by Frances Fitzgerald in the New York Times
- First Vietnamese-language Catholic parish in the United States (Bishop Ganter)
Contact and Location
The Catholic Pastoral Center (Chancery) of the Diocese of Beaumont is located at 710 Archie Street, Beaumont, Texas 77701, with mailing address PO Box 3948, Beaumont, TX 77704-3948. The main phone line is (409) 924-4300 and fax is (409) 838-4511. The diocese also identifies as 'La Diócesis de Beaumont' and serves a bilingual community in Southeast Texas.
- Physical address: 710 Archie Street, Beaumont, TX 77701
- Mailing address: PO Box 3948, Beaumont, TX 77704-3948
- Phone: (409) 924-4300
- Fax: (409) 838-4511
- Website: dioceseofbmt.org
