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William Albert Wack

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His Excellency, The Most Reverend

William Albert Wack

C.S.C.
Bishop of Pensacola–Tallahassee
DioceseDiocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee
AppointedMay 29, 2017
InstalledAugust 22, 2017
PredecessorGregory Parkes
Orders
OrdinationApril 9, 1994
by James MacDonald
ConsecrationAugust 22, 2017
by Thomas Wenski, Daniel R. Jenky, and Joe S. Vásquez
Personal details
Born (1967-06-28) June 28, 1967 (age 57)
South Bend, Indiana, US
EducationHoly Cross College (Indiana)
University of Notre Dame
MottoCome. Follow me.
Styles of
William Albert Wack, C.S.C.
Reference style
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleBishop

William Albert Wack, C.S.C. (born June 28, 1967) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, serving as the bishop of the Diocese of Pensacola–Tallahassee in Florida since August 22, 2017.

Early life

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William Wack was born June 28, 1967, in South Bend, Indiana. He is the second youngest of ten children, including a younger brother who followed him into the priesthood.[1] After graduating from LaSalle High School and attending Holy Cross College in Notre Dame, Indiana, for one year, Wack transferred to the University of Notre Dame. He graduated in 1989 from Notre Dame with a degree in government and international relations.[2]

Having decided to become a priest, Wack entered the novitiate for the Congregation of Holy Cross (CSC) in August 1989. He professed his temporary vows to the CSC in 1990. He then returned to Notre Dame, where he received a Master of Divinity degree in May 1993. On August 28, 1993, Wack professed his solemn vows to the CSC and was ordained a deacon the following day.[2]

Priesthood

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On April 9, 1994, Wack was ordained to the priesthood at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at Notre Dame for the CSC by Archbishop James MacDonald.[3]

After his 1994 ordination, the CSC assigned Wack as an associate pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Colorado Springs, Colorado for three-plus years. From July 1997 to July 2002, he served as associate director of vocations for Holy Cross, as well as working in campus ministry at Notre Dame. Wack moved to Phoenix, Arizona, in 2002 to serve as director of André House, a facility serving the homeless and poor of Phoenix. In June 2009, the CSC moved Wack to Austin, Texas to become pastor of St. Ignatius Martyr Parish.[2]

Bishop of Pensacola-Tallahassee

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On May 29, 2017, Pope Francis appointed Wack as diocesan bishop for the Diocese of Pensacola–Tallahassee.[4][3] In an interview before his consecration, Wack said "all I ever wanted to be was a priest."[5] On August 22, 2017, Wack was consecrated by Archbishop Thomas Wenski, with Bishops Daniel R. Jenky and Joe S. Vásquez serving as co-consecrators.[3]

In a 2023 interview with the National Catholic Register, Wack urged Catholics to become missionary disciples.[6] He called for them to be more evangelical in describing their relationship with Christ, saying:

"Catholics have not always been comfortable talking about a 'personal relationship with Jesus Christ.' But even though that is not our preferred language, we know innately that this is what God wants for us. We can all start by asking God to help us to grow in our relationship with Jesus in the Holy Spirit.[7]

On November 23, 2023, Wack celebrated a mass for the sealing of documentation for the Vatican on the canonization cause of what the church calls the Martyrs of La Florida Mission. These 58 men, clerics and laypeople, were killed in Florida from 1549 to 1712 because they were Catholic.[8]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Wack, William. "Fr. Neil Wack, C.S.C." Congregation of the Holy Cross. Archived from the original on 2017-07-19. Retrieved 2017-05-31.
  2. ^ a b c "Bishop Wack's Biography". Catholic Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  3. ^ a b c "Bishop William Albert Wack [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  4. ^ "Pope Names Priest as New Bishop of Pensacola-Tallahassee". US Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved May 30, 2017.
  5. ^ Moon, Troy (August 19, 2017). "'Bishop Bill': From Notre Dame (and a spot in 'Rudy') to Pensacola". Pensacola News Journal. Pensacola News Journal. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  6. ^ "Interview: Bishop Wack discusses 'anger, division' in US Catholic Church". National Catholic Register. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  7. ^ Wack, William (April 29, 2022). "Bishop Wack: We need more evangelical Catholics". America Magazine. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  8. ^ Gonzalez, Jean (November 7, 2023). "Diocesan phase of Florida Martyrs' cause closes; priest to take documents to Rome". Detroit Catholic. Retrieved 2024-02-24.
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Episcopal succession

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Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Bishop of Pensacola–Tallahassee
2017-Present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
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