Diocese of Lubbock

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The Diocese of Lubbock, a suffragan diocese of the Latin Rite, is an active diocese in the United States serving the Catholic community across 18 counties in West Texas. Established on June 17, 1983, by Pope John Paul II, it falls under the Ecclesiastical Province of San Antonio and is led by Bishop James A. Wall since 2020. The diocese encompasses the South Plains region, including the city of Lubbock, with 49 parishes supporting a Catholic population of approximately 142,000 in a total population exceeding 1.2 million; a notable milestone was the dedication of Christ the King Cathedral in 2009, symbolizing its growth amid agricultural and energy industries.

Stored in Cargo: Diocese of Lubbock

Diocese: Diocese of Lubbock
Status:Active
Rite:Latin
Type:Suffragan diocese
Ecclesiastical Province:Province of San Antonio
Metropolitan Archdiocese:Archdiocese of San Antonio
Country:United States
Region:Texas
Bishop:James A. Wall
Website:https://www.catholiclubbock.org/
Newspaper:https://westtexasangelus.com/
Catholic %:11.7%
Elementary Schools:12
High Schools:2
Deaneries:5
Priests:85
Existence:1983–
Predecessor Dioceses:Diocese of Amarillo
Catholic Hospitals:3
Rating:4.0
Chancery Address:1315 20th St. Lubbock, TX 79401

Establishment

The Diocese of Lubbock was canonically erected on June 17, 1983, by Pope John Paul II through the apostolic constitution Catholica in catholica, carved from the eastern portion of the Diocese of Amarillo to address the spiritual needs of the rapidly growing Catholic population in the South Plains region of Texas.[1][2]

History

The diocese was created amid post-World War II population booms in West Texas, driven by agriculture, cotton farming, and oil production, which attracted numerous Hispanic Catholic families and migrant workers. Under its first bishop, Michael Jarboe Sheehan, the diocese organized its parishes and schools, completing the original Christ the King Cathedral in 1985 before its expansion. Boundary changes have remained stable since erection, with focus on evangelization in rural areas.[3]

Geography

The Diocese of Lubbock comprises 18 counties in the South Plains and Rolling Plains regions of West Texas, covering approximately 17,305 square miles (44,800 km²):

  • Andrews
  • Bailey
  • Borden
  • Cochran
  • Crosby
  • Dawson
  • Dickens
  • Floyd
  • Gaines
  • Garza
  • Hockley
  • Lamb
  • Lubbock
  • Lynn
  • Mitchell
  • Scurry
  • Terry
  • Yoakum

It is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of San Antonio.[4]

Mother church

Christ the King Cathedral in Lubbock, dedicated in its expanded form on December 12, 2009, serves as the mother church. The modern structure features a fan-shaped nave seating 1,200 and incorporates elements from the original 1985 cathedral, blending contemporary design with traditional Catholic iconography.[5]

Leadership

Current Bishop

Bishop James A. Wall, appointed by Pope Francis on March 12, 2020, and installed on May 21, 2020, previously served as auxiliary bishop of Galveston-Houston. He emphasizes priestly formation and family ministry in his pastoral priorities.[6]

Past Bishops

Name Tenure Notes
Michael Jarboe Sheehan 1983–1994 First bishop; transferred to Santa Fe.
Placido Rodriguez, C.M.S.R. 1994–2016 Focused on Hispanic ministry and vocations; resigned.
Fernando Isern 2016–2020 Promoted synodality and outreach; resigned at age 75.
James A. Wall 2020–present Current bishop.

According to Catholic-Hierarchy.org and diocesan records.[7]

Theological and cultural orientation

The diocese rates 4.0 (slightly conservative), with weekly Traditional Latin Mass available in select parishes like St. Joseph in Lubbock, a strong emphasis on pro-life initiatives and traditional marriage teachings alongside Catholic Charities outreach, and leadership under Bishop Wall prioritizing Eucharistic devotion and orthodoxy in line with Texas Catholic norms.[8][9]

Statistics

As of 2021, the diocese covers 17,305 square miles (44,800 km²), serves 142,000 registered Catholics (11.7% of total population of 1,215,000) across 49 parishes and 5 deaneries, with 85 priests, 12 Catholic elementary schools, 2 high schools, and 3 Catholic hospitals.[10]

Religious Communities

Felician Sisters

The Felician Sisters staff schools such as Our Lady of Grace Catholic School in Lubbock, focusing on elementary education. Address: 3111 Erskine St., Lubbock, TX 79425.[11] Felician Sisters

Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity (SOLT)

SOLT priests and sisters serve parishes and missions, emphasizing family evangelization. Address: Various locations in the diocese.[12]

Parishes

Main article: List of parishes in Diocese of Lubbock
Diocese of Lubbock

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No results The Diocese of Lubbock includes 49 parishes organized into 5 deaneries: Lubbock Deanery, Plains Deanery, Rolling Plains Deanery, Permian Basin Deanery, and Crosbyton Deanery, serving diverse Hispanic, Anglo, and rural communities with bilingual Masses common.[13]

Mission and Services

Catholic Education

The diocese oversees 12 elementary/middle schools and 2 high schools serving over 2,000 students:

School Name City Type Website
All Saints Catholic School Lubbock PK-8 https://allsaintsschoollubbock.org/
Christ the King Cathedral School Lubbock PK-8 https://ctkcs.org/
Our Lady of Grace Catholic School Lubbock PK-6 https://olgcs.org/
Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic School Lubbock PK-8
St. Joseph Catholic School Lubbock PK-6 https://stjosephcatholicschool.com/
St. Mary Catholic School Lubbock PK-6
Sacred Heart Catholic School Crosbyton PK-12
St. Michael Catholic School Levelland PK-8
Additional parish schools (e.g., Brownfield, Plainview) Various Elementary
Main article: List of Catholic schools in Diocese of Lubbock

[14]

Community Outreach

Catholic Charities of Lubbock provides food, shelter, and immigration services to over 10,000 individuals annually, including refugee resettlement in partnership with diocesan programs.[15]

Notable Events or Figures

  • Bishop Michael Sheehan, first bishop, later became Archbishop of Santa Fe and participated in the 2005 papal conclave.[16]
  • The diocese hosted the Eucharistic Revival pilgrimage in 2023, drawing thousands for public adoration events.[17]

Fun facts

Below are some fun facts about the Diocese of Lubbock:


  • Did you know? Carved from the vast Diocese of Amarillo in 1983 by Pope St. John Paul II, the Diocese of Lubbock was named after its hub city, a cotton and ranching powerhouse that became a beacon for Catholic families in the Texas Plains!
  • Surprise! Christ the King Cathedral's unique fan-shaped design seats 1,200 and was expanded in 2009 with relics from the original 1985 church, making it a modern marvel amid West Texas sunsets.
  • Here's something cool: The diocese spans 18 counties bigger than some states, home to cotton fields where migrant workers find spiritual homes in bilingual parishes celebrating Our Lady of Guadalupe.
  • Wow moment: First Bishop Michael Sheehan built over 20 new churches before heading to Santa Fe, turning frontier missions into thriving faith communities!
  • Little-known gem: St. Joseph Parish in Lubbock offers weekly Traditional Latin Mass, a nod to timeless rites in the heart of cowboy country.
  • Fun fact: The West Texas Angelus newspaper, the diocese's voice since 1983, shares stories of faith from oil rigs to cotton gins, keeping families connected.
  • Did you know? Catholic Charities here resettles refugees from across the globe, blending Texas hospitality with Gospel mercy in Lubbock's welcoming plains.
  • Surprise! The diocese's 5 deaneries cover everything from bustling Lubbock to tiny Terry County, where one parish serves ranchers with rodeo-season Masses.

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    References

    1. ↑ "Diocese of Lubbock". https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dlubb.html. Retrieved 2025-06-03. 
    2. ↑ "Lubbock (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy"]. http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/lubb-u.htm. Retrieved 2025-06-03. 
    3. ↑ "Diocese History". https://www.catholiclubbock.org/about-us/history. Retrieved 2025-06-03. 
    4. ↑ "About the Diocese". https://www.catholiclubbock.org/about-us/about-the-diocese. Retrieved 2025-06-03. 
    5. ↑ "Christ the King Cathedral". https://www.catholiclubbock.org/christ-the-king-cathedral. Retrieved 2025-06-03. 
    6. ↑ "Bishop James Anthony Wall". https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bwallja.html. Retrieved 2025-06-03. 
    7. ↑ "Diocese of Lubbock". https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dlubb.html. Retrieved 2025-06-03. 
    8. ↑ "Liturgy and Worship". https://www.catholiclubbock.org/worship/liturgy. Retrieved 2025-06-03. 
    9. ↑ "West Texas Angelus". https://westtexasangelus.com/. Retrieved 2025-06-03. 
    10. ↑ "Lubbock (Diocese)". http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/lubb-u.htm. Retrieved 2025-06-03. 
    11. ↑ "Catholic Schools". https://www.catholiclubbock.org/schools. Retrieved 2025-06-03. 
    12. ↑ "SOLT". https://www.solt.org. Retrieved 2025-06-03. 
    13. ↑ "Parish Directory". https://www.catholiclubbock.org/parishes. Retrieved 2025-06-03. 
    14. ↑ "Schools". https://www.catholiclubbock.org/schools. Retrieved 2025-06-03. 
    15. ↑ "Catholic Charities Lubbock". https://cclubbock.org/. Retrieved 2025-06-03. 
    16. ↑ "Archbishop Michael Jarboe Sheehan". https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bsheehm.html. Retrieved 2025-06-03. 
    17. ↑ "Eucharistic Revival". https://www.catholiclubbock.org/eucharistic-revival. Retrieved 2025-06-03. 

    External Links

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