George Leo Thomas

The Most Reverend
George Leo Thomas
Bishop of Las Vegas
Archdiocese San Francisco
Diocese Las Vegas
Appointed February 28, 2018
Installed May 15, 2018
Predecessor Joseph A. Pepe
Orders
Ordination May 22, 1976
by Raymond Hunthausen
Consecration January 28, 2000
by Alexander Joseph Brunett, William S. Skylstad, and Carlos Arthur Sevilla
Personal details
Birth name George Leo Thomas
Born (1950-05-19) May 19, 1950
Anaconda, Montana
Denomination Roman Catholic
Parents George and Mary (née Cronin) Thomas
Occupation prelate
Previous post Bishop of Helena (2004-2018)
Auxiliary Bishop of Seattle (1999–2004)
Alma mater St. Thomas Seminary
Motto CHRIST OUR LIGHT
Styles of
George Leo Thomas
Reference style
Spoken style Your Excellency
Religious style Bishop

George Leo Thomas (born May 19, 1950) is an American prelate of the Catholic Church who serves as Bishop of Las Vegas since 2018.

Early life and Education

George Thomas was born in Anaconda, Montana, as the second of the five children of George and Mary (née Cronin) Thomas. Raised in Butte, he graduated from Butte Central Catholic High School there in 1968, also when his family moved to Bellevue, Washington. Thomas studied at Carroll College in Helena, from where he obtained his BA degree in literature in 1972. He then went on to study for the priesthood at St. Thomas Seminary in Bothell, earning his MDiv in 1976. He was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Raymond Hunthausen on May 22, 1976.

Thomas served as associate pastor at a Kirkland parish and St. James Cathedral. He was also a parish administrator at Sacred Heart Church in Bellevue and Duvall.[1] Thomas did chaplain work for the King County Jail, Seattle City Jail, and Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart in Seattle. For 10 years, he served as chairman of the Board of Directors for Catholic Community Services.[1]

Thomas entered graduate school at the University of Washington in 1981 and received an MA in counseling and community mental health in 1983. In 1986 he earned a PhD in history, specializing in Pacific Northwest mission history.

Thomas became chancellor and vicar general of Seattle in 1987, and its Apostolic Administrator following the death of Archbishop Thomas Murphy in 1997. He held the positions of chancellor and vicar general until 2004.

Episcopal career

On November 19, 1999, Thomas was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Seattle and Titular Bishop of Vagrauta by Pope John Paul II. He received his episcopal consecration on January 28, 2000 from Archbishop Alexander Brunett, with Bishops William S. Skylstad and Carlos Sevilla, SJ, serving as co-consecrators.

Thomas was later named the tenth Bishop of Helena on March 23, 2004, being installed as such on June 4, 2004. As Bishop of Helena, he is also Chancellor of Carroll College and sits on its Board of Trustees. He currently serves on the boards of directors for the Foundation for the Diocese of Helena, Montana Catholic Conference, Catholic Social Services of Montana, Montana Association of Churches, and Catholic Relief Services, for which he serves as chair of the U.S. Operations Committee. Within the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Thomas is a member of the Board of Bishops for the American College of Louvain and Ad hoc Committee for Native American Catholics.[2]

On February 28, 2018, Thomas was appointed Bishop of Las Vegas by Pope Francis. He succeeded the retiring Bishop Joseph A. Pepe.[1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Reis., Sr. Bernadette Mary (February 28, 2018). "Pope Francis appoints new bishop for Las Vegas, United States". Vatican News. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  2. ↑ http://diocesehelena.org/bishop/

Episcopal succession

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
Joseph A. Pepe		 Bishop of Las Vegas
2018–present		 Incumbent
Preceded by
Robert Charles Morlino		 Bishop of Helena
2004–2018		 Succeeded by
Sede Vacante
Preceded by
-		 Auxiliary Bishop of Seattle
1999-2004		 Succeeded by
-
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