Pope Francis Names Two Florida Priests to Serve as Bishops

Within the span of a month, the Holy Father named two Florida priests to serve as bishops.

Bishop-Elect David L.Toups
Pope Francis has appointed Monsignor David L. Toups, a priest of the Diocese of Saint Petersburg, to serve as the Bishop of Beaumont in the state of Texas. The appointment was publicized on June 9.

Bishop-elect Toups was born on March 26, 1971 in Seattle, Washington and was ordained to the priesthood on June 14, 1997 for the Diocese of Saint Petersburg. 

His assignments after ordination include: Parochial Vicar at St. Francis Cabrini Parish in Spring Hill (1997-2001); doctoral studies at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (2002-2004), Assistant Dean of Students (2004) and Dean of Students (2004-2006) at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach; the Administrative Council, Faculty Council and Seminary Formation Team, and Professor of Sacramental and Liturgical Theology at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary (2004-2006).

Between 2007-2010, Bishop-elect Toups was released from diocesan assignment to serve as the Associate Director of the Secretariat for Clergy, Consecrated Life, and Vocations at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington. He returned to the Diocese of Saint Petersburg in 2010 and served as Pastor of Christ the King Parish in Tampa (2010-2012) before being named as President and Rector of St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in 2012.

Bishop-Elect Stephen Parkes
Pope Francis has appointed Father Stephen Parkes, a priest of the Diocese of Orlando, to serve as the Bishop of Savannah. The appointment was publicized on July 8.

Bishop-elect Parkes was born on June 2, 1965 in Mineola, New York, and ordained to the priesthood on May 23, 1998 for the Diocese of Orlando.  

After ordination, Bishop-elect Parkes was assigned to Annunciation Church in Longwood as parochial vicar where he served until 2005 when he was named Parochial Administrator at Most Precious Blood Church in Oviedo. Additionally, in 2004 he was named Spiritual Director for Catholic Campus Ministry at the University of Central Florida in Orlando where he served until 2011.

Since 2011, Bishop-elect Parkes has served as Pastor at Annunciation Church in Longwood. His ministry also includes serving as Dean of the North Central Deanery (2010-present), and Spiritual Director of the Catholic Foundation of Central Florida (2009-present). 

Bishop-elect Parkes is the brother of Bishop Gregory Parkes of the Diocese of St. Petersburg.