Gregory Parkes

Gregory Parkes (born April 2, 1964) is a bishop of the Catholic Church in the United States. He has served as the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee in the state of Florida since 2012.

Early life and education

Gregory Lawrence Parkes was born in Mineola, New York. He earned a bachelor's degree in finance from Florida State University. He studied for the priesthood at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach, Florida, the Pontifical North American College and the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome where he received a bachelor's degree in theology and a licentiate in canon law.^[1] Parkes was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Orlando by Bishop Norbert Dorsey, CP on June 26, 1999.^[2][3]

Priesthood

After ordination Father Parkes served as the parochial vicar of Holy Family Parish in Orlando, Florida (1999–2005) and he was the founding pastor of Corpus Christi Parish in Celebration, Florida from 2005–2012. He was also the chancellor of the Orlando diocese from 2005–2012 and its vicar general from 2009–2012.^[1]

Bishop of Pensacola-Tallahassee

Father Parkes was named the bishop of Pensacola-Tallahassee by Pope Benedict XVI on March 20, 2012. His episcopal ordination took place on June 5, 2012 at St. Paul's Church in Pensacola. Archbishop Thomas Gerard Wenski of the Archdiocese of Miami was the ordaining prelate. Bishops John Gerard Noonan of Orlando and Felipe de Jesús Estévez of St. Augustine were the co-consecrators. He is the tallest Bishop presently in the U.S. at 6'8".^[2]

References