Texas: Pope Leo XIV has named Bishop Mario Alberto Avilés, an Oratorian priest originally from Mexico City, as the new bishop of the Diocese of Corpus Christi in south Texas. The appointment, announced by the Vatican on Dec. 1, places Avilés, 56, at the helm of a diocese serving more than 200,000 Catholics across 12 counties.
Avilés succeeds Bishop Michael Mulvey, who is retiring at age 76 after leading the diocese since 2010. In his response to the appointment, Mulvey offered a heartfelt welcome: “We receive Bishop-designate Avilés with open hearts and deep prayer.”
Bishop Daniel Flores of Brownsville, where Avilés has served as auxiliary bishop since February 2018, praised the new appointee's pastoral spirit. “The Diocese of Brownsville will greatly miss Bishop Mario’s wise counsel, joyful presence, and administrative excellence,” Flores said. “But we also share in the joy of Corpus Christi at this wonderful news.”
Born on Sept. 16, 1969, in Mexico City, Avilés entered the Congregation of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri at age 17. The Oratory, founded in 1575, is a global community known for its emphasis on fraternity, prayer, and service. Today it includes more than 70 Oratories worldwide.
Avilés studied for the priesthood in Mexico before completing degrees in philosophy and sacred theology at the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum in Rome. He later earned a master’s degree in education administration and is a certified teacher in Texas credentials that shaped his leadership roles within Catholic education.
He was ordained a priest at age 28 in the Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle National Shrine in San Juan, Texas. His assignments ranged from parochial vicar at St. Jude Thaddeus Church in Pharr to extensive roles within the Pharr Oratory Schools, where he served as teacher, principal, rector, and a member of the governance board.
Within the Oratory, Avilés held posts as vicar, secretary, treasurer, and novice master. From 2000 to 2012, he also served on the Permanent Deputation for the Oratory’s Latin American communities. His leadership culminated in his election as the confederation’s procurator general in 2012, a Rome-based role representing Oratorian houses before the Holy See. He is fluent in Spanish, English, and Italian.
Avilés’ episcopal motto, Caritas Dei diffusa est in cordibus nostris (“The love of God has been poured out into our hearts”), reflects the spiritual heritage of St. Philip Neri. His bishop’s crest features symbols honoring both his Mexican roots represented by red roses for Our Lady of Guadalupe and his Oratorian identity, depicted by three gold stars from the Neri family’s emblem.
As he prepares to begin his new mission, Bishop Flores invited the faithful of Brownsville to join in prayer for Avilés: “May God bless Bishop Mario Avilés, and may the maternal care of the Blessed and ever-immaculate Virgin Mary accompany him always.”
Avilés now becomes the ninth bishop of Corpus Christi, stepping into a role that will require guiding a diverse and growing Catholic population in one of Texas’ historic coastal dioceses.