Kevin William Vann
Encyclopedia
Kevin William Vann is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church
. He is the third and current Bishop of Fort Worth
.
, Illinois
, to William and Theresa (née Jones) Vann. His father was a postal worker
, and his mother was a nurse and clinical instructor at St. John's Hospital.
After attending Griffin High School
, he studied at Springfield College and Millikin University
, from where he obtained a Bachelor of Science
degree in Medical Technology
in 1974. He then worked as a medical technologist
at St. John's Hospital before entering Immaculate Conception Seminary in 1976. From 1977 to 1981, he studied at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary
in St. Louis
, Missouri
.
to the priesthood
by Bishop Joseph McNicholas
on May 30, 1981. He then furthered his studies in canon law
at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome
, residing at the Pontifical North American College
. It was at the Angelicum that in May 1985 he earned his (J.C.D., Doctor of Canon Law
).
Upon his return to the United States
in 1985, Vann served as parochial vicar
at Blessed Sacrament Parish in Springfield until 1990. He served as judge
, defender of the bond
, and procurator on the Diocesan Tribunal
from 1985 to 1994, also serving on the Metropolitan Court of Appeals for the Province of Chicago
. Between 1989 1990, he was also parochial administrator of St. Mary Parish in Pittsfield
, Holy Redeemer Parish in Barry
, and Holy Family Parish in Griggsville
.
Vann was pastor
of St. Benedict Parish in Auburn
(1990–1992) and later of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Decatur
(1992–2001). While serving at Our Lady of Lourdes, he was concurrently a judicial vicar
for the Interdiocesan Tribunal of Second Instance for the Province of Chicago (1994–2005) and parochial administrator of St. Isidore Parish in Bethany
, Sacred Heart Parish in Dalton City
(1995–1997), and Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Parish in Mount Zion (1995). He was also dean
of the Decatur Deanery from 1996 to 2001, and became the Bishop's contact for the Hispanic
Ministry in 1999. He also taught canon law at his alma mater
of Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis.
Vann became pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish in 2001. In addition to his pastoral duties, he was also named Vicar
for Clergy
in the diocesan chancery
. He was raised to the rank of Honorary Chaplain to His Holiness
on February 19, 2002. During his tenure at Blessed Sacrament, he oversaw a $2.2 million capital campaign for refurbishing the church, as part of the celebration of the 75th anniversary of its completion in 1930.
In April 2004, Vann said that he would be "reticent" in giving Communion
to Sen.
Dick Durbin (D
-IL
), a former parishioner
at Blessed Sacrament whose "pro-choice position puts him really outside of communion or unity with the Church's teachings on life."
of Fort Worth
, Texas
, by Pope Benedict XVI
. He later succeeded the late Joseph Patrick Delaney as the third Bishop of Fort Worth
upon the latter's death on July 12, 2005. He received his episcopal consecration
the next day, on July 13, from Archbishop José Gómez
, with Archbishop Raymond Burke
and Archbishop George Lucas
serving as co-consecrators
, at the Daniel-Meyer Coliseum
. He selected as his episcopal motto
: In Fide Et Dileccione In Christo Iesu.
During the 2008 presidential election
, Vann and Bishop Kevin Farrell
issued a joint statement, in which they declared, "We cannot make more clear the seriousness of the overriding issue of abortion—while not the only issue—it is the defining moral issue, not only today, but of the last 35 years...As Catholics we are morally obligated to pray, to act, and to vote to abolish the evil of abortion in America."
Within the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
, Vann is a member of Committee on Marriage, on Family Life, on Laity and Youth, and the Subcommittee on Marriage and Family Life.
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. He is the third and current Bishop of Fort Worth
Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth, USA, was established August 9, 1969, after being part of the Diocese of Dallas for 79 years. At present, the Diocese has more than 560,000 Catholics in 89 parishes and missions, served by 123 priests, 110 deacons, 24 sisters, and 5 brothers...
.
Early life and education
The eldest of six children, Kevin Vann was born in SpringfieldSpringfield, Illinois
Springfield is the third and current capital of the US state of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County with a population of 117,400 , making it the sixth most populated city in the state and the second most populated Illinois city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, to William and Theresa (née Jones) Vann. His father was a postal worker
Postal worker
A postal worker is one who works for a post office, such as a mail carrier. In the U.S., postal workers are represented by the and the American Postal Workers Union, part of the AFL-CIO. In Canada, they are represented by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers and in the United Kingdom by the...
, and his mother was a nurse and clinical instructor at St. John's Hospital.
After attending Griffin High School
Sacred Heart-Griffin High School
Sacred Heart-Griffin High School, often abbreviated SHG, is Springfield, Illinois' largest private high school. The school is Roman Catholic and is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. On the school's campus is a motherhouse for a Dominican order of religious...
, he studied at Springfield College and Millikin University
Millikin University
Millikin University is an American co-educational, comprehensive, private, four-year university with traditional undergraduate programs in arts and sciences, business, fine arts, and professional studies, as well as non-traditional, adult degree-completion programs and graduate programs in...
, from where he obtained a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in Medical Technology
Medical technology
Medical Technology encompasses a wide range of healthcare products and is used to diagnose, monitor or treat diseases or medical conditions affecting humans. Such technologies are intended to improve the quality of healthcare delivered through earlier diagnosis, less invasive treatment options and...
in 1974. He then worked as a medical technologist
Medical technologist
A Medical Laboratory Scientist is a healthcare professional who performs chemical, hematological, immunologic, microscopic, and bacteriological diagnostic analyses on body fluids such as blood, urine, sputum, stool, cerebrospinal fluid , peritoneal fluid, pericardial fluid, and synovial...
at St. John's Hospital before entering Immaculate Conception Seminary in 1976. From 1977 to 1981, he studied at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary
Kenrick-Glennon Seminary
Kenrick–Glennon Seminary is a private not-for-profit Roman Catholic Seminary located in Shrewsbury, Missouri in St. Louis County. The Seminary is named after Archbishop Peter Richard Kenrick and Cardinal John J. Glennon, former Archbishops of Saint Louis. The Seminary traces its origins to the...
in St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
.
Priesthood
Vann was ordainedHoly Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
to the priesthood
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
by Bishop Joseph McNicholas
Joseph Alphonse McNicholas
Joseph Alphonse McNicholas was the sixth Roman Catholic Bishop of Springfield in Illinois .McNicholas was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and there studied at Cardinal Glennon College and Kenrick Seminary. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 7, 1949. On January 31, 1969, he was appointed...
on May 30, 1981. He then furthered his studies in canon law
Canon law (Catholic Church)
The canon law of the Catholic Church, is a fully developed legal system, with all the necessary elements: courts, lawyers, judges, a fully articulated legal code and principles of legal interpretation. It lacks the necessary binding force present in most modern day legal systems. The academic...
at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, residing at the Pontifical North American College
Pontifical North American College
The Pontifical North American College is a Roman Catholic educational institution in Rome, Italy educating seminarians for the dioceses in the United States and providing a residence for American priests studying in Rome. It was founded in 1859 by Blessed Pope Pius IX and was granted pontifical...
. It was at the Angelicum that in May 1985 he earned his (J.C.D., Doctor of Canon Law
Doctor of Canon Law
Doctor of Canon Law is the doctoral-level terminal degree in the studies of canon law of the Roman Catholic Church.It may also be abbreviated I.C.D. or dr.iur.can. , ICDr., D.C.L., D.Cnl., D.D.C., or D.Can.L. . Doctor of both laws are J.U.D...
).
Upon his return to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1985, Vann served as parochial vicar
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
at Blessed Sacrament Parish in Springfield until 1990. He served as judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
, defender of the bond
Defender of the Matrimonial Tie
The Defender of the Bond, or Defensor Matrimonii in Latin, is a Catholic church official whose duty is to defend the marriage-bond in the procedure prescribed for the hearing of matrimonial causes which involve the validity or nullity of a marriage already contracted.Benedict XIV, by his Bull "Dei...
, and procurator on the Diocesan Tribunal
Ecclesiastical court
An ecclesiastical court is any of certain courts having jurisdiction mainly in spiritual or religious matters. In the Middle Ages in many areas of Europe these courts had much wider powers than before the development of nation states...
from 1985 to 1994, also serving on the Metropolitan Court of Appeals for the Province of Chicago
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago
The Archdiocese of Chicago was established as a diocese in 1843 and as an Archdiocese in 1880. It serves more than 2.3 million Catholics in Cook and Lake counties in Northeastern Illinois, a geographic area of 1,411 square miles. The Archdiocese is divided into six vicariates and 31 deaneries...
. Between 1989 1990, he was also parochial administrator of St. Mary Parish in Pittsfield
Pittsfield, Illinois
Pittsfield is a city in Pike County, Illinois, United States. The population was 4,211 at the 2000 census.-History:The city was named after Pittsfield, Massachusetts. It is the county seat of Pike County...
, Holy Redeemer Parish in Barry
Barry, Illinois
Barry is a city in Pike County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,368 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Barry is located at ....
, and Holy Family Parish in Griggsville
Griggsville, Illinois
Griggsville is a city in Pike County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,258 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Griggsville is located at ....
.
Vann was pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
of St. Benedict Parish in Auburn
Auburn, Illinois
Auburn is a city in Sangamon County, Illinois, United States. The population was 4,317 at the 2000 census, and 4,445 in 2009. It is part of the Springfield, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Auburn is located at ....
(1990–1992) and later of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Decatur
Decatur, Illinois
Decatur is the largest city and the county seat of Macon County in the U.S. state of Illinois. The city, sometimes called "the Soybean Capital of the World", was founded in 1823 and is located along the Sangamon River and Lake Decatur in Central Illinois. In 2000 the city population was 81,500,...
(1992–2001). While serving at Our Lady of Lourdes, he was concurrently a judicial vicar
Judicial vicar
In the Roman Catholic Church, a judicial vicar is an officer of the diocese who has ordinary power to judge cases in the diocesan ecclesiastical court...
for the Interdiocesan Tribunal of Second Instance for the Province of Chicago (1994–2005) and parochial administrator of St. Isidore Parish in Bethany
Bethany, Illinois
Bethany is a village in Moultrie County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,287 at the 2000 census, and 1,225 at a 2009 estimate.-Geography:Bethany is located at ....
, Sacred Heart Parish in Dalton City
Dalton City, Illinois
Dalton City is a village in Moultrie County, Illinois, United States. It is in the center of the state near the Macon County line, located along Route 121 at its intersection with Route 128 and between the larger villages of Bethany and Mount Zion...
(1995–1997), and Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Parish in Mount Zion (1995). He was also dean
Dean (religion)
A dean, in a church context, is a cleric holding certain positions of authority within a religious hierarchy. The title is used mainly in the Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church.-Anglican Communion:...
of the Decatur Deanery from 1996 to 2001, and became the Bishop's contact for the Hispanic
Hispanic and Latino Americans
Hispanic or Latino Americans are Americans with origins in the Hispanic countries of Latin America or in Spain, and in general all persons in the United States who self-identify as Hispanic or Latino.1990 Census of Population and Housing: A self-designated classification for people whose origins...
Ministry in 1999. He also taught canon law at his alma mater
Alma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
of Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis.
Vann became pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish in 2001. In addition to his pastoral duties, he was also named Vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
for Clergy
Clergy
Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. A clergyman, churchman or cleric is a member of the clergy, especially one who is a priest, preacher, pastor, or other religious professional....
in the diocesan chancery
Curia (Roman Catholic Church)
In Roman Catholicism, a curia consists of a group of officials who assist in the governance of a particular Church. These curias range from the relatively simple diocesan curia, to the larger patriarchal curias, to the Roman Curia, which is the central government of the Catholic Church.Other...
. He was raised to the rank of Honorary Chaplain to His Holiness
Monsignor
Monsignor, pl. monsignori, is the form of address for those members of the clergy of the Catholic Church holding certain ecclesiastical honorific titles. Monsignor is the apocopic form of the Italian monsignore, from the French mon seigneur, meaning "my lord"...
on February 19, 2002. During his tenure at Blessed Sacrament, he oversaw a $2.2 million capital campaign for refurbishing the church, as part of the celebration of the 75th anniversary of its completion in 1930.
In April 2004, Vann said that he would be "reticent" in giving Communion
Eucharist (Catholic Church)
"At the Last Supper, on the night he was betrayed, our Savior instituted the Eucharistic sacrifice of his Body and Blood."...
to Sen.
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
Dick Durbin (D
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
-IL
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
), a former parishioner
Parish (Catholic Church)
In the Roman Catholic Church, a parish is the lowest ecclesiastical geographical subdivision: from ecclesiastical province to diocese to deanery to parish.-Requirements:A parish needs two things under common law to become a parish...
at Blessed Sacrament whose "pro-choice position puts him really outside of communion or unity with the Church's teachings on life."
Episcopal career
On May 17, 2005, Vann was appointed Coadjutor BishopCoadjutor bishop
A coadjutor bishop is a bishop in the Roman Catholic or Anglican churches who is designated to assist the diocesan bishop in the administration of the diocese, almost as co-bishop of the diocese...
of Fort Worth
Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth, USA, was established August 9, 1969, after being part of the Diocese of Dallas for 79 years. At present, the Diocese has more than 560,000 Catholics in 89 parishes and missions, served by 123 priests, 110 deacons, 24 sisters, and 5 brothers...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, by Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
. He later succeeded the late Joseph Patrick Delaney as the third Bishop of Fort Worth
Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth, USA, was established August 9, 1969, after being part of the Diocese of Dallas for 79 years. At present, the Diocese has more than 560,000 Catholics in 89 parishes and missions, served by 123 priests, 110 deacons, 24 sisters, and 5 brothers...
upon the latter's death on July 12, 2005. He received his episcopal consecration
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
the next day, on July 13, from Archbishop José Gómez
José Horacio Gomez
José Horacio Gómez is a Mexican-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States, currently serving as the Archbishop of Los Angeles. He previously served as Auxiliary Bishop of Denver from 2001–2004 and as Archbishop of San Antonio from 2004–2010.Born in Monterrey, Mexico, Gómez was...
, with Archbishop Raymond Burke
Raymond Leo Burke
Raymond Leo Burke is an American Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church. He is the current Cardinal Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, having previously served as Archbishop of St...
and Archbishop George Lucas
George Joseph Lucas
George Joseph Lucas is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the fifth and current Archbishop of Omaha, having previously served as Bishop of Springfield in Illinois from 1999 to 2009.-Biography:...
serving as co-consecrators
Consecrator
Consecrator is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to designate a bishop who ordains a priest to the episcopal state. The term is often used in Eastern Rite Churches and in Anglican communities. The term "Principal Consecrator" is used to designate the primary bishop who ordains a new bishop...
, at the Daniel-Meyer Coliseum
Daniel-Meyer Coliseum
Daniel-Meyer Coliseum is a basketball arena located on the campus of Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas. The arena is home to the TCU Horned Frogs and TCU Lady Frogs basketball teams. It was built in 1961 and named after former TCU football and basketball coach Dutch Meyer and former...
. He selected as his episcopal motto
Motto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
: In Fide Et Dileccione In Christo Iesu.
During the 2008 presidential election
United States presidential election, 2008
The United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on November 4, 2008. Democrat Barack Obama, then the junior United States Senator from Illinois, defeated Republican John McCain, the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. Obama received 365...
, Vann and Bishop Kevin Farrell
Kevin Farrell
Kevin Joseph Farrell is an Irish-born American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. A former member of the Legion of Christ, he is the seventh and current Bishop of Dallas as well as the Chancellor of the University of Dallas....
issued a joint statement, in which they declared, "We cannot make more clear the seriousness of the overriding issue of abortion—while not the only issue—it is the defining moral issue, not only today, but of the last 35 years...As Catholics we are morally obligated to pray, to act, and to vote to abolish the evil of abortion in America."
Within the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is the episcopal conference of the Catholic Church in the United States. Founded in 1966 as the joint National Conference of Catholic Bishops and United States Catholic Conference, it is composed of all active and retired members of the Catholic...
, Vann is a member of Committee on Marriage, on Family Life, on Laity and Youth, and the Subcommittee on Marriage and Family Life.