George Leo Thomas

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

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	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 (2000–2004)
Alma mater	St. Thomas Seminary
Motto	CHRIST OUR LIGHT

Styles of George Leo Thomas
Reference style	His Excellency The Most Reverend
Spoken style	Your Excellency
Religious style	Bishop

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 M.Div. in 1976. He was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Raymond Hunthausen on May 22, 1976.[1]

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.[2] 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.[2]

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 Ph.D. 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

Auxiliary Bishop of Seattle

On November 19, 1999, Thomas was named an auxiliary bishop of Seattle and the 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.

Bishop of Helena

Coat of Arms as Bishop of Helena

Thomas was named the tenth Bishop of Helena on March 23, 2004 and installed on June 4, 2004.

Bishop of Las Vegas

On February 28, 2018, Thomas was appointed Bishop of Las Vegas by Pope Francis. He succeeded the retiring bishop, Joseph A. Pepe.[2]

See also

• Catholic Church hierarchy
• Catholic Church in the United States
• Historical list of the Catholic bishops of the United States
• List of Catholic bishops of the United States
• Lists of patriarchs, archbishops, and bishops

References

1. "Bishop George Leo Thomas [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2019-12-02.
2. Reis., Sr. Bernadette Mary (February 28, 2018). "Pope Francis appoints new bishop for Las Vegas, United States". Vatican News. Retrieved February 28, 2018.

External links

• Roman Catholic Diocese of Las Vegas Official Site