Phillip Francis Straling
Encyclopedia
Phillip Francis Straling (born April 25, 1933) is a bishop
of the Catholic Church
in the United States
. He served as bishop of the Diocese of San Bernardino
in the state of California
from 1978–1995, and the Diocese of Reno
in the state of Nevada
from 1995-2005.
, California, Straling was ordained a Catholic priest
for the Diocese of San Diego
on March 19, 1959. He served 11 years in campus ministry before serving as executive secretary of the second Synod
of the Diocese of San Diego. In 1976 he became pastor
of Holy Rosary Parish in San Bernardino.
Paul VI named Father Straling the first bishop of the newly created Diocese of San Bernardino. He was ordained a bishop on November 6, 1978 by Cardinal
Timothy Manning of Los Angeles
. The co-consecrators were Archbishop John Raphael Quinn of San Francisco
and Bishop Leo Thomas Maher
of San Diego
. As Bishop of San Bernardino, Straling was noted for his collaborative leadership style. He was challenged by the rapid growth of the diocese and limited personnel. During his episcopate the diocese grew from about 235,000 people to 800,000, and from 85 parishes to 105. Therefore, he had to rely on the leadership skills of the laity and the vowed religious of the diocese. To provide the necessary formation for ministry he established a diaconate program, and started the Straling Institute in 1980 for laypersons. On January 28, 1992 Pope John Paul II named Gerald Richard Barnes
as the first auxiliary bishop
of the diocese and Bishop Strailing ordained him on March 18 of the same year.
of Reno.
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of the Catholic Church
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...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He served as bishop of the Diocese of San Bernardino
Roman Catholic Diocese of San Bernardino
The Roman Catholic Diocese of San Bernardino is a Roman Catholic diocese centered in San Bernardino, California. It was founded on July 14, 1978, and comprises San Bernardino and Riverside counties. The Diocese of San Bernardino formerly was part of the Diocese of San Diego...
in the state of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
from 1978–1995, and the Diocese of Reno
Roman Catholic Diocese of Reno
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Reno is an ecclesiastical territory of the Roman Catholic Church in the northern Nevada region of the United States, centered on the city of Reno. With the urging of Cardinal George Mundelein, Archbishop of Chicago, Pope Pius XI established the Diocese on March 27, 1931...
in the state of Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
from 1995-2005.
Early life and ministry
Born in San BernardinoSan Bernardino
San Bernardino, California is a large city in the Inland Empire Metropolitan Area of Southern California.San Bernardino may also refer to:-Landforms:*San Bernardino , a torrent that flows through the Italian province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola...
, California, Straling was ordained a Catholic priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
for the Diocese of San Diego
Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego
The Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego is a particular church of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in the western region of the United States. Its ecclesiastic territory includes all of San Diego and Imperial Counties in Southern California, with a Catholic population of 1,981,057...
on March 19, 1959. He served 11 years in campus ministry before serving as executive secretary of the second Synod
Synod
A synod historically is a council of a church, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. In modern usage, the word often refers to the governing body of a particular church, whether its members are meeting or not...
of the Diocese of San Diego. In 1976 he became 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 Holy Rosary Parish in San Bernardino.
Bishop of San Bernardino
On July 14, 1978 PopePope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
Paul VI named Father Straling the first bishop of the newly created Diocese of San Bernardino. He was ordained a bishop on November 6, 1978 by Cardinal
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
Timothy Manning of Los Angeles
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles is an archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the U.S. state of California. Headquartered in Los Angeles, the archdiocese comprises the California counties of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Ventura. The diocesan cathedral is the Cathedral of Our Lady of the...
. The co-consecrators were Archbishop John Raphael Quinn of San Francisco
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in the northern California region of the United States. It covers the City and County of San Francisco and the Counties of Marin and San Mateo...
and Bishop Leo Thomas Maher
Leo Thomas Maher
Leo Thomas Maher was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Santa Rosa and Bishop of San Diego .-Early life and education:...
of San Diego
Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego
The Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego is a particular church of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in the western region of the United States. Its ecclesiastic territory includes all of San Diego and Imperial Counties in Southern California, with a Catholic population of 1,981,057...
. As Bishop of San Bernardino, Straling was noted for his collaborative leadership style. He was challenged by the rapid growth of the diocese and limited personnel. During his episcopate the diocese grew from about 235,000 people to 800,000, and from 85 parishes to 105. Therefore, he had to rely on the leadership skills of the laity and the vowed religious of the diocese. To provide the necessary formation for ministry he established a diaconate program, and started the Straling Institute in 1980 for laypersons. On January 28, 1992 Pope John Paul II named Gerald Richard Barnes
Gerald Richard Barnes
Gerald Richard Barnes is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the second and current Bishop of San Bernardino.-Biography:...
as the first auxiliary bishop
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of the diocese and Bishop Strailing ordained him on March 18 of the same year.
Bishop of Reno
On March 21, 1995, Pope John Paul II divided the Diocese of Reno-Las Vegas into two dioceses and appointed Bishop Straling as the Bishop of Reno. He was installed as the sixth bishop of Reno on June 29, 1995 and served there for ten years. Pope Benedict XVI accepted his resignation on June 21, 2005 and Strailing was named Bishop EmeritusEmeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
of Reno.