A new Bishop for Memphis

US: Pope Francis Names New Bishop of Memphis

Bishop David P. Talley, Bishop of Alexandria

March 05, 2019 17:06ZENIT StaffCatholic Church

Pope Francis on March 5, 2019, appointed as bishop of the diocese of Memphis, Bishop David P. Talley, bishop of Alexandria.

Bishop David Prescott Talley was born on September 11, 1950, in Columbus, Georgia, in the diocese of Savannah. After attending Hardaway High School, he obtained a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Auburn University, Alabama, and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia. He worked as a social worker for several years. He then entered the seminary and carried out his ecclesiastical studies at the Saint Meinrad School of Theology in Saint Meinrad, Indiana (1985-1989). He later obtained a licentiate (1995) and a doctorate (1997) in canon law from the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome.

He was ordained as a priest of the Archdiocese of Atlanta on June 3, 1989. Since ordination he has held the following positions: parish vicar of the Saint Jude the Apostle parish in Sandy Springs (1989-1993); director of priestly vocations (1998-2001); chancellor (1999-2001); administrator of Saint Matthew parish in Tyrone (2001); judicial vicar (2001-2003); director of the Saint Thomas Aquinas parish in Alpharetta (2003-2006); parish vicar of the Saint Anne parish in Columbus (2006-2007); parish priest of Saint John Neumann parish in Lilburn (2007-2011); member of the archdiocesan Hispanic Ministry Board (2008-2011); parish priest of Saint Brigid Parish in Johns Creek (2011-2013).

In 2000 he was named Prelate of Honour of His Holiness.

He was appointed as titular bishop of Lambesi and auxiliary of Atlanta on January 3,  2013, and received episcopal consecration on April 2, 2013.

As auxiliary bishop he served as vicar general and vicar for the clergy.

He was appointed as coadjutor bishop of Alexandria, Louisiana, on September 21, 2016, and on February 2, 2017, he was appointed as ordinary.

Within the Episcopal Conference, he is a member of the Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, of the Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection, of the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development and of the Special Assembly Planning Committee, and is Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Catholic Campaign for Human Development.

In addition to English, he speaks Spanish.