Pope appoints Coadjutor Bishop for US Diocese of Peoria

By Vatican News

Pope Francis on Monday appointed a Coadjutor Bishop for the Diocese of Peoria (USA).

Father Louis Tylka currently serves as the parish priest of Saint Julie Billiart Parish in Tinley Park. He is also President of the Presbyteral Council of the Archdiocese of Chicago.

As Coadjutor, Bishop-elect Tylka has the right of succession for the Diocese of Peoria following Bishop Daniel Jenky, CSC, the current Bishop of Peoria.

The Diocese of Peoria is comprised of 16,933 square miles in the US state of Illinois. It has a total population of 1,492,335, of which 139,835 are Catholic.

Brief biography

Fr. Tylka was born on 26 May 1970 in Harvey, Illinois, in the Archdiocese of Chicago. He attended Saint Joseph’s Elementary School in Homewood (1976-1984) and Marian Catholic High School in Chicago Heights (1984-1988).

He entered the seminary, studying first at Niles College Seminary before obtaining a Bachelor of Arts from Loyola University in Chicago (1989-1992).

Fr. Tylka received a Bachelor of Sacred Theology (STB) in 1995 and a Master of Divinity in 1996. Both degrees were awarded by the University of Saint Mary of the Lake Seminary, in Mundelein, Illinois (1992-1996).

He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Chicago on 18 May 1996.

Fr. Tylka has served as Associate Pastor at St. Michael Paris in Orland Park (1996-2003); Associate Pastor at Ss. Faith, Hope & Charity Parish in Winnetka (2003-2004); and Pastor at Mater Christi Parish in North Riverside (2004-2014).