Sam Galip Jacobs (born March 4, 1938) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, serving as bishop of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux in Louisiana from 2003 to 2013. He previously served as bishop of the Diocese of Alexandria in Louisiana from 1989 to 2003.


Sam Galip Jacobs
Bishop Emeritus of Houma–Thibodaux
Bishop Jacobs at the 2019 Steubenville Power and Purpose Conference
DioceseHouma–Thibodaux
AppointedAugust 1, 2003
InstalledOctober 10, 2003
RetiredSeptember 23, 2013
PredecessorCharles Michael Jarrell
SuccessorShelton Fabre
Orders
OrdinationJune 6, 1964
by Warren L. Boudreaux
ConsecrationAugust 24, 1989
by Francis B. Schulte, Warren Louis Boudreaux, and Jude Speyrer
Personal details
Born (1938-03-04) March 4, 1938 (age 86)
Previous post(s)
MottoJesus is Lord
Styles of
Sam Galip Jacobs
Reference style
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleBishop

Biography edit

Early years edit

Sam Jacobs was born on March 4, 1938, in Greenwood, Mississippi, but raised in Lake Charles, Louisiana. In 1951, he entered Immaculata Seminary in Lafayette, Louisiana, graduating in 1957. Jacobs then entered the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., as a Basselin scholar graduating with a degree in theology in 1964.[1][2]

After graduation from college, Jacobs served as chairman of the National Service Committee for the Charismatic Renewal and diocesan director of vocations and seminarians for the Diocese of Lake Charles.[1][2]

Priesthood edit

On June 6, 1964, Jacobs was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Lafayette by Bishop Warren L. Boudreaux.[2] Jacobs served as pastor, chaplain, and associate pastor of several parishes in the Diocese of Lafayette and the Diocese of Lake Charles.

Bishop of Alexandria edit

On July 1, 1989, Pope John Paul II appointed Jacobs as the tenth bishop of the Diocese of Alexandria. He received his episcopal consecration on August 24 at the Rapides Parish Coliseum in Alexandria, Louisiana, from Archbishop Francis Schulte, with Bishops Boudreaux and Jude Speyrer serving as co-consecrators.[1]

After becoming bishop, Jacobs held town meeting in every parish in the diocese to meet parishioners and hear their concerns. Under Jacobs, the diocese inaugurated the Steubenville South Youth Conference and constructed a new youth center at the Maryhill Renewal Center in Alexandria, to accommodate youth retreats.[2]

A 2002 article by the Dallas Morning News revealed that in 1998 Jacobs received an allegation of fondling against Reverend John Andries from Natchitoches Parish. Jacobs suspended Andries and removed him from his parish. However, after Andries received counseling and testing, Jacobs returned him to the same parish. Jacobs did not notify authorities about the accusation.[3] In 2002, Andries was charged with touching and masturbating onto a sleeping boy at the family's house in Abbeville, Louisiana. The boy's family sued Jacobs and the diocese [4][3]

Bishop of Houma-Thibodaux edit

On August 1, 2003, John Paul II appointed Jacobs as the third bishop of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. He was installed on October 10, 2003.[1] Within the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, he served chairman of the Committee for Evangelization (2005-2007), and was a member of the Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth and the Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis.[1]

On September 23, 2013, Pope Francis accepted Jacobs's letter of resignation and appointed Auxiliary Bishop Shelton Fabre as the new bishop of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux.[1]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Bishop Emeritus Sam G. Jacobs". Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. Retrieved 2021-11-11.
  2. ^ a b c d "Bishop Sam Gallip Jacobs, 10th Bishop of Alexandria – Diocese of Alexandria". Retrieved 2021-11-11.
  3. ^ a b "Priest Pleads Guilty Andries Faces up to 10 Years in Prison". Louisiana Gannett, Daily Town Talk. May 3, 2003. Retrieved 2021-11-11.
  4. ^ "Two-thirds of bishops let accused priests work, Morning News investigation revealed in 2002". Dallas News. 2018-08-19. Retrieved 2021-11-11.

External links edit

Episcopal succession edit

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Bishop of Houma-Thibodaux
2003–2013
Succeeded by
Preceded by Bishop of Alexandria
1989–2003
Succeeded by