Vincent Michael Rizzotto (September 9, 1931 – January 17, 2021) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston from 2001 to 2006.


Vincent Michael Rizzotto
Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Galveston-Houston
Titular Bishop of Lamasba
ArchdioceseGalveston-Houston
AppointedJune 22, 2001
InstalledJuly 31, 2001
Term endedNovember 6, 2006
Other post(s)Titular Bishop of Lamasba
Orders
OrdinationMay 26, 1956
ConsecrationJuly 31, 2001
by Joseph Anthony Fiorenza, Patrick Flores, and John E. McCarthy
Personal details
Born(1931-09-09)September 9, 1931
DiedJanuary 17, 2021(2021-01-17) (aged 89)
Houston, Texas
Alma materCatholic University of America
MottoMake us one in Christ
Styles of
Vincent Michael Rizzotto
Reference style
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleBishop

Biography

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Early life

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Born in Houston, Texas, Vincent Rizzotto graduated from St. Thomas High School in Houston in 1949, and then studied at St. Mary Seminary in Houston.[1]

Priesthood

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Rizzotto was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston on May 26, 1956.[2] After his ordination, Rizzotto went to Washington, D.C. to study at the Catholic University of America, obtaining a Licentiate of Canon Law in 1963.[1] He served as an official of the diocesan marriage tribunal from 1967 to 1972, and as pastor of All Saints Parish in Houston from 1969 to 1972.[1]

Rizzotto was appointed pastor of St. Francis de Sales Parish in Houston in 1972, serving there for the next ten years. He was raised to the rank of Monsignor on September 14, 1978. Rizzotto left St. Francis in 1982 to become pastor of St. Cecilia Parish in Hedwig Village, Texas, remaining there until 2002. He also became a protonotary apostolic on February 16, 2000[1] and served as vicar general of the archdiocese.

Auxiliary Bishop of Galveston-Houston

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On June 22, 2001, Rizzotto was appointed as auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Galveston-Houston and Titular Bishop of Lamasba by Pope John Paul II.[2] He received his episcopal consecration on July 31 2001 at Saint Michael's Church in Houston from Archbishop Joseph Fiorenza, with Archbishop Patrick Flores and Bishop John McCarthy serving as co-consecrators.[2] Rizzotto selected as his episcopal motto: "Make Us One In Christ."[1][2]

Upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75, Rizzotto sent his letter of resignation as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Galvaston-Houston to Pope Benedict XVI. The pope accepted it on November 6, 2006.[2] Rizzotto founded the Bishop Rizzotto Golf Classic, which benefits the elderly residents of the archdiocese senior care community.

Rizzotto died on January 17, 2021, at the age of 89, in Houston.[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Curriculum Vitae". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Bishop Vincent Michael Rizzotto". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.
  3. ^ Daniel Cardinal DiNardo (January 17, 2021). "Cardinal DiNardo on the death of Retired Aux. Bishop Rizzotto". Retrieved January 18, 2021.
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Episcopal succession

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Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
-
Auxiliary Bishop of Galveston-Houston
2001-2006
Succeeded by
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