Background
Gregory Lawrence Parkes was born in Mineola, New New York
Gregory Lawrence Parkes was born in Mineola, New New York
He studied for the priesthood at Saint Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach, Florida, the Pontifical North American College and the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome where he received a bachelor"s degree in theology and a licentiate in canon law.
He has served as the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee in the state of Florida since 2012. He earned a bachelor"s degree in finance from Florida State University. Parkes was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Orlando by Bishop Norbert Dorsey, Communist Party on June 26, 1999.
After ordination Father Parkes served as the parochial vicar of Holy Family Parish in Orlando, Florida (1999–2005) and he was the founding pastor of Corpus Christi Parish in Celebration, Florida from 2005–2012.
He was also the chancellor of the Orlando diocese from 2005–2012 and its vicar general from 2009–2012. Father Parkes was named the bishop of Pensacola-Tallahassee by Pope Benedict XVI on March 20, 2012.
His episcopal consecration took place on June 5, 2012 at Saint Paul"s Church in Pensacola. Archbishop Thomas Gerard Wenski of the Archdiocese of Miami was the consecrating prelate.
Bishops John Gerard Noonan of Orlando and Felipe de Jesús Estévez of Saint Augustine were the co-consecrators.
He is the tallest Bishop presently in the United States. at 6"8".
