Background
Gracida, Rene Henry was born on June 9, 1923 in New Orleans. Son of Enrique J. and Mathilde (Derbes) Gracida.
Gracida, Rene Henry was born on June 9, 1923 in New Orleans. Son of Enrique J. and Mathilde (Derbes) Gracida.
Student, Rice U., 1942-1943; Bachelor of Science in Architecture, U. Houston, 1950; postgraduate, U. Fribourg, Switzerland, 1950; postgraduate, St. Vincent College, Latrobe, Pennsylvania, 1951-1953; postgraduate, St. Vincent Major Seminary, 1953-1960.
Member faculty School Architecture, University Houston, 1948-1951. Architect Donald Barthelme & Associates, Houston, 1949-1951. Ordained priest Archdiocese of Miami, 1959.
Assistant pastor Holy Family Parish, North Miami, Florida, 1961-1962, St. Coleman Parish, Pompano Beach, 1962-1963, St. Matthew Parish, Hallandale, 1963-1964. Administrator St. Ambrose Parish, Deerfield Beach, 1964. Assistant pastor Visitation Parish, North Dade, 1964-1965.
Administrator St. Ann Parish, Naples, 1965-1967. Pastor Nativity Parish, Hollywood, 1967-1969. Rector St. Mary Cathedral, Miami, 1969-1971.
Auxiliary bishop Archdiocese of Miami, 1971. Ordained bishop, 1972. Pastor St. Patrick Parish, Miami Beach, Florida, 1971-1972, St. Kiernan Parish, Miami, 1973-1975.
Bishop Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee, 1975-1983, Diocese of Corpus Christi, Texas, 1987—1997, bishop emeritus, since 1997. Member Liturgical Conference, 1959-1972. Member Archdiocesan Building Commission, Archdiocese of Miami, 1964-1973, secretary, 1962-1965, chairman, 1967-1973, West Coast Deanery, Human Relations Board, 1965-1967.
Senator Priests Senate, 1967-1969, archdiocesan consultor, 1967-1975. Chairman Broward Deanery, Human Relations Board, 1969-1972, vicar general, 1969-1975. Member steering committee Biennial Congress Worship, 1966-1968.
Member Dade County Community Relations Board, 1972-1975. Auxiliary bishop Archdiocese Miami, 1971-1975, superintendent education, 1973-1975. Chairman committee on migration and tourism National Conference Catholic Bishops, 1975-1980.
National episcopal promoter of Apostleship of the Sea in the United States, 1975-1989. Member Episcopalian advisory board P.A.D.R.E.S. (Organization Mexico-American Priests), since 1975. Episcopalian advisory board Word of God Institute, since 1975.
Episcopalian liaison for education Texas Catholic Conference, since 1986.
President Community Action Fund. Board directors Community Act Fund, 1966-1972. Member bishop's committee liturgy National Conference Catholic Bishops, 1972-1977, chairman, 1977-1978, member policy and review committee, 1973-1977.
Chairman adjunct hoc. committee on migration and tourism National Conference Catholic Bishops, 1975-1980. Consultant Pontifical Commission for Pastoral Care of Migrants and Tourists, 1978-1983. Vice president American Immigration and Citizenship Conference, 1977-1982.
Board directors Catholic Relief Services, 1981-1988. Trustee National Shrine Immaculate Conception, Washington, since 1984. Member advisory council South Texas Eye Foundation, since 1984.
Honorary board directors Stop Child Abuse and Neglect, Inc., since 1985. Board directors Catholic Telecommunications Network of America, 1985-1988. Member South Texas Regional Studies Center, Kingsville, 1985.
Member committee on social development and world peace National Conference Catholic Bishops, 1985-1988. Member Governor's Task Force on Border Economic Development, 1985-1986. Member statewide advisory committee Texas State Aquarium, since 1986.
Member executive committee Gulf Coast Council Boy Scouts American, since 1987. Board directors Institute Religion and Democracy, 1986, Station KEDT-television, KKED-FM, since 1986, Catholic Communications Foundation, since 1988. Trustee Catholic Mutual Relief Society, since 1989, Texas Agricultural and Industrial University Foundation, Inc., since 1989.
Member St. Gregory Foundation Latin Liturgy Episcopal Advisory Board, since 1989, NCCB Pro-Life Activities committee, 1989-1992, consultant Hispanic Affairs committee, since 1992, board directors Catholic Campaign for American, since 1991, member National Advisory Board Youth Evangelization Project University Steubenville. since 1991. Served with United States Army Air Force, 1943-1945. Member Guild for Religious Architecture, Phi Kappa Phi.