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Pope Leo XIV Accepts Resignation of Bishop Michael Mulvey of the Diocese of Corpus Christi; Appoints Bishop Mario Aviles, as Successor
Pope Leo XIV has accepted the resignation of Most Reverend W. Michael Mulvey, 76, from the pastoral governance of the Diocese of Corpus Christi, and has appointed Most Reverend Mario A. Avilés, CO, currently auxiliary bishop of Brownsville, as his successor.
December 1, 2025
WASHINGTON – Pope Leo XIV has accepted the resignation of Most Reverend W. Michael Mulvey, 76, from the pastoral governance of the Diocese of Corpus Christi, and has appointed Most Reverend Mario A. Avilés, CO, currently auxiliary bishop of Brownsville, as his successor.
Biography of Most Rev. Mario A. Avilés, C.O.
Auxiliary Bishop of Brownsville
Bishop Mario A. Avilés, C.O. was born in Mexico City on September 16, 1969. The son of Rafael and María Guadalupe, he joined the Congregation of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri in 1986.
His studies to the priesthood took him initially to Mexico City, México and then to Rome where he received his bachelor’s degrees in Philosophy and Sacred Theology at the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum. He holds a master’s degree in Education Administration and Supervision and is a certified teacher in the State of Texas.
He was ordained to the priesthood on July 21, 1998 at the Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle – National Shrine, in San Juan, Texas. Upon his ordination, he was appointed parochial vicar at St. Jude Thaddeus Church in Pharr. He also began working with his Congregation at the Pharr Oratory Schools as Governance Board member, teacher, principal and rector. Additionally, he served in the Congregation as vicar, secretary, treasurer and novice master.
In 2002, he was appointed pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Hidalgo, Texas and also the representative for the religious priests in the Diocese of Brownsville's Pastoral Council. From 2000 to 2012 he was elected and served as member of the Permanent Deputation of the Confederation of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri for Latin America. At the General Congress of 2012, he was elected Procurator General of the Confederation of the Oratory. In December 2017, Pope Francis appointed him Auxiliary Bishop for the Diocese of Brownsville, Texas. He was consecrated on February 22, 2018, by the Most Rev. Daniel E. Flores, Bishop of Brownsville, Most. Rev. Raymundo Peña, Bishop Emeritus of Brownsville and Most. Rev. Eugenio Lira Rugarcia, Bishop of Matamoros.
The appointment was publicized in Washington, D.C. on December 1, 2025, by Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States.
The Diocese of Corpus Christi is comprised of 10,951 square miles in the State of Texas and has a total population of 582,684, of which 209,726, are Catholic.
###Sources: USCCB and https://cdob.org/auxiliary-bishop-mario-a-aviles-co
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