John Neraz

John Claude Neraz (January 12, 1828 – November 15, 1894) was a French-born clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of San Antonio from 1881 until his death in 1894.

John Claude Neraz
Born(1828-01-12)January 12, 1828
DiedNovember 15, 1894(1894-11-15) (aged 66)

Biography

John Claude Neraz was born in Anse, Rhône, to Jean and Marie Anne (née Bottet) Neraz.[1] He studied at the minor seminaries in Saint-Jodard, Anse and Alix before entering the Grande Seminary of St. Irenée in Lyons.[1] In 1852, he accepted an invitation from Bishop Jean-Marie Odin to serve as a missionary in the U.S. state of Texas.[1] After reaching the Diocese of Galveston, he was ordained to the priesthood on February 19, 1853.[2]

Neraz was then stationed in Nacogdoches, where he remained until he was sent to Liberty County in 1864.[1] He was assigned to San Antonio in 1866, and afterward was sent to Laredo, where he built St. Augustine's Church.[1] He served as pastor of San Fernando Church in San Antonio (1873-1881) as well as vicar general to Bishop Anthony Dominic Pellicer (1874-1881).[1]

On February 18, 1881, Neraz was appointed the second Bishop of San Antonio by Pope Leo XIII.[2] He received his episcopal consecration on the following May 8 from Bishop Edward Fitzgerald, with Bishops Dominic Manucy and Claude Marie Dubuis serving as co-consecrators, in the Cathedral of San Fernando.[2] In 1884, he attended the Third Plenary Council of Baltimore, where he was active in discussions on the evangelization of the African American community.[1] During his tenure, he oversaw the establishment of St. Edward's College, the first parochial school in the diocese, a new chancery building, and a church for the black Catholics of San Antonio.[1] Between 1884 and 1890, he also served as apostolic administrator of the Vicariate Apostolic of Brownsville.[2]

Neraz died after a brief illness at age 66. He was buried in San Fernando Cemetery.[1]

gollark: Fine. I'll put up with the lack of /home and /tpa for now. But soon I shall have my revenge, in the form of a global teleport network.
gollark: We could also just use viaducts for short-range stuff.
gollark: ++delete <@!112633269010300928> <@!112633269010300928>
gollark: Don't be so deciduous.
gollark: No.

See also

References
  1. "NERAZ, JEAN CLAUDE (1828–1894)". Handbook of Texas Online.
  2. "Bishop John Claude Neraz". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
Anthony Dominic Pellicer		 Bishop of San Antonio
1881–1894		 Succeeded by
John Anthony Forest
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