Previous Bishops of the Diocese

Most Rev. Gregory L. Parkes was ordained and installed as the fifth bishop of Pensacola-Tallahassee on June 5, 2012, having been appointed to the position by His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, on March 20, 2012.

Bishop Parkes was born April 2, 1964 in Mineola, NY. He attended St. Rose of Lima School in Massapequa, NY, Massapequa High School and Daytona Beach Community College before earning a bachelor’s degree in finance from Florida State University. Prior to entering the seminary, he worked in the banking industry in Tampa, Florida. He attended St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach, Florida from 1993-1996 and the Pontifical North American College in the Vatican City State from 1996-2000. He holds a sacred theology (S.T.B.) degree from the Pontifical Gregorian University (1998) and a canon law (J.C.L.) degree from the Pontifical Gregorian University (2000). He was ordained a priest of the Orlando diocese by Bishop Norbert Dorsey on June 26, 1999.

Bishop Parkes is now the bishop of the Diocese of St. Petersburg in Florida. 

Most Rev. John H. Ricard, SSJ, is bishop emeritus of the Pensacola-Tallahassee, having served as our diocesan bishop from his installation March 13, 1997,  to his retirement for health reasons March 11, 2011. He was appointed by Pope John Paul II.

Bishop Ricard came to the Pensacola-Tallahassee diocese from the Archdiocese of Baltimore where he served as an auxiliary bishop from July 2, 1984 until his appointment as bishop of Pensacola-Tallahassee.
 
Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Bishop Ricard entered the Josephite Seminary College at Newburgh, New York following graduation from high school. He completed his theological training at St. Joseph Seminary in Washington, D.C. and was ordained to the priesthood on May 25, 1968. Following ordination, Bishop Ricard continued his studies and holds a master’s degree from Tulane University and a doctorate from The Catholic University of America.

Bishop Ricard was instrumental in relaunching the National Black Catholic Congress in 1987 which was held at The Catholic University of America. He served as president of the Congress for a historic 32 years.

Bishop Ricard currently serves as the superior general of the Society of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart (The Josephites) in Baltimore, Maryland.