Archdiocese of Chicago Priest Reverend Louis Tylka Appointed Coadjutor of the Diocese of Peoria
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Chicago, Ill. (May 11, 2020) – Pope Francis announced early Monday morning that he has named Reverend Louis Tylka, a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago, as the Coadjutor Bishop of Peoria, Ill.
"We welcome the appointment of Bishop-elect Tylka as Coadjutor of the Diocese of Peoria and are pleased he will join the bishops of Illinois in working cooperatively to serve the faithful in our state,“ said Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, archbishop of Chicago. “He has proved himself to be a compassionate and inspiring pastor and a strong advocate for priests and the priesthood. We look forward to the contributions he will make to the Church in the coming years.”
Bishop-elect Tylka, a native of Harvey, Ill. graduated from St. Joseph Grammar School, Homewood, Ill. in 1984 and from Marian Catholic High School, in Chicago Heights, Ill. in 1988. After a year of study at Purdue University, he transferred to Niles College Seminary of Loyola University, graduating in 1992. Bishop-elect Tylka’s seminary formation took place at the University of Saint Mary of the Lake, Mundelein Seminary. He was ordained to the priesthood by Joseph Cardinal Bernardin at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago on May 18, 1996.
Bishop-elect Tylka has served as associate pastor at St. Michael Parish, Orland Park, Ill. and at Ss. Faith, Hope and Charity Parish, Winnetka, Ill. He was pastor of Mater Christi Parish and Shrine of Mary, Mother of Mothers, North Riverside, Ill. He currently serves as pastor of St. Julie Billiart Parish, Tinley Park, Ill. and as the chair of the Presbyteral Council of the Archdiocese of Chicago.
“I am humbled and honored by this appointment,” said Bishop-elect Tylka. “I am grateful to the Holy Father and encouraged by his confidence in me. I am looking forward to serving alongside Bishop Jenky and learning from the priests, leaders and faithful in the Church of Central Illinois.”
Bishop-elect Tylka is expected to begin his ministry as Coadjutor Bishop and relocate to the Diocese of Peoria later in 2020. A Mass of welcome will be planned when such celebrations can resume.
The Diocese of Peoria is comprised of 16,933 square miles and covers 26 Illinois counties, from the Indiana border on the east to the Mississippi River on the west. It includes 160 parishes and 44 schools and a total population of 1,492,335 of whom 121,965 are Catholic. The St. John's Catholic Newman Center at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, the St. Francis of Assisi Newman Center at Western Illinois University, the John Paul II Catholic Newman Center at Illinois State University and the St. Joseph Newman Center on the campus of Bradley University are part of the Peoria Diocese.