Way to rock the appointment, Holy Father.
I just learned today that Pope Benedict XVI has named our beloved Father Joe, er, Monsignor Joseph Strickland, from Tyler the new bishop for Tyler. The photo to the left was taken last year during Bishop Corrada's (on the left) visit to the Vatican. (Father Joe is on the right). It is extraordinarily rare for a bishop to be named from within a diocese's priests, and even rare for the new bishop to be a blogger - see Run Father Run. Father Joe has been the diocesan administrator since Bishop Corrada was named to a new episcopate last year - in fact he confirmed Collin and Parker a year ago and gave them their First Communion.
This is just outstanding. I am ridiculously pleased about this.