Bishop James A. Misko becomes eighth shepherd of Tucson, succeeding now-Detroit Archbishop Edward J. Weisenburger
TUCSON, Ariz. (OSV News) -- The Diocese of Tucson joyfully welcomed its eighth bishop on the first Friday of Lent with the ordination and installation of Bishop James A. Misko inside St. Augustine Cathedral in downtown Tucson Feb. 20.
When he was appointed Tucson's new shepherd by Pope Leo XIV Dec. 22, then-Father Misko was vicar general and moderator of the curia for the Diocese of Austin, Texas.
In Tucson, he succeeds now-Archbishop Edward J. Weisenburger, who was appointed to head the Archdiocese of Detroit in February 2025.
In the interim, Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas led the diocese as apostolic administrator. He is the retired bishop of Tucson, having headed the diocese from 2003 to 2017.
"Just as Christ gives of himself to us so also will Bishop Misko give of himself to you placing his teaching, governing and sanctifying ministry at your service and the service of the universal Church," Archbishop John C. Wester of Santa Fe, New Mexico, told the congregation in his homily.
There were nearly 1,500 people in the cathedral, while thousands more viewed the livestream of the liturgy.
"The ordination and installation of your new bishop is just one more expression of God's love for us," said the archbishop, who presided at the Mass. The co-ordaining bishops were Archbishop Joe S. Vásquez of Galveston-Houston and Bishop Daniel E. Garcia of Austin.
At solemn vespers the evening before, Archbishop Vásquez told the soon-to-be-ordained bishop, "You will be a blessing to the people entrusted to your care. The people will be a blessing to their new bishop. Christ is alive in the Diocese of Tucson."
Bishop Misko's episcopal ordination was the first in the diocese in 73 years. On Sept. 7, 1953, then-Msgr. Francis J. Green received his episcopal consecration as a Tucson auxiliary. He was later named coadjutor and in 1960 immediately succeeded Bishop Daniel J. Gercke when he retired. Between Bishops Green and Misko, Tucson's shepherds were already bishops when they were named to head the diocese.
Twenty-two bishops were at the historic celebration, including Bishop Kicanas and Archbishop Weisenburger, and the apostolic nuncio to the U.S., Cardinal Christophe Pierre, was there as well. He read the apostolic letter in which Pope Leo formally appointed Bishop Misko to Tucson.
Bishop Misko was born in California and raised in Texas. As a child he attended Catholic schools in the Diocese of Austin.
During his closing remarks, Bishop Misko thanked his mother, Geraldine.
"She taught me how to pray," he said. "There were days when we would drive around, a typical summer day and she would, like a Tuesday, pull into the church and I would say, 'Mom, why are we going into church and she would say, 'We're going in to pay a visit.' And we would go in and we would kneel for five minutes and then we'd get back in the car and go about our day. She taught me how to pray and how to love God."
His father, Tom, is deceased. His mother and his sister, Mary Kay Martinez, and her husband, Jesus Toro Martinez, live in San Antonio, and his brother, John Misko, lives in California.
Bishop Misko is bilingual and delivered remarks in English and Spanish. He thanked his brother bishops, priests and the laity, saying, "I am your bishop and I give myself to you."
He said the occasion was momentous for the historic diocese, which has existed since 1897.
"When I learn from you and you learn from me, we will be well together. We will grow in wisdom and holiness together. Please pray for me and know that I will be praying for you every day," the new bishop said.
After a career in the restaurant industry, working for several years as a general manager and eventually as a managing partner, the 55-year-old bishop entered the seminary at age 30. After earning a master of arts in theological studies, a master's of divinity and a bachelor's in sacred theology at the University of St. Thomas and St. Mary's Seminary in Houston, he was ordained a priest on June 9, 2007.
He was appointed parochial vicar of St. Elizabeth in Pflugerville, Texas, and then served as pastor of Christ the King in Belton, Texas, and of St. Louis King of France in Austin, where he had attended Catholic grade school.
As Austin's vicar general and moderator of the curia, he provided steady leadership to the diocese during the transition of then-Bishop Vásquez to Galveston-Houston and his successor, Bishop Garcia. He also served as a member of the diocese's college of consultors, presbyteral and finance councils, in addition to boards and committees.
Bishop Misko is a member of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem and fourth-degree Knight of Columbus.
During an interview, Archbishop Weisenburger said of his predecessor, "I think he's the kind of shepherd that can really rally the flock and move them forward."
