Rev. Louis Tylka, a 1984 graduate of St. Joseph School in Homewood, has been named Bishop-elect and coadjutor of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Peoria.
The announcement was made Monday by Pope Francis.
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.
“I am humbled and honored by this appointment,” Tylka said. “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.” Tylka will succeed the bishop when he retires.
Tylka currently serves as pastor of St. Julie Billiart Parish in Tinley Park.
In addressing the people of Peoria, Tylka wrote:
“I was flabbergasted when the papal nuncio, Archbishop Christophe Pierre, called to inform me of the Holy Father’s appointment. Literally the first phone call I received a week ago, it was a good thing I was sitting down.
“My family has been a source of strength and support in my years of ministry. I am grateful to the Lord for them — I simply would not be here today without their love.
“I am the youngest of six children; I have five older sisters. My parents instilled great values in us — the importance of family and of faith, and the freedom to chart our own course in life and the courage to go after those dreams.
My mom, Norma, passed away 30 years ago, just as I entered the seminary. I will always be grateful for her encouragement to pursue the priesthood. My dad, Louis, thank God is still with us and is a remarkable man who continues to be a huge support with a lot of humor and wisdom.”
“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.”
After graduating from St. Joseph School, Tylka was a student at Marian Catholic High School graduating in 1988. He was a student at Purdue University for a year before transferring to Niles College Seminary of Loyola University and received a degree in 1992. He went on for seminary training at the University of St. Mary of the Lake, Mundelein Seminary.
Tylka was ordained a priest of the Roman Catholic Church by Joseph Cardinal Bernardin in May 1996.
