David Leon Toups (born 26 March 1971) is an American prelate of the Catholic Church who has served as Bishop of Beaumont since 2020. He was previously rector of St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary.

Biography

Early life

David Toups was born on March 26, 1971, in Seattle, Washington. He first attended

Florida Southern College Florida Southern College (Florida Southern, Southern or FSC) is a private college in Lakeland, Florida. In 2019, the student population at FSC consisted of 3,073 students along with 130 full-time faculty members. The college offers 50 undergradu ...

in Lakeland, Florida, before entering St. John Vianney College Seminary in Miami, Florida. Toups graduated from the seminary in 1993 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy and Theology. He then entered the

Pontifical North American College The Pontifical North American College (NAC) is a Catholic Church, Roman Catholic educational institution in Rome, Italy, that prepares seminarians to become priests in the United States and elsewhere. The NAC also provides a residence for Pri ...

in Rome. He ultimately obtained a Bachelor of Sacred Theology degree and a Licentiate of Sacred Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian Universityin Rome. He also received a Doctor in Sacred Theology degree from the

Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas A pontifical ( la, pontificale) is a Christian liturgical book containing the liturgies that only a bishop may perform. Among the liturgies are those of the ordinal for the ordination and consecration of deacons, priests, and bishops to Holy O ...

in Rome.

Priestly career

Toups was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Saint Petersburg on June 14, 1997 at the Cathedral of Saint Jude the Apostle in St. Petersburg by Bishop Robert Lynch. He served on the diocesan Presbyteral Council from 1997 to 2001. Subsequently he served on the National Board of the National Federation of Priests’ Councils from 1997-2001. Toups also served as the

parochial vicar A vicar (; Latin: ''vicarius'') is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior (compare "vicarious" in the sense of "at second hand"). Linguistically, ''vicar'' is cognate with the English pre ...

of St. Frances Cabrini Parish in Spring Hill, Florida, from 1997 to 2001. From 2000 to 2002, he served as observer for Region IV to the

U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is the episcopal conference of the Catholic Church in the United States. Founded in 1966 as the joint National Conference of Catholic Bishops (NCCB) and United States Catholic Conference (US ...

(USCCB) November meetings. In 2002, Toups went to Rome to study at the Angelicum, receiving a Doctor of Sacred Theology degree in 2004. After returning to Florida, he served at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach, Florida, as professor of sacramental and liturgical theology, assistant dean of students, and then dean of students. He also served as a member of the Administrative Council, the Faculty Council and the Seminary Formation Team for the diocese until 2006. From 2007 to 2010, Toups also served as the associate director of the Secretariat of Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations at the USCCB. Toups became the pastor of Christ the King Parish in 2010, serving there until 2012. Since 2012, Toups had served as rector of the St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary.

Bishop of Beaumont

On June 9, 2020, Pope Francis appointed Toups as bishop of the Diocese of Beaumont. He was consecrated by Cardinal Daniel DiNardo on August 21, 2020 at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Anthony in Beaumont. Toups chose as his episcopal motto Romans 8:28, based on his predecessor's motto and his mother's favorite quote, “For those who love God, all things work together for good.”

References

External links

Roman Catholic Diocese of Beaumont Official Site

Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint Petersburg Official Site

Episcopal succession

1971 births Living people People from Seattle 21st-century Roman Catholic bishops in the United States Bishops appointed by Pope Francis {{US-RC-bishop-stub