The Most Reverend
Stephen D. Parkes, D.D.
Most Reverend Stephen D. Parkes was appointed the fifteenth Bishop of the Diocese of Savannah by His Holiness Pope Francis on July 8, 2020. He was consecrated and installed on September 23, 2020 at the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist, Savannah by Archbishop Gregory John Hartmayer, OFM Conv.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration/marketing from the University of South Florida, Tampa and worked in retail and banking before entering St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boyton Beach, Florida in 1992.
Bishop Parkes was ordained a Priest of the Diocese of Orlando on May 23, 1998 at St. James Cathedral, Orlando by Bishop Norbert Dorsey, C.P. His first assignment in the diocese was Parochial Vicar of Annunciation Catholic Church in Altamonte Springs where he served until 2005. In 2004, he was appointed to lead campus ministry at the University of Central Florida, the second-largest university in the United States. He continued in this ministry until 2011, simultaneously serving as Parochial Administrator for a new parish (Most Precious Blood Catholic Church, Oviedo) that grew in its first years from 200 to 2000 families. In 2011, he returned to Annunciation Catholic Church and was Pastor there until his appointment as Bishop of Savannah in 2020.
Born in 1965, Bishop Parkes grew up in Massapequa, Long Island, New York, the third son of Ronald and Joan Parkes. His parents and eldest brother Christopher are deceased. His brother Gregory, also a Priest, was installed as Bishop of the Diocese of St. Petersburg in 2017. They are the 11th pair of brother-Bishops in the history of the Catholic Church in the United States.
A member of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Bishop Parkes currently serves on the Committee on Pro Life Activities and the Subcommittee on Native American Affairs. He also serves on the boards of trustees for Ave Maria University and St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary.
In his personal time, Bishop Parkes enjoys the outdoors: long bicycle rides, kayak excursions, hiking trips and traveling with his brother Bishop.
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Education
1979–1983
Massapequa High School, Massapequa, NY1983–1987
B.S. Business Administration/Marketing, University of South Florida, Tampa1992–1998
M.A. Theology/M.Div., St. Vincent de Paul Seminary, Boynton Beach -
Employment
Worked in Retail and Banking
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Ordination
May 23, 1998
St. James Cathedral, Orlando by Bishop Norbert Dorsey, C.P. -
Episcopal Ordination
September 23, 2020
Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist, Savannah by Archbishop Gregory John Hartmayer, OFM Conv. -
USCCB Committee Memberships
USCCB Committee on Pro Life Activities
USCCB Subcommittee on Native American Affairs -
Other Responsibilities
Ave Maria University Board of Trustees
St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary Board of Trustees -
Assignments (Diocese of Orlando)
1998–2005
Parochial Vicar of Annunciation Catholic Church, Altamonte Springs, FL2005–2011
Parochial Administrator of Most Precious Blood Catholic Church, Oviedo, FL2004–2011
Campus Minister of Catholic Campus Ministry at the University of Central Florida2011–2020
Pastor of Annunciation Catholic Church, Longwood, FL -
Other Service
DIOCESE OF ORLANDO
Appointed Dean (Vicar Forane) of North Central Deanery in 2008
Spiritual Director and Board Member of The Catholic Foundation of Central Florida 2008-2020, also served on the Investment and Audit Committees as a board member
Served on Endowment Board of Trustees of the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe
Served on the Diocese of Orlando Real Estate Committee, 2018–2020
Served on the Diocese of Orlando Seminary Admissions Committee, 2011–2020
Diocese of Orlando Clergy Representative for the Board of Trustees at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary, 2012–2020
Served on the Priests’ Personnel Board, 2012-2020
Member of the College of Consultors, 2012—2020
Chaplain for Legatus
Member of the Presybyteral Council, 2012–2020
Graduate of Good Leaders, Good Shepherds through Catholic Leadership Institute
Participated in the three-year Institute for Priestly Formation Spiritual Direction Training Program for Diocesan Priests
