{{short description|American prelate of the Catholic Church (born 1960)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2016}} {{Infobox Christian leader | type = Bishop | honorific_prefix = His Excellency, The Most Reverend | name = David Konderla | title = Bishop of Tulsa | image = | alt = | caption = | archdiocese = Oklahoma City | diocese = Tulsa | see = | appointed = May 13, 2016 | enthroned = June 29, 2016 | retired = | predecessor = Edward Slattery | successor = | ordination = June 3, 1991 | ordained_by = John E. McCarthy | consecration = June 29, 2016 | consecrated_by = Paul Stagg Coakley, Edward James Slattery, Joe S. Vásquez | other_post = | previous_post = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|06|03|mf=yes}} | birth_place = Bryan, Texas, US | death_date = | death_place = | motto = '''Nisi Dominus aedificaverit''<br>(Unless the Lord had built) | coat_of_arms = | image_size = 200px | education = St. Mary's Seminary<br>University of St. Thomas }} {{Infobox bishopstyles | name= David Austin Konderla | dipstyle= *His Excellency *The Most Reverend | offstyle=Your Excellency | relstyle=Bishop | image = Coat of arms of David Austin Konderla.svg | image_size = 200px }}
'''David Austin Konderla''' (born June 3, 1960) is an American Catholic prelate who has served as Bishop of Tulsa since 2016.
==Biography==
=== Early life === David Konderla was born on June 3, 1960, in Bryan, Texas, the second of twelve children of David and Ann Konderla. He graduated from Bryan High School in 1978 and then worked as a machinist for several years.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Bishop David A. Konderla |url=https://dioceseoftulsa.org/bishop-david-a-konderla |access-date=2024-03-16 |website=The Roman Catholic Diocese of Tulsa |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Pope Names Texas Priest as Bishop of Tulsa, Accepts Resignation of Bishop Slattery {{!}} USCCB |url=https://www.usccb.org/news/2016/pope-names-texas-priest-bishop-tulsa-accepts-resignation-bishop-slattery |access-date=2024-03-16 |website=www.usccb.org |language=en}}</ref>
Konderla entered Holy Trinity Seminary at the University of Dallas in Irving, Texas, in 1985. He continued his education at St. Mary's Seminary at the University of St. Thomas in Houston, receiving a Master of Divinity degree in 1989.<ref name="cna">{{cite news |date=May 13, 2016 |title=Tulsa's next bishop has history in campus ministry and carpentry |url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/33879/tulsas-next-bishop-has-history-in-campus-ministry-and-carpentry |access-date=May 14, 2016 |publisher=Catholic News Agency}}</ref><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
=== Priesthood === Konderla was ordained a priest at San Jose Church in Austin, Texas, on June 3, 1995, for the Diocese of Austin by Bishop John McCarthy.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Bishop David Austin Konderla [Catholic-Hierarchy] |url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bkonderla.html |access-date=2024-03-16 |website=www.catholic-hierarchy.org}}</ref> After his ordination, the diocese assigned Konderla as parochial vicar at the following parishes in Texas:
* St. Louis in Austin (1995 to 1997) * St. Luke's in Temple (1997) * St. Mary's Catholic Center at Texas A&M University in College Station (1997 to 2001).<ref name=":1" /><ref name="cna" />
Konderla left the Catholic Center in 2001 after being appointed vocations director for the diocese. Four years later, he returned to Texas A&M to serve as pastor and director of campus ministry. He would remain in these positions for the next 11 years.<ref name="cna" /> Konderla also served the college of consultors, the presbyteral council, and the priest personnel board for the diocese.<ref name="cna" />
==Episcopate==
===Bishop of Tulsa===
Pope Francis appointed Konderla as bishop of Tulsa on May 13, 2016. His consecration by Archbishop Paul Stagg Coakley occurred on June 29, 2016, at the Donald W. Reynolds Center at the University of Tulsa, with Bishops Edward Slattery and Joe S. Vásquez serving as co-consecrators.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pope Francis Names Father David Konderla as Bishop of Tulsa |url=https://www.usccb.org/news/2016/pope-francis-names-father-david-konderla-bishop-tulsa |publisher=U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops |date=May 13, 2016 |access-date=November 6, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Consecration of Bishop David Konderla |url=https://dioceseoftulsa.org/news |publisher=Diocese of Tulsa |date=June 29, 2016 |access-date=November 6, 2025}}</ref>
===Pastoral letters and public statements=== As Bishop of Tulsa, Konderla has issued pastoral letters and public statements addressing Catholic teaching, diocesan life, and social issues, often aligning with national Catholic priorities while addressing local concerns. These writings and statements, reflect Konderla's focus on orthodox teaching, social justice, and civic engagement.
In 2018, Konderla promulgated ''Sent to Proclaim Good News'', a pastoral letter emphasizing evangelization and the New Evangelization in the Diocese of Tulsa, drawing on Pope Francis's ''Evangelii Gaudium''. The letter called for renewed missionary zeal in response to declining sacramental participation, outlining initiatives such as formation programs for lay leaders and parish revitalization efforts.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sent to Proclaim Good News |url=https://dioceseoftulsa.org/pastoral-letters |publisher=Diocese of Tulsa |access-date=November 6, 2025}}</ref>
In October 2019, Konderla released a list of nine priests and two deacons from the diocese with credible accusations of sexual abuse of children.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Diocese of Tulsa Releases List of Accused Clergy |url=https://catholicnewsagency.com/news |publisher=Catholic News Agency |date=October 2019 |access-date=November 6, 2025}}</ref>
During the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, Konderla suspended public Masses, emphasizing spiritual communion and charity toward vulnerable populations. In May 2020, he commended vaccine development but raised ethical concerns about fetal cell lines in research, urging support for alternatives.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Bishop Konderla's Statement on COVID-19 Vaccines |url=https://catholicnewsagency.com/news |publisher=Catholic News Agency |date=May 2020 |access-date=November 6, 2025}}</ref> In June 2020, following the murder of George Floyd, Konderla issued a statement expressing solidarity with Black Catholics, condemning systemic racism, and calling for prayer, education, and action to address inequalities, referencing the U.S. bishops’ 2018 pastoral letter ''Open Wide Our Hearts''. He hosted diocesan listening sessions on racial justice.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Bishop Konderla Addresses Racial Justice |url=https://dioceseoftulsa.org/news |publisher=Diocese of Tulsa |date=June 2020 |access-date=November 6, 2025}}</ref>
In the lead-up to the 2020 U.S. presidential election, Konderla echoed the USCCB's ''[https://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/faithful-citizenship/upload/forming-consciences-for-faithful-citizenship.pdf Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship]'', highlighting abortion as a priority issue while urging consideration of immigration, poverty, and family policies.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Bishop Konderla's Election Guidance |url=https://dioceseoftulsa.org/news |publisher=Diocese of Tulsa |date=October 2020 |access-date=November 6, 2025}}</ref> In October 2020, Konderla withdrew the diocese from the [http://okfaith.org/ Oklahoma Conference of Churches]. The conference director, Reverend Shannon Fleck, stated that Konderla objected to the inclusion of LGBTQ individuals in a statement against discrimination; Konderla clarified in November 2020 that his reason was the conference's failure to address discrimination against "unborn children".<ref>{{Cite news |title=Diocese of Tulsa Withdraws from Oklahoma Conference of Churches |url=https://catholicnewsagency.com/news |publisher=Catholic News Agency |date=November 2020 |access-date=November 6, 2025}}</ref>
In 2021, Konderla released ''This Is My Body: A Pastoral Letter on the Eucharist'', amid U.S. bishops’ discussions on Eucharistic coherence. The letter explored the theology of the Real Presence, addressed misunderstandings, and promoted reverence in liturgical practices, launching annual diocesan Eucharistic revival events, including processions and congresses, starting in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=This Is My Body: A Pastoral Letter on the Eucharist |url=https://dioceseoftulsa.org/pastoral-letters |publisher=Diocese of Tulsa |access-date=November 6, 2025}}</ref> Also in 2021, Konderla testified before the Oklahoma Legislature in support of school choice and voucher programs for Catholic schools.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Bishop Konderla on School Choice |url=https://oklahoman.com |publisher=The Oklahoman |date=2021 |access-date=November 6, 2025}}</ref>
In February 2022, Konderla joined a vigil outside the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester, Oklahoma, to protest the upcoming execution of Gilbert Postelle, who had been convicted of four murders in 2005. Postelle was executed by lethal injection on February 17, 2022.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Bishop Konderla Joins Vigil Against Execution |url=https://oklahoman.com |publisher=The Oklahoman |date=February 2022 |access-date=November 6, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Execution of Gilbert Postelle |url=https://catholicnewsagency.com/news |publisher=Catholic News Agency |date=February 17, 2022 |access-date=November 6, 2025}}</ref> In 2022, Konderla supported the USCCB's response to the ''Synod on Synodality'', affirming traditional teachings on marriage while welcoming dialogue.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Statement on Synod on Synodality |url=https://dioceseoftulsa.org/news |publisher=Diocese of Tulsa |date=2022 |access-date=November 6, 2025}}</ref>
In 2023, Konderla issued a pastoral note cautioning against gender-affirming care for minors, citing Church teachings on human dignity, and criticized federal Title IX revisions, arguing they undermined religious liberty in schools.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pastoral Note on Gender Issues |url=https://dioceseoftulsa.org/pastoral-letters |publisher=Diocese of Tulsa |date=2023 |access-date=November 6, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Bishop Konderla on Title IX Revisions |url=https://oklahoman.com |publisher=The Oklahoman |date=2023 |access-date=November 6, 2025}}</ref>
In 2024, Konderla issued ''Stewards of Creation: A Call to Ecological Conversion'', inspired by Pope Francis's ''Laudato Si'''. The letter connected Catholic social teaching to local issues like Oklahoma's water scarcity and energy production, encouraging parishes to adopt sustainable practices and advocate for environmental policies.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stewards of Creation: A Call to Ecological Conversion |url=https://dioceseoftulsa.org/pastoral-letters |publisher=Diocese of Tulsa |access-date=November 6, 2025}}</ref> Ahead of the 2024 midterm elections, he reiterated his 2020 election guidance, advocating protections for the unborn and migrants.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Bishop Konderla's Election Guidance |url=https://dioceseoftulsa.org/news |publisher=Diocese of Tulsa |date=October 2024 |access-date=November 6, 2025}}</ref>
===Personal life and hobbies=== Konderla's hobbies include carpentry and woodworking.<ref name="cna" /> He made his own crosier prior to his 2016 episcopal consecration, having made crosiers for four other bishops previously.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Mena|first=Adelaide|title='This is my light saber' – Tulsa's new bishop makes his own staff|URL=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/34002/this-is-my-light-saber-–-tulsas-new-bishop-makes-his-own-staff|access-date=2025-05-23|website=Catholic News Agency|language=en-US}}</ref>
==See also== {{div col|colwidth=30em}} * Catholic Church hierarchy * Catholic Church in the United States * Historical list of the Catholic bishops of the United States * List of Catholic bishops of the United States * Lists of patriarchs, archbishops, and bishops {{div col end}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{wikiquote}} {{commons category}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20150801062554/http://dioceseoftulsa.org/ Diocese of Tulsa official site] * [http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bkonderla.html Father David Austin Konderla] at Catholic-Hierarchy.com {{small|[Self-published]}}
==Episcopal succession==
{{s-start}} {{s-rel|ca}} {{succession box | before = Edward James Slattery | title = Bishop of Tulsa | after = Incumbent | years = 2016–present}} {{s-end}}
{{portal bar|Biography|Catholicism|Oklahoma}} {{Roman Catholic Diocese of Tulsa}} {{Roman Catholic Diocese of Austin}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Konderla, David}} Category:1960 births Category:Living people Category:People from Bryan, Texas Category:University of Dallas alumni Category:University of St. Thomas (Texas) alumni Category:21st-century Roman Catholic bishops in the United States Category:Bishops appointed by Pope Francis Category:Members of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre Category:Religious leaders from Texas Category:Catholics from Texas