With the acceptance of Bishop David Fellhauer’s letter of resignation by Pope Francis on April 23, 2015, due to having received the canonical age of 75, the Diocese of Victoria is sedes vacans, which means the diocese is vacant and without a bishop. Therefore, the Diocesan Consultors convened on Monday, April 27, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. to elect a Diocesan Administrator. The Consultors for the Diocese of Victoria are: Monsignor John Peters and Fathers Gary Janak, Dominic Antwi-Boasiako, Charles Dwomoh, Roger Hawes, Matthew Huehlefeld, Greg Korenek and Timothy Kosler.

According to Church law, the election of the Diocesan Administrator is to take place within eight days of the See becoming vacant. The election is by secret ballot and the Diocesan Administrator, according to canon 425, must be a priest of at least 35 years of age and “outstanding in doctrine and prudence.”

After the Diocesan Consultors were given instructions regarding their duties, the election was held and the Diocesan Consultors elected Father Gary W. Janak, as the Diocesan Administrator. Father Janak will administer the diocese, until Bishop-elect Brendan Cahill is ordained and installed as the third bishop of the Diocese of Victoria in Texas on June 29, 2015. Immediately following his acceptance of the position as Diocesan Administrator, Father Janak, who serves as Chancellor of the Diocese of Victoria, took an Oath of Fidelity in the presence of the College of Consultors and informed Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, of his election as the Diocesan Administrator.

Church law gives the Diocesan Administrator the authority and responsibility of overseeing the Diocese of Victoria, until the installation of Bishop-elect Cahill on June 29, 2015. Canon 427 states, “A diocesan administrator is bound by the obligations and possesses the power of a diocesan bishop, excluding those matters which are excepted by their nature or by the law itself.” During this period of time, according to canon 428 of the Code of Canon Law, “when the see is vacant, nothing is to be altered.” Diocesan policy and law remains in place and the Diocesan Administrator makes decisions, which will guide the diocese and provide necessary pastoral care of the faithful, as well as of the parishes and diocesan institutions, until Bishop-elect Cahill assumes office.