Biography / Curriculum Vitae PDF Print E-mail

Most Rev. Paul S. Coakley, S.T.L., D.D.

Bishop Paul S. Coakley was born to John and Mary Coakley in Norfolk, VA in 1955 and lived there with his father, mother and older brother, John, until he was two years old. The family relocated to Metairie, LA where his sister, Mary Christina was born. After beginning his elementary education at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic School the family moved in 1965 to Overland Park, KS. Bishop Coakley’s secondary education was completed in public schools in Overland Park.

After graduation from high school he attended the University of Kansas where he completed his undergraduate studies in English and Classical Antiquities in 1977. During this period he was a student in KU’s Integrated Humanities Program, where he studied under John Senior, Dennis Quinn and Frank Nelick.

Upon completing university studies Bishop Coakley traveled in Europe and briefly considered a monastic vocation at the Abbey of Notre Dame de Fontgombault in France, before he returned to begin seminary studies for Diocese of Wichita in 1978.

He was ordained a priest in May 21, 1983. After serving as a priest of the Diocese of Wichita for twenty-one years, he was appointed Bishop of Salina on October 21, 2004. Bishop Coakley was ordained and installed as Bishop of Salina on December 28, 2004.

For his motto as bishop, Bishop Coakley selected DUC IN ALTUM that translates into English as Put out into the Deep. It is found in St. Luke’s gospel and relates to the moment when Jesus, after teaching the crowds from Simon’s boat, invites the apostles to “put out into the deep” and lower their nets for the catch (Lk.5:4). Obedient to Jesus’ command, Simon Peter and his companions cast their nets as directed, and “caught such a great number of fish that their nets were at the breaking point” (Lk. 5:4). Jesus calls the Church today, as always, to put out into the deep, as a witness to hope, to hear, and to respond joyfully to his word with faith and confidence.
 

Education

School
ElementarySt. Mary Magdalen School, Metairie LA, 1960-1965
Cherokee Elementary School, Overland Park KS 1965-1967
Broadmoor Junior High School, Overland Park KS 1967-1970
High SchoolShawnee Mission West, Overland Park KS 1970-1973
CollegeUniversity of Kansas, B.A., 1977, English; Classical Antiquities
SeminarySt. Pius X Seminary, Erlanger KY, 1979, Pre-Theology
Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, Emmitsburg, MD, M.A.,
M. Div., 1983 Theology
Post OrdinationPontifical Gregorian University, Rome, S.T.L., 1987, Christian Spirituality

Ordination

Ordained Deacon: April 8, 1982, by Bishop David M. Maloney, Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Wichita KS

Ordained Priest: May 21, 1983, by Bishop Eugene J. Gerber, Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Wichita KS

Episcopal Appointment: Bishop of Diocese of Salina, Salina, KS – October 21, 2004

Ordination/Installation: Bishop of Diocese of Salina, Salina, KS – December 28, 2004

Pastoral Assignments

AssignmentLocationDates
Chaplain, St. Francis Regional Medical CenterWichita KSJune – August, 1983
Associate Pastor, St. Mary’s ChurchDerby KS1983 – 1985
Chaplain, Kansas Newman CollegeWichita KS1987 – 1989
Director, Office of Youth and Young Adult MinistryDiocese of Wichita1987 – 1991
Pastor, Our Lady of Guadalupe ChurchWichita KS1989 – 1990
Associate Director, Spiritual Life CenterWichita KS1990 – 1995
Associate Pastor (part time), St. Thomas Aquinas ChurchWichita KS1990 – 1995
Pastor, Church of the ResurrectionWichita KS1995 – 1998
Director, Spiritual Formation, Mount St. Mary’s SeminaryEmmitsburg, MD1998 – 2002
Director, Spiritual Life CenterWichita KS2002 – 2004 (January)
Vice ChancellorDiocese of WichitaJanuary 2004 – December 2004
Administrator, Church of the MagdalenWichita KSJuly 2004 – December 2004
Diocesan BishopDiocese of SalinaDecember 2004 - Present

Other

AssignmentDates
USCCB Committee on Home Missions2006-2007
USCCB Committee on Priestly Life and Ministry2006-2007
USCCB Subcommittee on Home Missions2007-
USCCB Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations2007-
USCCB Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis2008-
Conception Seminary College Board of Regents2006-
Wyoming Catholic College Foundation Board
2009-
Institute for Priestly Formation, Bishops Advisory Council2007-
Coronado Area Council of Boy Scouts of America, Advisory Council 
Rotary Club, Salina 
Knight of Columbus, Fourth Degree 
Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem 
 
 
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