b'AN INTERVIEW WITH BishopStephan D. ParksWRITTEN BY TJ M C CAUSTLANDMost 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.For Bishop Stephen Parkes, the 15thTJ: Where did attend seminary?BishopoftheDioceseofSavannah,BP:St.VincentdePaulRegional his new home is part of his childhoodSeminary in Boynton Beach. I am grate-memories.In the early 1970s, youngfulfortheKnightsofColumbuswho Stephen Parkes first saw coastal Geor- helped support me during my forma-gia from the backseat of his parentstion.car as the family drove across the old Talmadge Bridge in Savannah, makingTJ: Tell me about your brothers and their way from their Long Island, Newsisters: York home to visit their grandparents inBP: I have two older brothers. The Florida. Decades later, the Holy Spiritoldest,Christopherisdeceased.My has led that young boy back to Southmiddle brother Gregory is Bishop of St. Georgia, to become the shepherd of thePetersburg,FloridaIwasordaineda 80,000 Catholic faithful in the DiocesePriest in 1998 and my brother Gregory of Savannah. in 1999.My brother Gregory was ap-I remember coming through Savan- pointed Bishop in 2012 I am the young-nah before I-95 was built and you wouldest.We have no sisters.travel on U.S. Highway 17, said Bishop Parkes. Traffic was backed up as you were going across the bridge.TJ: What inspired you to your vocation? We would travel back and forth, with three kids and a dog or two in theBP: Our family was always encouraging of religious vocations, very car, in the days before air conditioning.faithful and dedicated to the Church. When I was working at the bank *Excerpted from Southern Cross October 1, 2020 edition. after college, the thought of Priesthood would frequently come to my mind.I realized that the Lord was inviting me to look into the priest-TJ: Tell me about your childhood and family;hood. I attended a vocation retreat and then two years later I went BP: I grew up in Massapequa, New York. to seminary.My brother Gregory and I attended St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach together for a few TJ: Catholic school? years until he continued his studies at the North American Col-BP: 1st-8th St. Rose of Lima.Our family lived very nearbylege in Rome.the parish.TJ: My Council lost our Chaplain to Rome, Father Luke Ballman.TJ: What Highschool did you attend? BP: I do know Luke Ballman and he is now in Washington at BP: Massapequa High School.It was a mile fromthe USCCB.our house and there were no Catholic high schools nearby. TJ: Please tell us about any Order you are a part of and why you joined them?TJ: And college? BP: I was ordained May 23, 1998 for the Dio-BP: University of South Florida in Tampa.ceses of Orlando.I received an academic scholarship and my parents were interested in relocating.TJ:WhydidyouwanttobeaDiocesan Priest?TJ: After college did you go straight toBP: I felt called to be a Diocesan Priest. seminary? I joined the Diocese of Orlando, as that is BP: No, I was in Retail Managementwhere my family lived.ExecutiveTrainingprogramforMaas Brothers/Jordan Marsh, a large retailer.TJ: How long were you at which parishes? Subsequently, I worked for a couple of BP: I was at Annunciation in Altamon-years for a bank.te Springs Florida as Parochial Vicar from 47'