Leadership

The Catholic Diocese of Memphis was established in 1971 and presently consists of 47 parishes and missions with 15 Catholic schools in four deaneries across 21 counties in West Tennessee. More than 70, 000 Catholics make this diverse, vibrant, and faith-filled diocese their home. Led by Bishop David P. Talley, the Diocese of Memphis is committed to helping the faithful encounter the living Christ through conversion, communion, service and unity. The Diocese of Memphis respectfully serves all God’s children, regardless of their religious beliefs, socio-economic status or ethnic background. Please visit us at cdom.org.

System Mission Statement

As a part of the mission of the Roman Catholic Church, the Diocese of Memphis in Tennessee Catholic School system is committed to preparing students to be courageous and faithful Disciples of Christ by providing a solid spiritual, intellectual, emotional, and physical formation under the guidance of the Blessed Virgin Mary in union with the Roman Catholic Church.

System Belief Statement

Our Catholic Schools System mission is rooted in the Magisterium of the Roman Catholic Church, Sacred Scripture, and Canonical Procedures and these drive all decisions.

The Most Reverend David P. Talley (69) was appointed by His Holiness Pope Francis as the sixth Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Memphis in Tennessee on March 5, 2019, and was installed on April 2, 2019. 

Bishop Talley, originally from Columbus, Ga., was raised a Southern Baptist, but converted to Catholicism while a student at Auburn University. He was received into the Catholic Church at age 24 at Saint Mary Church in Opelika, Ala. His family members remain Baptists, Catholics, Church of Christ, Lutherans, United Methodists and those seeking the light of God. 

After his studies at Auburn, he later obtained a Master’s degree in social work from the University of Georgia and spent time as a case worker in Fulton County, Ga., protecting children from abuse and neglect. He studied for the priesthood at Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology in Indiana and obtained a Master of Divinity degree in 1989. Bishop Talley was ordained to the priesthood on June 3, 1989, at the Cathedral of Christ the King in Atlanta, Ga.  

Prior to his announcement in Memphis, on September 21, 2016, Bishop Talley was appointed coadjutor bishop of Alexandria, La. and on February 2, 2017, he became the 12th Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Alexandria, upon the retirement of Bishop Ronald P. Herzog.