12/12/13 Biography of Bishop-Elect Sis | Catholic Diocese of Austin Texas

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Biography of Bishop-Elect SisSubmitted by christian-gonzalez on December 11, 2013 - 9:15pm

Rev. Msgr. Michael J. Sis is the Vicar General and the Moderator of the Curia for the Diocese ofAustin. He was appointed by Bishop Joe S. Vásquez in June of 2010.

Msgr. Sis grew up in Bryan, Texas. He is the son of Raymond and Janice Sis. Born on January 9,1960, he is the fourth of five children. His siblings are Susan Sis-Boyd of Georgetown, TX; ValerieBourque of Salado, TX; Mark Sis of Broomfield, CO; and Amy Short of Pearland, TX. He has sevennieces and nephews and two great-nephews.

He attended St. Joseph Catholic School and Bryan Public Schools in Bryan. He graduated fromBryan High School in 1978. He earned an undergraduate degree in Philosophy in 1982 from theUniversity of Notre Dame in South Bend, IN, where he attended Moreau Seminary. He studiedTheology at the North American College in Rome, receiving degrees from the Pontifical GregorianUniversity in 1985 and the Alphonsian Academy of the Pontifical Lateran University in 1990. He wasordained a priest of the Diocese of Austin in 1986 by Bishop John E. McCarthy.

Msgr. Sis has served in a variety of roles in the Diocese of Austin. His first assignment was inHispanic ministry at Cristo Rey Parish in East Austin. He assisted Bishop John E. McCarthy andMsgr. Edward C. Matocha in the administration of historic St. Mary Cathedral in downtown Austin. His longest term of service was in campus ministry at St. Mary Catholic Center at Texas A&MUniversity in College Station, serving first as parochial vicar, then as pastor, for a total of 13½years. Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond then appointed him in 2006 as full-time Vocation Directorfor the Diocese of Austin. Then, after serving one year as pastor of the large suburban parish ofSt. Thomas More in Austin, he was named Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia by Bishop JoeS. Vásquez in 2010.

In his role as Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia, he assists Bishop Vásquez as coordinatorof diocesan administration and as supervisor of the secretariat directors. His office is located at thediocesan Pastoral Center in Austin. The diocesan curia is the collective body of persons andoffices assisting the diocesan Bishop in governing the diocese.

Over the years, Msgr. Sis has served as a member of the Presbyteral Council, the Priest Personnel Board, the College of Consultors, the VocationTeam, the Permanent Diaconate Admissions Committee, and the Bishop’s Advisory Council. He also served as Dean of the Bryan-College StationDeanery.

Some of the most formative experiences that have helped shape his life of Christian faith have been the following: the training he received from hisparents at home; his participation as a teenager in the religious education and CYO programs of St. Anthony Parish in Bryan; volunteer service in BigBrothers/Big Sisters of America; his academic and seminary studies; a summer of volunteer missionary service in Tanzania, East Africa; working withEthiopian refugees in Rome; teaching religion at Marymount International School in Rome; making the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola;celebrating the Catholic sacraments as a parish priest, especially Confession and the Eucharist; pastoral ministry with Hispanic immigrants in Texas;campus ministry with the students of Texas A&M; ecumenical and inter-religious collaboration; the Cursillo and Awakening retreats; assisting in theformation of seminarians; the good example of fellow priests; the influence of friends; and the experience of spiritual direction. He considers his mostprecious treasure to be his personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

CV of Bishop-Elect Sis

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12/12/13 Biography of Bishop-Elect Sis | Catholic Diocese of Austin Texas

www.austindiocese.org/article/13852/biography-bishop-elect-sis 2/2