Shelton Fabre facts for kids

Quick facts for kids His Excellency, The Most Reverend Shelton Fabre
Archbishop of Louisville
See	Louisville
Appointed	February 8, 2022
Enthroned	March 30, 2022
Predecessor	Joseph Edward Kurtz
Orders
Ordination	August 5, 1989
Consecration	February 28, 2007 by Alfred Clifton Hughes, John Ricard, Robert William Muench
Personal details
Born	(1963-10-25) October 25, 1963 (age 61) New Roads, Louisiana, US
Previous post	Auxiliary Bishop of New Orleans and Titular Bishop of Pudentiana (2007-2013) Bishop of Houma–Thibodaux (2013-2022)
Motto	Consolamini popule Meus (Comfort My people)

Styles of Shelton Joseph Fabre
Reference style	His Excellency The Most Reverend
Spoken style	Your Excellency
Religious style	Archbishop

Shelton Joseph Fabre is an American Catholic leader. He has been the Archbishop of Louisville since 2022. Before that, he was the Bishop of Houma-Thibodaux from 2013 to 2022. He also served as an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of New Orleans from 2007 to 2013.

Early Life and Education

Shelton Fabre was born in New Roads, Louisiana, on October 25, 1963. He went to primary and secondary schools in New Roads. In 1981, he graduated as the top student from Catholic High School of Pointe Coupée.

After high school, he attended Saint Joseph Seminary College in St. Benedict, Louisiana. He earned a bachelor's degree in history in 1985. Fabre then continued his studies at the American College of Louvain in Belgium. He also studied at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven. He received a Bachelor of Arts in religious studies in 1987. In 1989, he earned a Master of Arts in religious studies. He became a deacon on December 10, 1988. Archbishop Peter Gerety ordained him at the Louvain university church.

Becoming a Priest

Fabre was ordained as a priest on August 5, 1989. Bishop Stanley Ott ordained him for the Diocese of Baton Rouge. The ceremony took place at St. Joseph Cathedral in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

After his ordination in 1989, Fabre served as an assistant pastor. He worked at several parishes:

• St. Alphonsus Liguori in Greenwell Springs (1989 to 1992)
• St. George in Baton Rouge (1992 to 1994)
• St. Isidore the Farmer in Baker (1994 to 1995)
• St. Joseph Cathedral (1995 to 1996)

Later, Fabre became a pastor. He led St. Joseph Parish in Grosse Tete, Louisiana. He also led Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Maringouin, Louisiana. In 2004, Fabre became the pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Baton Rouge.

Fabre held many other important roles in the diocese. He was a chaplain at Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola in 1994. He directed the Office of Black Catholics from 1990 to 2005. He also worked for the marriage tribunal from 1994 to 2007. Fabre was chosen to serve on the clergy personnel board. He also chaired the Pastoral Planning Committee. He was a chaplain to St. Joseph's Academy. He served as a dean for the Northwest Deanery. Fabre was also a member of the college of consultors, the presbyteral council, and the diocesan school board.

Auxiliary Bishop of New Orleans

On December 13, 2006, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Fabre as an auxiliary bishop. He became the titular bishop of Pudentiana and auxiliary bishop of New Orleans. Archbishop Alfred Hughes consecrated him on February 28, 2007. The ceremony was in New Orleans at the Saint Louis, King of France, Cathedral Basilica. At that time, he was the youngest bishop in the U.S. As an auxiliary bishop, Fabre served as vicar general. He also became the pastor of Our Lady of the Rosary Parish in New Orleans.

In October 2009, Fabre met with people who had been harmed in Catholic homes for troubled youth. He apologized to them for the way they were treated.

Bishop of Houma-Thibodaux

Coat of arms as bishop of Houma-Thibodaux

On September 23, 2013, Pope Francis appointed Fabre as the bishop of Houma-Thibodaux. He was officially installed on October 30, 2013. The installation took place at the Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Thibodaux, Louisiana.

On May 4, 2018, Fabre was chosen to lead a special committee. This committee was called the Ad-Hoc Committee against Racism. It was part of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. On November 6, 2018, Fabre released a pastoral letter. It was titled "Open Wide our Hearts: The Enduring Call to Love." This letter talked about racism in the United States. It also discussed how Catholics should respond to it.

Archbishop of Louisville

On February 8, 2022, Pope Francis named Fabre as the archbishop of Louisville. He was officially installed on March 30, 2022.

Personal Life

Fabre is a cousin of Bishop John Ricard. Bishop Ricard is also an African-American Catholic leader. Both Fabre and Ricard are from New Roads, Louisiana. Bishop Ricard is the superior general of the Josephites.

See also