TYLER, Texas — A group with a vision of uniting Catholic men in defense of faith, the republic and Christian society is set to host a rosary procession and march for now-dismissed Diocese of Tyler Bishop Joseph Strickland this weekend.
The Knights of the Republic recently shared on social media that the group will march on Tyler with a rosary procession "in defense of the Holy Mother Church and Bishop Joseph Strickland."
The group said the event is set for 10 a.m. Saturday at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and will move toward downtown Tyler.
Strickland was removed as the bishop of Tyler on Saturday by Pope Francis.
According to a statement from Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, Pope Francis in June directed an Apostolic Visitation of the Diocese of Tyler. After that visit and an extensive inquiry of Strickland's leadership, a recommendation was made to the pope that Strickland continuing to lead pastoral governance of the Diocese of Tyler "was not feasible."
Justin W. Haggerty with the Knights of the Republic said in an emailed statement that Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen once said the laity, which means the non-clergy members, would save the church.
"Holy Mother Church is in turmoil and needs our prayers to be offered in unity with the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus," Haggerty said. "A good bishop has been removed from his flock, and like the Apostle St. James the Greater being beseeched by Our Lady to return to Jerusalem to stop the persecution of Christian laity, we must now return the same selfless support for a successor of the apostles."
The procession will start in the front of the Chancery office for the Diocese of Tyler, and attendees will pray the Holy Rosary in support of Strickland and in defense of Holy Mother Church, Haggerty said.
"We are inviting all parishes, Catholic lay organizations, and knightly organizations, like the Knights of Columbus, to unite with us in person and in prayer," Haggerty said.
He explained Knights of the Republic was founded in 2019 in the Archdiocese of Atlanta. He said all members of the group are baptized and confirmed Catholics, in good standing with the Catholic Church. They also regularly receive the Holy Sacraments in the Latin Rite, exclusively attend the Tridentine Mass and pledge Pope St. Pius V's Tridentine Oath and Pope St. Pius X's oath against modernism.
When news about this march was shared on Twitter, Strickland responded by saying that he asks the march is prayerful, respectful and focused on Jesus.
"He is the only support I need and I feel the profound embrace of His Sacred Heart. I appreciate the vigorous faith this is inspired by but please remember I am nothing, Jesus is everything. Viva Cristo Rey," Strickland said.
Haggerty added that the Knights of the Republic want to reiterate Strickland's request.