Patrick Zurek

On January 31, 2019, the diocese released a list of 30 clergy with credible allegations of sexual abuse. Zurek made this statement.

On January 3, 2008, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Zurek as bishop of the Diocese of Amarillo, replacing Bishop John Yanta. Zurek was installed on February 22, 2008.Zurek speaks five languages, including Czech, Italian and Spanish.

On January 5, 1998, Zurek was appointed as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of San Antonio and titular bishop of Thamugadi by Pope John Paul II. Zurek was consecrated by Archbishop Patrick F. Flores on February 16, 1998.

After his return to Texas in 1976, Zurek held several pastoral assignments in Texas parishes:

Zurek was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Austin in Rome in St. Peter's Basilica on June 29, 1975, by Pope Paul VI. He obtained his Licentiate in Moral Theology in 1976 at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome.Zurek also worked as a chaplain at the Bambino Gesù Hospital in Rome during his seminary days.

Patrick James Zurek (born 17 August 1948) is an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He has served as Bishop of Amarillo since February 22, 2008. He previously served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of San Antonio from 1998 to 2008.

Patrick Zurek was born on August 17, 1948 in Sealy, Texas, to Arnold and Victoria (Bohac) Zurek. His siblings were Lawrence Zurek and Dennis Zurek. Patrick Zurek attended the University of St. Thomas in Houston, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics, magna cum laude. He then attended St. Mary's Seminary in Houston, where he obtain a Bachelor of Sacred Theology degree in 1974.