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John Claude Neraz (January 12, 1828 – November 15, 1894) was a French-born clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of San Antonio from 1881 until his death in 1894.
The Right Reverend John Claude Neraz | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of San Antonio | |
 | |
| Church | Catholic |
| Diocese | San Antonio |
| Appointed | 18 February 1881 |
| Predecessor | Anthony Pellicer |
| Successor | John Anthony Forest |
| Previous post(s) | Apostolic Administrator of Brownsville (1887-1890) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 19 March 1853 by John Mary Odin |
| Consecration | 8 May 1881 by Edward Fitzgerald |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 12 March 1828 |
| Died | 15 November 1894 |
Biography
editJohn Claude Neraz was born in Anse, Rhône, to Jean and Marie Anne (née Bottet) Neraz.[1] He studied at the minor seminaries in Saint-Jodard, Anse and Alix before entering the Grande Seminary of St. Irenée in Lyons.[1] In 1852, he accepted an invitation from Bishop Jean-Marie Odin to serve as a missionary in the U.S. state of Texas.[1] After reaching the Diocese of Galveston, he was ordained to the priesthood on February 19, 1853.[2]
Neraz was then stationed in Nacogdoches, where he remained until he was sent to Liberty County in 1864.[1] He was assigned to San Antonio in 1866, and afterward was sent to Laredo, where he built St. Augustine's Church.[1] He served as pastor of San Fernando Church in San Antonio (1873–1881) as well as vicar general to Bishop Anthony Dominic Pellicer (1874–1881).[1]
On February 18, 1881, Neraz was appointed the second Bishop of San Antonio by Pope Leo XIII.[2] He received his episcopal consecration on the following May 8 from Bishop Edward Fitzgerald, with Bishops Dominic Manucy and Claude Marie Dubuis serving as co-consecrators, in the Cathedral of San Fernando.[2] In 1884, he attended the Third Plenary Council of Baltimore, where he was active in discussions on the evangelization of the African American community.[1] During his tenure, he oversaw the establishment of St. Edward's College, the first parochial school in the diocese, a new chancery building, and a church for the black Catholics of San Antonio.[1] Between 1884 and 1890, he also served as apostolic administrator of the Vicariate Apostolic of Brownsville.[2]
Neraz died after a brief illness at age 66. He was buried in San Fernando Cemetery.[1]
