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Bishop Bevard: What to Know
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Biography of the Most Rev. Herbert A. BevardBishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Saint Thomas in the Virgin Islands
February 24, 1946 – September 20, 2025
Bishop Herbert Armstrong Bevard was born on February 24, 1946, in Baltimore, Maryland, to Charles W. Bevard and Katherine Anna (Shafer) Bevard. Raised in the Presbyterian tradition, he converted to Catholicism in 1964 during his senior year of high school—a decision that would shape the course of his life and ministry.
After attending Dickinson College for two years, he entered St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia to prepare for the priesthood. He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia on May 20, 1972, by Cardinal John Krol. Over the years, he served in several parishes including Nativity BVM Parish (Media), Saint Robert Parish (Chester), Saint Richard Parish (South Philadelphia), Saint Charles Borromeo Parish (Bensalem), and Saint Anastasia Parish (Newtown Square).
In 1994, he was appointed pastor of St. Athanasius Parish in Philadelphia, where he led a vibrant revival of the parish community. Under his leadership, the Upper Church was reopened, parish facilities were renovated, and the school remained a central focus of Catholic education. He was named Monsignor in 2003 and later appointed Vicar of Philadelphia North in 2007.
On July 7, 2008, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Saint Thomas in the Virgin Islands. He was consecrated on September 3, 2008, at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Charlotte Amalie by Archbishop Donald Wuerl, with co-consecrators Archbishop Joseph Kurtz and Bishop Daniel Edward Thomas.
During his episcopacy, Bishop Bevard was known for his pastoral care, commitment to Catholic education, and efforts to restore the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul. He also played a key role in converting a diocesan retreat center into a homeless shelter following the hurricanes of 2017.
Due to declining health, Bishop Bevard submitted his resignation in July 2020, which was accepted by Pope Francis on September 18, 2020. He spent his retirement in Wilmington, North Carolina, where he passed away peacefully on September 20, 2025, at the age of 79.
Bishop Bevard will be remembered for his humility, his deep love for the Church, and his unwavering dedication to the people of the Virgin Islands. His legacy lives on in the communities he served and the lives he touched.
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