John Joseph Cassata

Cassata was born in Galveston, Texas, on November 8, 1908. He attended St. Mary’s Cathedral School in Galveston and then St. Mary’s Boarding School in La Porte, Texas. While in high school, Cassata worked as a life guard, soda jerk and vendor at an amusement park.^[1]

Cassata then travelled to Rome to reside at the Pontifical North American College. He received a Licentiate in Theology at the Pontifical Urbana University and also studied at Pontifical Gregorian University.^[1]

Cassata was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Galveston in Rome by Cardinal Francesco Marchetti Selvaggiani on December 8, 1932.^[2][1] After his ordination, Cassata was assigned in 1934 as assistant pastor to Holy Name Parish in Houston. He was named pastor there in 1945. In 1956, the Vatican honored Cassata with the title of domestic prelate.^[1]

On March 12, 1968, Pope Paul VI named Cassata as titular bishop of Bida and auxiliary bishop of Dallas-Fort Worth. He was consecrated bishop at the Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral in Dallas by Bishop Thomas Kiely Gorman on June 5, 1968. ^[2]

On August 22, 1969, Cassata was appointed by Paul VI as the first bishop of the new Diocese of Fort Worth. On September 16, 1980, Pope John Paul II accepted Cassata's resignation as bishop of Fort Worth.^[2] John Cassata died in Houston of complications from cardiac surgery on September 8, 1989, at age 80.^[2][1]