Most Rev. Joseph A. Galante, fourth bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Beaumont, died Saturday.

Galante served as bishop of the local diocese from May 1994 until his reception as coadjutor bishop of Dallas in January 2000. He preceded Bishop Curtis Guillory, SVD, the current bishop of the Catholic diocese. He had served as bishop of the Diocese of Camden, New Jersey from 2004 until his retirement in 2013.

Bishop Guillory said, “We are grateful for his ministry as our fourth Bishop of Beaumont.” He also asked for the Southeast Texas community to remember him in their prayers.

Joseph A. Galante was born in Philadelphia on July 2, 1938, and ordained in 1964.

He also served in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, at the Vatican and the Archdiocese of San Antonio before becoming bishop of Beaumont.