Bishop Sidney M. Metzger (center)

Bishop Sidney Matthew Metzger (1902 - 1986) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, who served as Bishop of El Paso from 1942 to 1978. His greatest challenge upon taking over the Diocese of El Paso was to restore the financial stability of the Diocese while continuing to add new parishes, schools and ministries to serve the growing number of Catholics. Bishop Metzger’s many achievements included the establishment of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary to encourage native El Pasoans to enter the priesthood, the implementation of Vatican II, the creation of the Permanent Diaconate Program for the Diocese, and his strong support of social justice and the rights of working people. In 1940, St. Mary’s awarded Bishop Metzger an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws. At the end of Bishop Metzger’s stewardship of the Diocese for 36 years, the credit of the Diocese was excellent, the sparse, needy missions of the early days had become well cared for parishes, new churches, schools, hospitals and convents had been built to meet the needs of a growing population. The Diocese was now able to recruit and train its own priests, and the Catholic principles of social justice were firmly embedded in the ministries and programs of the Diocese of El Paso.

Area: Central / Downtown