The Rt. Rev. Andy Doyle engaged with students, delivered chapel remarks and shared his hope for the next generation of Spartans.

The St. Stephen’s school community was honored to welcome the Rt. Rev. Andy Doyle to campus recently. Doyle, who was once a dorm parent and instructor on The Hill before becoming the current bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas, now oversees and serves as chief pastor for more than 78,000 Episcopalians in the diocese and for 400 clergy working in 163 congregations, schools, chaplaincies and institutions — including St. Stephen's.

Doyle — described by St. Stephen’s Head Chaplain Aimée Eyer-Delevett as “an all around cool guy” — has authored 13 books and sums up his six-word autobiography as: "Met Jesus on pilgrimage, still walking.” During his visit, Doyle had coffee with the chaplains, sat in on 8th and 12th grade theology classes, met with the Middle School Chapel Leadership team, delivered chapel talks to both divisions and met with Head of School Chris Gunnin.

“Having been here in the 1990s and continuing to be involved with the school, one of the most amazing things for me is seeing both the faculty and administrative life, as well as the student life, surrounded by the ever-changing, ever-growing facilities. You have this Chapel — a wonderful continuation of life at St. Stephen's that never changes. These kinds of things are part of the deep tradition here. It’s fun, and it's good to be back,” said Doyle.

Doyle is the second of three bishops to visit campus during the school’s milestone 75th anniversary year. Rt. Rev. Kai Ryan visited earlier this year and former Presiding Bishop Michael B. Curry, the 27th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, will be an honored guest at St. Stephen’s during Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

“What I love about St. Stephen’s is that in the midst of sports, activities and academics, you also have this brilliant thinking that's going on amongst the students. It's important to raise up people who are academically well suited and prepared for the world in which they're going to serve, whatever their vocation or ministry,” said Doyle. “I think one of the gifts that Episcopal schools in the Diocese of Texas — and in particular St. Stephen's — offer is attention not just to the full human being, mind, body and spirit, but we are also raising up future philosophers, thinkers and ethicists. We see that as just as important a challenge as forming athletes and team leaders.”

While Doyle’s visit coincides with the school's 75th anniversary, he says looking back is important but looking forward to the future is crucial to not only the school’s success but also the success of the students it's shaping and educating.

“We're always looking back to look forward, right? These two things are truly woven together,” said Doyle. “Having worked here and now serving to bring resources and gather people around the cause and the mission of St. Stephen's, I'm always aware that we begin with gratitude — gratitude for the generations who came before us, and for the people today who are leading, shaping and giving to the future. We give thanks for these 75 years, and we remember the continued need, I think, Bishop Hines and the Rev. Brewster were attempting to achieve: preparing people for the needs of their present moment.”

Doyle continued, “As we look forward to what St. Stephen's can do, it certainly is achieving the great diversity of leadership that our society and culture and global society will need. I'm excited about that. It's not going to be found in the buildings, it’s the people who make the difference. It's the relationships that make the difference. When I think back, I remember my relationship with Bishop Hines and my relationships with the faculty who are still here. And now I see a whole new group of students making their own way and building their own relationships, stories and histories. This is an amazing place. We should all give thanks for 75 amazing years and take this moment, in our generation, to imagine the future and lay the foundation for the many, many others who will come after us.”

Learn more about Bishop Ryan’s previous visit here and learn more about Bishop Curry’s upcoming visit on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in an upcoming News and Notes.