John Neraz

John Claude Neraz was born in Anse, Rhône, to Jean and Marie Anne (née Bottet) Neraz.[1] He studied at the minor seminaries in Saint-Jodard, Anse and Alix before entering the Grande Seminary of St. Irenée in Lyons.[1] In 1852, he accepted an invitation from Bishop Jean-Marie Odin to serve as a missionary in the U.S. state of Texas.[1] After reaching the Diocese of Galveston, he was ordained to the priesthood on February 19, 1853.[2]

Neraz was then stationed in Nacogdoches, where he remained until he was sent to Liberty County in 1864.[1] He was assigned to San Antonio in 1866, and afterward was sent to Laredo, where he built St. Augustine's Church.[1] He served as pastor of San Fernando Church in San Antonio (1873–1881) as well as vicar general to Bishop Anthony Dominic Pellicer (1874–1881).[1]

On February 18, 1881, Neraz was appointed the second Bishop of San Antonio by Pope Leo XIII.[2] He received his episcopal consecration on the following May 8 from Bishop Edward Fitzgerald, with Bishops Dominic Manucy and Claude Marie Dubuis serving as co-consecrators, in the Cathedral of San Fernando.[2] In 1884, he attended the Third Plenary Council of Baltimore, where he was active in discussions on the evangelization of the African American community.[1] During his tenure, he oversaw the establishment of St. Edward's College, the first parochial school in the diocese, a new chancery building, and a church for the black Catholics of San Antonio.[1] Between 1884 and 1890, he also served as apostolic administrator of the Vicariate Apostolic of Brownsville.[2]

Neraz died after a brief illness at age 66. He was buried in San Fernando Cemetery.[1]