He attended the Pontifical College Josephinum in Worthington, Ohio, and was ordained a priest for the (then) Diocese of Dallas-Fort Worth May 29, 1965. Later he went on to continue his education in Canon Law Studies at St. Paul University in Ottawa, Canada, where he received his J.C.D. and became a well-respected canonist. He also received a Ph.D. from the University of Ottawa.
While in Dallas, he served as Vice-Officialis beginning in 1975 and was appointed as Officialis in 1979.
In 1990, Pope John Paul II appointed him the bishop of the Diocese of Victoria in Texas. He was consecrated as Bishop on May 28, 1990, adopting the episcopal motto: “To witness the charity of Christ.”
During his time as bishop in Victoria, he served the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) on many committees, including Administrative Committee, Committee on Women in Society and in the Church, Ad Hoc Committee on Sexual Abuse, Committee on Priestly Formation, Canonical Affairs Committee (Chairman), Committee on Budget and Finance, Committee on Boundaries of Dioceses and Provinces and Committee on Selection of Bishops.
In 1998, he was chosen to receive the Role of Law Award at the 1998 Canon Law Society of America Convention. The Role of Law Award is given annually to a person who “embodies the very best of the canonical profession.”
His retirement as Diocesan Bishop was accepted by Pope Francis on April 23, 2015.
Bishop Fellhauer is survived by his sister, Marti Fellhauer-Sampson of Terrell, TX. His parents and his brother, Joseph, preceded him in death.
Vigil and Funeral Mass will take place at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Victory in Victoria. Bishop Fellhauer will lie in state at the cathedral on Thursday, March 12, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at which time a vigil will be held. The Funeral Mass will be on Friday, March 13, at the cathedral at 10 a.m. presided by Most Rev. Brendan J. Cahill, Bishop of the Diocese of Victoria, and joined by bishops and priests as concelebrants. Burial will follow at Resurrection Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be sent to the Diocese of Victoria Seminary Endowment Fund.
THE MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL WILL BE LIVESTREAMED
VISIT olvcathedral.org
