Early life

David Toups was born on March 26, 1971, in Seattle, Washington. He first attended Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Florida. However, after deciding to become a priest, he entered St. John Vianney College Seminary in Miami, Florida. Toups graduated from St. John in 1993 with a Bachelor of Philosophy and Theology degree.^[1]

Toups then traveled to Rome to enter the Pontifical North American College. He ultimately obtained a Bachelor of Sacred Theology degree and a Licentiate of Sacred Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.^[2][1]

Priestly career

Toups was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Saint Petersburg on June 14, 1997 at the Cathedral of Saint Jude the Apostle in St. Petersburg by Bishop Robert Lynch.^[2][3]

After his 1997 ordination, the diocese assigned Toups as parochial vicar at St. Francis Cabrini Parish in Spring Hill, Florida and as a member of the presbyteral council from 1997 to 2001. He also served as a board member of the National Federation of Priests’ Councils. Toups also served as the parochial vicar of St. Frances Cabrini Parish in Spring Hill, Florida.^[2] From 2000 to 2002, he served as observer for Region IV to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) November meetings.^[2]

In 2002, Toups returned to Rome to study at the University of St. Thomas Aquinas, receiving a Doctor of Sacred Theology degree in 2004. Back in Florida in 2004, he was appointed to the faculty at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary as a professor of sacramental and liturgical theology and^[4] as assistant dean of students. Toups was named dean of students later in 2004. During this period, he was also a member of the administrative council, the faculty council and the seminary formation team.^[4][1]

In 2007, Toups left St. Vincent de Paul to become associate director of the Secretariat of Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations at the USCCB in Washington D.C.^[5] That position ended in 2010 when the Diocese of St. Petersburg named him as pastor of Christ the King Parish in Tampa, Florida. Toups was moved from that position in 2012, to become rector and president of the St. Vincent de Paul.^[5][1]

Bishop of Beaumont

On June 9, 2020, Pope Francis appointed Toups as bishop of Beaumont. He was consecrated by Cardinal Daniel DiNardo on August 21, 2020 at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Anthony in Beaumont.^[6][7] Toups chose as his episcopal motto Romans 8:28, based on his predecessor's motto and his mother's favorite quote, “For those who love God, all things work together for good.”^[8][3]