People listen to Justin Haggerty,  Superior of the Knights of the Republic, speak in front of the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception in Tyler for the rosary procession in support of former bishop Joseph Strickland.

On Saturday morning, hundreds gathered outside Cathedral of Immaculate Conception for a rosary procession in support of Bishop Joseph Strickland.

“We’re not here to protest, we are here to pray the rosary as faithful Catholics,” Justin Haggerty, Superior of Knights of the Republic, which organized the event.

Pope Francis on Nov. 11 removed Strickland from his position as bishop of the Diocese of Tyler.

At Saturday’s event, people began marching from the church and walked toward the downtown Tyler square and back to the church.

People carried signs, chanted, sang and prayed for the church. East Texans, from Tyler to Mount Pleasant to Longview, were in attendance and some traveled even farther.

One woman drove from Houston, in support of Strickland. Resa Clarke has known Strickland for 23 years. He baptized her fourth child, did first communion for her other kids and had her mother’s mass. He was also the pastor at the Catholic schools where her kids went when she lived in Tyler. She knows him as a kind and genuine person.

“We’re gonna stand behind him no matter what,” Clarke said.

Humberto Ruiz brought a portrait of the Virgen de Guadalupe. He came to the cathedral with his wife, Felicita Ruiz, to show support for Strickland. They have known Strickland since he became bishop of the Tyler diocese. Ruiz found Strickland to be a great pastor and attentive to the community’s needs. They attend the cathedral, Santuario de Nuestra Señora del Carmen and St. Peter Claver.

“Since we heard about this march, my wife and I felt ready to come,” Ruiz said. “We felt the need to support this cause. It’s a noble and good cause.”

The wife of a deacon, Teresa Martinez, remembers Strickland started as a priest at St. Michael Catholic Church in Mount Pleasant before he became the bishop of the Diocese of Tyler. She has known Strickland for over 30 years. She was in shock after learning he was removed from his position and believes he was defending the faith.

“We as Catholics need to defend our faith because we cannot lose our faith,” Martinez said. “Faith is the only thing we have.”

Roberto Canchola came from Longview and brought his Catholic flag. He came to show his support for Strickland. He disagrees with Pope Francis’ decision to remove him. The bishop had a big reach and would sometimes come to Longview, Canchola said.

“[The flag] is to represent we’re all brothers in Christ and also the support for the bishop who was removed,” Canchola said. “And also to pray for all the Diocese of Tyler.”

Ed Santos, a parishioner of Cathedral of Immaculate Conception and friend of Strickland, came in support. Strickland has been in the community for a while since before he became bishop and was inclusive of the different traditions in the Catholic church, Santos said.

“We’re praying for the church, the growth of the church, the continuation of the church in its traditions, and preserving the traditions that it has for so long been respecting,” Santos said.

Santos came with Paul Beleno, who arrived in Tyler from the Philippines last Friday. Beleno works in healthcare but declined to work this Saturday so he could show support.

“We are praying for all the Catholics all over the world and this rally means a lot for us to [show] our support for Catholicism in the United States,” Beleno said.

At the end when people gathered back in front of the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception and shouted, ‘Viva, Cristo Rey.’

While the majority of attendees held signs in support of Strickland, at least one held a sign siding with Pope Francis.

Strickland, 65, has emerged as a critic of Francis, accusing him in a tweet earlier this year of “undermining the deposit of faith.” He has been particularly critical of Francis’ recent meeting on the future of the Catholic Church during which hot-button issues were discussed, including ways to better welcome LGBTQ+ Catholics.

The Vatican earlier this year sent in investigators to look into his governance of the diocese, amid reports he was allegedly making doctrinally unorthodox claims.

It is rare for the pope to forcibly remove a bishop from office. Bishops are required to offer to resign when they reach 75. When the Vatican uncovers issues with governance or other problems that require a bishop to leave office before then, the Vatican usually seeks to pressure him to resign for the good of his diocese and the church.

But with Strickland, the Vatican statement made clear he had not offered to resign, and that Francis had instead “relieved” him from his job.