Father Robert E. (Bob) Knippenberg is pastor of Queen of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Hostyn, Texas and Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Plum, Texas since July 1, 2020. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Victoria in Texas on June 10, 2000 by the Most Rev. David E. Fellhauer. Fr. Knippenberg holds a Bachelor of Arts Philosophy from Don Bosco College in Newton, New Jersey, a Master of Arts Pastoral Studies from the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas and a Master of Divinity from the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio.  He has also completed the course of study at the Institute in Matrimonial Tribunal Practice at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

Prior to ordination, Father Knippenberg served one year as founding Administrator of Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic School in Port Lavaca, Texas. Upon ordination to the priesthood, Father Knippenberg was assigned as parochial vicar at Sacred Heart Church and St. Mary’s Church in Hallettsville, Texas, Ascension of Our Lord Church in Moravia, Texas and St. John the Baptist Church in St. John, Texas and taught high school theology and Spanish at Sacred Heart School in Hallettsville.  On July 3, 2002, Father Knippenberg was assigned as pastor of Sts. Cyril & Methodius Church in Shiner, Texas where he also taught high school theology at St. Paul High School. On June 22, 2011, Father Knippenberg was assigned as pastor of Holy Family of Joseph, Mary & Jesus Church in Victoria, Texas and then, on June 19, 2013, he was assigned as pastor of Holy Family Catholic Church in Wharton, Texas and St. Joseph Catholic Mission in Boling, Texas.

Father Knippenberg is the State Spiritual Director of the Catholic Union of Texas, the KJT and is Defender of the Bond on the marriage tribunal of the Diocese of Victoria in Texas.  Father Knippenberg has conducted retreats for a variety of different groups including Catholic school faculties, deacons of the Diocese of Victoria, ACTS retreat teams, Alcoholics Anonymous, the Southside Consortium of Catholic Schools of the Archdiocese of San Antonio, and the Diocese of Victoria chancery staff. He has presented parish missions at Sacred Heart Church in Hallettsville, Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Victoria, Holy Cross Church in Yorktown, Our Lady of Victory Cathedral in Victoria, and Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in San Antonio and has been a speaker at the Diocese of Victoria Catechetical Conference.  He has conducted theological presentations for the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament Sisters vocation symposium, the diocesan permanent deacon continuing education program and the Diocese of Victoria Pastoral Institute.