23 December 2007

Overview: Province of Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont

The metropolitan of this province is the Archdiocese of Boston, Massachusetts with the following 6 suffragan dioceses: Burlington, Vermont; Fall River, Massachusetts; Manchester, New Hampshire; Portland, Maine; Springfield, Massachusetts; and Worcester, Massachusetts.

Sean Patrick Cardinal O'Malley, O.F.M. Cap. (63) is the Archbishop of Boston. The Archdiocese also has 6 Auxiliary Bishops ranging in age from 55 to 74.

Bishop Salvatore Ronald Matano (61) is the ordinary for the Diocese of Burlington, Vermont. He celebrated his 36th anniversary of priestly ordination last week. While he might be a candidate for another appointment eventually, it is likely several years away.

The Diocese of Fall River, Massachusetts is lead by Bishop George William Coleman (68). He also celebrated an anniversary (his 43rd) of priestly ordination last week. Unlike his two predecessors, he is likely to remain in Fall River.

Bishop John Brendan McCormack (72) is the head of the Diocese of Manchester, New Hampshire. His 12th anniversary of consecration as a bishop is this coming Thursday. The diocese has never had an ordinary appointed to another diocese.

The Diocese of Portland, Maine has been headed by Bishop Richard Joseph Malone (61) for about 4 years. Like Bishop Matano, he might eventually be a candidate for another appointment, but not for several years.

Bishop Timothy Anthony McDonnell is the ordinary of the Diocese of Springfield, Massachusetts and today is his 70th birthday. He also celebrated his 6th anniversary of consecration as bishop less than a fortnight ago. Like all of his predecessors, he is likely to remain in Springfield.

Finally, the Diocese of Worcester, Massachusetts is led by Bishop Robert Joseph McManus (56). He has been in that post more than 3 years. He seems a likely candidate for another appointment, but after a few more years have passed.

Overall, this is one of the few provinces in the USA that has no vacant sees and none that are likely to become vacant in the coming year or two.

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