23 January 2008

Overview: Province of Pennsylvania

This province is composed of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, the metropolitan, and 7 suffragan Dioceses: Allentown, Altoona-Johnstown, Erie, Greensburg, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, and Scranton; all in the state of Pennsylvania.

Justin Francis Cardinal Rigali (72) is the ordinary of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. He is assisted by 4 active Auxiliary Bishops. One of them (Maginnis) will reach the normal retirement age late this year. The other three are fairly new (less than 4 years as Auxiliaries).

The Diocese of Allentown is led by Bishop Edward Peter Cullen who turns 75 in March. He might retire and have his replacement named this year, but with the current backlog - it might not happen until next year.

Bishop Joseph Victor Adamec (72) is the head of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown. He has been serving in that role for over 20 years.

The Diocese of Erie is headed by Bishop Donald Walter Trautman (71). He has been serving as a bishop for 22 years, the last 17 in this office.

Bishop Lawrence Eugene Brandt (68) is the ordinary of the Diocese of Greensburg. He celebrated 38 years as a priest last month.

The Diocese of Harrisburg is led by Bishop Kevin Carl Rhoades (50). He has been serving as a bishop a little over 3 years.

Bishop David Allen Zubik (58) is the head of the Diocese of Pittsburgh. He was named to that role last year. He is assisted by an Auxiliary who will celebrate his 3rd anniversary of consecration as a bishop in February.

The Diocese of Scranton is led by Bishop Joseph Francis Martino (61). He has been in that office for 4 years. He is assisted by an Auxiliary (Bishop Dougherty) who is already passed the normal retirement age of 75.

Overall the province is likely to see only one new ordinary this year. In 5 years its a different story. Several will retire and several more will be candidates for other offices.

08 January 2008

Overview: Provine of Nebraska

This province covers the state of Nebraska and is composed of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Omaha and its suffragan Dioceses of Grand Island and Lincoln.

Archbishop Elden Francis Curtiss (75) is the ordinary of the Archdiocese of Omaha. He will celebrate 50 years as a priest in May of this year. Since he is past the normal retirement age of 75, his retirement and the naming of a replacement are fairly likely this year.

The Diocese of Grand Island is led by Bishop William Joseph Dendinger (68). He celebrated his 3rd anniversary of consecration as a bishop last month.

Bishop Fabian Wendelin Bruskewitz (72) is the head of the Diocese of Lincoln. He has been serving in this post for 15 years.

Other than the new ordinary for Omaha, this province is likely to be stable for a few more years - when Bishop Bruskewitz reaches the normal retirement age.

Overview: Province of Oklahoma and Arkansas

This province is composed of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and its two suffragan Dioceses: Little Rock, Arkansas and Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Archbishop Eusebius Joseph Beltran (73) is the ordinary of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. He has been serving in this post for about 15 years.

The Diocese of Little Rock, Arkansas is currently vacant. It has been without an ordinary since Bishop James Peter Sartain was named Bishop of Joliet in Illinois in May 2006.

Bishop Edward James Slattery (67) is the leader of the Diocese of Tulsa, Oklahoma. His 14th anniversary of consecration as a bishop was last Sunday.

Obviously the big change anticipated in the province in the coming year is the naming of an ordinary for the Diocese of Little Rock. Currently it is the diocese in the USA that has been sitting vacant for the longest time.

Next year, or perhaps the year after that, will likely see the retirement and replacement of the metropolitan as he reaches the normal retirement age.

06 January 2008

Overview: Province of New York

The province has as its metropolitan the Archdiocese of New York. It also has 7 suffragan Dioceses, all in the state of New York, namely: Albany, Brooklyn, Buffalo, Ogdensburg, Rochester, Rockville Centre, and Syracuse.

Edward Michael Cardinal Egan (75) serves as the Archbishop of New York. Last month he celebrated 50 years as a priest. Although he has reached the normal retirement age of 75, his retirement may be delayed beyond this year (it is quite common for Cardinals to remain as ordinary for a few extra years).

The Archdiocese also has 4 active Auxiliary Bishops. Two have been in their posts for 6 years, Iriondo (69) and Lagonegro (64). The other two for 3 years, Sullivan (62) and Walsh (65). Of the group, Lagonegro seems the most likely to be considered for another post this year.

The Diocese of Albany is led by Bishop Howard James Hubbard (69). Last year he celebrated 30 years as a bishop.

Bishop Nicholas Anthony DiMarzio (63) is the head of the Diocese of Brooklyn. He has been in that post for 4 years. The Diocese also has 4 Auxiliary Bishops (Caggiano, Catanello, Cisneros, and Sansaricq). No change is likely in this diocese this year.

The Diocese of Buffalo is headed by Bishop Edward Urban Kmiec (71). He celebrated 25 years as a bishop last year. He is assisted by Auxiliary Bishop Grosz (62) who may be considered a candidate for another post this year.

Bishop Robert Joseph Cunningham (64) is the ordinary of the Diocese of Ogdensburg. He has been serving in this post for 3 years.

The Diocese of Rochester is led by Bishop Matthew Harvey Clark (70). He celebrated 45 years as a priest last month.

Bishop William Francis Murphy (67) is the head of the Diocese of Rockville Centre. Last month he celebrated 12 years as a bishop and 43 as a priest. He has been serving in this post for 6 years. The Diocese also has 3 active Auxiliary Bishops. Two, Dunne and Walsh are 70. The third, named just last year, is 56 (Libasci).

The Diocese of Syracuse has as its ordinary Bishop James Michael Moynihan who turned 75 last year. He celebrated 50 years as a priest last month. He is likely to retire and have a replacement named later this year.

Only two of the ordinaries in this province are currently over the normal retirement age of 75 - in both cases reaching that age last year. They may retire and receive replacements this year, but it may well be next year before that happens.

Overview: Province of Louisiana

This province is composed of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, the metropolitan, and its suffragan Dioceses of: Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Houma-Thibodaux, Lafayette, Lake Charles, and Shreveport; all in the state of Louisiana.

Archdiocese of New Orleans is led by Archbishop Alfred Clifton Hughes who turned 75 just over a month ago. He also celebrated 50 years as a priest last month. Having reached the normal retirement age, it seems likely that his retirement and subsequent replacement may very well happen later this year. The Archdiocese also has two active Auxilaries: Fabre (44) who has been in place less than a year and Morin (66) who has been serving for 4 years.

Bishop Ronald Paul Herzog (65) is the ordinary of the Diocese of Alexandria. His 3rd anniversary of consecration as a bishop was yesterday.

The Diocese of Baton Rouge is headed by Bishop Robert William Muench who turned 65 just over a week ago. He has been serving in this post for about 6 years. In another year or two he may become a candidate for other posts.

Bishop Sam Gallip Jacobs (69) is leader of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. He has been serving in that role for 4 years.

The Diocese of Lafayette is led by Bishop Charles Michael Jarrell (67). He will celebrate 15 years as a bishop in March. He has been in this post for 5 years.

Bishop Glen John Provost (58) is the head of the Diocese of Lake Charles. He has been in place less than a year.

The Diocese of Shreveport has been vacant for a bit over a year (when Bishop William Benedict Friend retired). This post is very likely to be filled this year.

This province is likely to see a new Archbishop for its metropolitan see and a new bishop for its vacant suffragan this year. Given the current backlog of USA appointments, its entirely possible that the Archdiocese will have to wait until next year for its successor.

Overview: Province of New Jersey

This province is composed of the metropolitan, the Archdiocese of Newark, and its suffragan Dioceses of: Camden, Metuchen, Paterson, and Trenton; all in the state of New Jersey.

Archbishop John Joseph Myers (66) is the ordinary of the Archdiocese of Newark. He recently celebrated 41 years as a priest. He has been serving in this post for 6 years. The Archdiocese also has 3 active Auxiliary Bishops - all 3 have been serving in their posts less than 5 years.

The Diocese of Camden is led by Bishop Joseph Anthony Galante (69). He celebrated 15 years as a bishop last month - with the last 3 being in this post.

Bishop Paul Gregory Bootkoski (67) is the head of the Diocese of Metuchen. His 6th anniversary of being named as ordinary was last Friday.

The Diocese of Paterson has as its ordinary Bishop Arthur Joseph Serratelli (63). He will celebrate 40 years as a priest toward the end of this year. He has been serving here for 3 years.

Bishop John Mortimer Fourette Smith (72) is the leader of the Diocese of Trenton. Later this month he will celebrate 20 years as a bishop. He has been in this post for the last 10 years.

This province seems likely to be quite stable for this year and perhaps for a year or two more after that. At that point, however, things change a bit. There will be one ordinary reaching the normal retirement age, and several (including the metropolitan and all 3 of his auxiliaries) that will be at an age and length of service that makes them likely to be considered for other posts.

05 January 2008

Overview: Province of Alabama and Mississippi

This province contains the metropolitan Archdiocese of Mobile, Alabama along with the suffragan Dioceses of: Biloxi, Mississippi; Birmingham, Alabama; and Jackson, Mississippi.

The Archdiocese of Mobile, Alabama is led by Archbishop Oscar Hugh Lipscomb (76). He has served in that post for 27 years and will very likely retire and have a replacement named this year.

Bishop Thomas John Rodi (58) is the leader of the Diocese of Biloxi. He has been serving in that role for 6 years.

The Diocese of Birmingham received its new ordinary, Bishop Robert Joseph Baker (63) this past year.

Bishop Joseph Nunzio Latino (70) has been serving as the Bishop of Jackson for almost 5 years.

After the extended vacancy (over 2 years) of the Diocese of Birmingham, one would hope the wait for an new Archbishop to replace the retiring Archbishop Lipscomb won't be nearly as long. I would anticipate that change early this year.

The only other change that one might foresee is Bishop Rodi being considered for other posts.

Overview: Province of Wisconsin

The province is composed of the metropolitan, the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, along with its suffragan Dioceses: Green Bay, La Crosse, Madison, and Superior; all in the state of Wisconsin.

Archbishop Timothy Michael Dolan (57) is the ordinary of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. He has been serving in that role for 5 years. The Archdiocese has 2 Auxiliary Bishops, Callahan (57) and Sklba (72). The former was consecrated as a bishop last month. The latter celebrated his 28 anniversary of consecration as a bishop a few days earlier.

The Diocese of Green Bay is currently vacant. Bishop David Allen Zubik was named Bishop of Pittsburgh last summer. Hopefully by the end of this year a new ordinary will be named.

Bishop Jerome Edward Listecki (58) serves as the ordinary of the Diocese of La Crosse. He has been in that post for almost 3 years.

The Diocese of Madison is led by Bishop Robert Charles Morlino who turned 61 on New Years Eve. He has been serving in this role for 4 years.

Bishop Peter Forsyth Christensen (who turned 55 on Christmas Eve) is the ordinary of the Diocese of Superior. He was consecrated as a Bishop last September.

Overall, this province has seen quite a few adjustments to its hierarchy over the last few years - and it has one more due before too much longer - the naming of an ordinary for Green Bay. Beyond that, it is likely to be fairly stable for the next several years.

04 January 2008

Overview: Province of Florida

This province has as its metropolitan the Archdiocese of Miami along with the suffragan Dioceses of: Orlando, Palm Beach, Pensacola-Tallahassee, Saint Augustine, Saint Petersburg, and Venice, all in the state of Florida.

The Archdiocese of Miami is led by Archbishop John Clement Favalora (72). He recently celebrated 46 years as a priest. He has served in his present post for a bit over 13 years. The Archdiocese also has 2 Auxiliary Bishops, aged 56 and 61. After a few more years, they might well be candidates for other posts.

Bishop Thomas Gerard Wenski (57) is the ordinary of the Diocese of Orlando. He has been in place a little over 3 years.

The Diocese of Palm Beach has as its ordinary Bishop Gerald Michael Barbarito who turned 58 this very day. He has been in this post for over 4 years.

Bishop John Huston Ricard, S.S.J. (67) is the head of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee. He has been in place for just under 11 years. He may be the first ordinary in the Diocese's history to not be appointed to another post.

The Diocese of Saint Augustine is headed by Bishop Victor Benito Galeone (72). He recently celebrated 47 years as a priest.

Bishop Robert Nugent Lynch (66) is the ordinary of the Diocese of Saint Petersburg. His 12th anniversary of consecration as a bishop occurs later this month.

The Diocese of Venice has been led by Bishop Frank Joseph Dewane (57) for almost a year now.

Overall, the province is likely to be very stable in terms of hierarchy in the coming year or two. In about 3 years, however, there will be the metropolitan and a suffragan with ordinaries reaching the normal retirement age.

02 January 2008

Random Movie Quotes

Rosencrantz: Did you ever think of yourself as actually dead, lying in a box with a lid on it?

Guildenstern: No.

Rosencrantz: Nor do I, really. It's silly to be depressed by it. I mean, one thinks of it like being alive in a box. One keeps forgetting to take into account the fact that one is dead, which should make all the difference, shouldn't it? I mean, you'd never *know* you were in a box, would you? It would be just like you were asleep in a box. Not that I'd like to sleep in a box, mind you. Not without any air. You'd wake up dead for a start, and then where would you be? In a box. That's the bit I don't like, frankly. That's why I don't think of it. Because you'd be helpless, wouldn't you? Stuffed in a box like that. I mean, you'd be in there forever, even taking into account the fact that you're dead. It isn't a pleasant thought. Especially if you're dead, really. Ask yourself, if I asked you straight off, "I'm going to stuff you in this box. Now, would you rather be alive or dead?" naturally, you'd prefer to be alive. Life in a box is better than no life at all, I expect. You'd have a chance, at least. You could lie there thinking, "Well, at least I'm not dead. In a minute somebody is going to bang on the lid, and tell me to come out."
[bangs on lid]

Rosencrantz: "Hey you! What's your name? Come out of there!"

Guildenstern: [long pause] I think I'm going to kill you.

(from Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead)

01 January 2008

USA Anniversaries - January 2008

If folks are interested, I'll try to post these each month. All the birthdays are listed, but only "major" anniversaries (i.e., ends in 0 or 5) are included.

(number of years/day in January 2008)

Birthdays:

  • 87/9: Archbishop George Hamilton Pearce, S. M., Emeritus of Suva, Fiji, Pacific (Oceania) (born in Brighton, MA)
  • 85/7: Archbishop Joseph Thomas Dimino, Emeritus of the USA Military
  • 84/24: Bishop William Jerome McCormack, Auxiliary Emeritus of New York
  • 81/12: Archbishop Francis Thomas Hurley, Emeritus of Anchorage, AK
  • 79/17: Bishop George Otto Wirz, Auxiliary Emeritus of Madison, WI
  • 78/21: Bishop John Patrick Boles, Auxiliary Emeritus of Boston, MA
  • 78/26: Bishop Thomas John Gumbleton, Auxiliary Emeritus of Detroit, MI
  • 77/25: Archbishop Joseph Anthony Fiorenza, Emeritus of Galveston-Houston, TX
  • 76/19: Bishop John Joseph Nevins, Emeritus of Venice, FL
  • 75/9: Father Edmund F. McCaffrey, O.S.B., Abbot Emeritus of Belmont-Mary Help of Christians, NC
  • 75/17: Bishop Michael Angelo Saltarelli, Wilmington, DE
  • 74/9: Bishop Francis Xavier Irwin, Auxiliary of Boston, MA
  • 74/12: Bishop Edmond Carmody, Corpus Christi, TX
  • 74/17: Archbishop Alexander Joseph Brunett, Seattle, WA
  • 71/16: Francis Eugene Cardinal George, O.M.I., Archbishop of Chicago, IL
  • 69/26: Archbishop Cyrille Salim Bustros, S.M.S.P., Bishop of Newton (Our Lady of the Annunciation in Boston) (Melkite)
  • 68/11: Bishop Gerald Nicholas Dino, Van Nuys (Ruthenian), CA
  • 65/17: Bishop Thomas John Curry, Auxiliary of Los Angeles, CA
  • 65/25: Bishop Daniel Thomas Turley Murphy, O.S.A., Chulucanas, Peru (born in Chicago, IL)
  • 64/18: Bishop William Francis Malooly, Auxiliary of Baltimore, MA
  • 61/17: Bishop David Raymond Choby, Nashville, TN
  • 61/21: Bishop Thomas James Olmsted, Phoenix, AZ
  • 58/4: Bishop Gerald Michael Barbarito, Palm Beach, FL
  • 49/21: Bishop Miguel Romano Gómez, Auxiliary of Guadalajara, México (born in El Paso, TX)

Ordination to the Priesthood:

  • 55/24: Bishop John Stephen Cummins, Emeritus of Oakland, CA
  • 50/6: Bishop George Edward Rueger, Auxiliary Emeritus of Worcester, MA
  • 20/30: Bishop Daniel Ernest Flores, Auxiliary of Detroit, MI

Consecration as a Bishop:

  • 35/28: Bishop Joseph Lawson Howze, Emeritus of Biloxi, MS
  • The following 3 were consecrated in the same ceremony:

    • 25/27: Bishop Patrick Ronald Cooney, Gaylord, MI
    • 25/27: Bishop Moses Bosco Anderson, S.S.E., Auxiliary Emeritus of Detroit, MI
    • 25/27: Bishop Dale Joseph Melczek, Gary, IN

  • 20/25: Bishop John Mortimer Fourette Smith, Trenton, NJ
  • 15/6: Archbishop Henry Joseph Mansell, Hartford, CT
  • 10/21: Bishop Gerald Eugene Wilkerson, Auxiliary of Los Angeles, CA
  • 10/27: Bishop James Albert Murray, Kalamazoo, MI
  • 10/28: Bishop Richard John Garcia, Monterey in California
  • 5/30: Bishop Ignatius Chung Wang, Auxiliary of San Francisco, CA


Ad Multos Annos!