Province Overviews: A Few Notes

Now that I've got several of the overviews posted and I've got a few questions about them, it seems like a good time to pause and provide some background about how I am doing the analysis.

First, I am not using some magical "inside information". I have no solid information about any future resignations or appointments until they are announced in Rome. However, I have been studying the comings and goings of bishops - especially in the USA - for over 10 years (mostly relating to my Catholic-Hierarchy project).

There are a lot of common factors - some canonical - others practical - that go into selecting candidates for a diocese.

It should also be noted that Pope Benedict XVI has been reigning for less than 3 years. He may, over time, develop substantially different patterns than his predecessor. Only time will tell.

I should also note that I in no way am suggesting that any bishop is seeking to move to another position when I indicate I think it might happen. Few if any Bishops desire to leave their current flock - but if the Pope asks them to take a different role - they must seriously consider it.

So let me summarize how I do the analysis (and in no particular order).

• Vacant sees are the highest priority (i.e., they often get attention before replacing a healthy ordinary that is past 75)
  
• The normal retirement age for a bishop is 75. Upon that age he is asked to submit his retirement, which can be accepted (or not) by the Holy Father at his leisure.
  
• Cardinals are often kept as ordinaries past 75 - but rarely past 80.
  
• Bishops that are asked to take a new post are often sent back to the region, if not the diocese, that they started out in.
  
• Coadjutors typically serve 6 to 18 months before the previous ordinary retires.
  
• Vacant dioceses typically take 6 to 18 months to fill.
  
• Once over the age of 67 or so, few bishops are considered for new posts.
  
• Auxiliary Bishops, if they are considered for other roles, typically have 6 to 8 years of experience as an Auxiliary. But those that have 10 to 12 years of experience or more are rarely considered.
  
• Auxiliary Bishops that were priests in the same diocese are less likely to be considered (except as the ordinary of that diocese).
  
• Priests that are considered for a post often have some connection to Rome. (Perhaps studied there as a seminarian, got an advanced degree there, or worked in some small way in the Roman Curia.)
  
• Also priests that have some seminary background (Rector or other administrative experience, or as a professor) are more likely to be candidates.
  

The most important thing to note about the above - they are _only_ talking about generalities and patterns. I can cite modern examples which contradict every single one of them.

Ok, that's enough for now. I hope that makes some sense and helps to explain the various overviews I have written and the ones I will be writing.

Overview: Province of Kentucky and Tennessee

This province is composed of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Louisville, Kentucky along with the suffragan Dioceses of: Covington, Kentucky; Knoxville, Tennessee; Lexington, Kentucky; Memphis, Tennessee; Nashville, Tennessee; and Owensboro, Kentucky.

Archbishop Joseph Edward Kurtz (61) became the ordinary of the Archdiocese of Louisville this past summer.

The Diocese of Covington, Kentucky is led by Bishop Roger Joseph Foys (62) who has been in that post for over 5 years.

The Diocese of Knoxville has been vacant since Archbishop Kurtz was moved to Louisville. Hopefully a new ordinary will be named in the coming year.

Bishop Ronald William Gainer (60) is the Bishop of Lexington. He has been in place for about 5 years.

The Diocese of Memphis, Tennessee is headed by Bishop James Terry Steib, S.V.D. (67). He will celebrate 41 years as a priest in about a week. He has been serving as ordinary here for almost 15 years.

Bishop David Raymond Choby is serving as Bishop of Nashville for about 2 years and he turns 61 in a few weeks.

The Diocese of Owensboro, Kentucky is led by Bishop John Jeremiah McRaith (73). He recently celebrated 25 years as a bishop.

Overall this province is not likely to see many changes with the obvious exception of Knoxville which will hopefully receive her new ordinary in the coming year. In a couple of years bishop McRaith will be reaching the normal retirement age. In addition, soon after that, a couple of the ordinaries will be approaching the age and time as bishop that makes them more likely to be candidates for other posts.

Overview: Province of S California

This province is composed of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles (the metropolitan) and its five suffragan Dioceses: Fresno, Monterey, Orange, San Bernardino, and San Diego; all in the state of California.

The Archdiocese of Los Angeles is led by Roger Michael Cardinal Mahony (71). He has been in this post for 22 years. There are currently 6 active auxiliaries for the Archdiocese. They range in age from 54 to 68 and there time as a bishop ranges from 3 years to almost 14. Only two seem to be in the right range for a possible appointment to another post, Clark and Wilkerson.

Bishop John Thomas Steinbock (70) is the ordinary of the Diocese of Fresno. He has been in that post for 16 years. No change seems likely here before his retirement - which is still several years away.

The Diocese of Monterey in California is headed by Bishop Richard John Garcia (60). He has been in place just about a year.

Bishop Tod David Brown (71) is the Bishop of Orange in California. He has held that post 9 years. The Diocese also has an auxiliary who has been in place for 4 years. In a few more years, he may well be a candidate for another post.

The Diocese of San Bernardino has as its ordinary Bishop Gerald Richard Barnes (62). He celebrated his 32nd anniversary of priestly ordination about 10 days ago. The Diocese also has a fairly new auxiliary (2 years).

Bishop Robert Henry Brom (69) is the leader of the Diocese of San Diego. The Diocese also has an auxiliary that has been in place for 5 years.

Overall, this province is not likely to see any changes to the hierarchy in the coming year or two. But in about 5 years, you will have the metropolitan and 3 of the 5 suffragan Bishops at (or very near) the retirement age.

Overview: Province of Kansas

The province of Kansas is composed of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas and is 3 suffragan Dioceses: Dodge City, Salina, and Wichita.

This is my home province (I live in the Archdiocese) - but I'll try to be impartial :-)

Archbishop Joseph Fred Naumann (58) has been serving as Archbishop of Kansas City in Kansas for almost 3 years (anniversary is in January). I would not anticipate any change for at least several more years.

The Diocese of Dodge City is led by Bishop Ronald Michael Gilmore (65). In the summer of the coming year he will celebrate 10 years as a bishop.

Bishop Paul Stagg Coakley (52) is the ordinary of the Diocese of Salina. Yesterday was his 3rd anniversary of consecration as a bishop.

The Diocese of Wichita is headed by Bishop Michael Owen Jackels (53). He has been in this post for almost 3 years.

In the last 4 years, every jurisdiction in the province, except 1 (Dodge City) has received a new ordinary. It is unlikely that there will be any hierarchy changes in the coming year - or for the next several.

Overview: Province of Indiana

The province is composed of the metropolitan, the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, and 4 suffragan Dioceses, namely: Evansville, Fort Wayne-South Bend, Gary, and Lafayette; all in Indiana.

Archbishop Daniel Mark Buechlein, O.S.B. (69) is the ordinary of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. He has held the post for over 15 years.

The Diocese of Evansville is led by Bishop Gerald Andrew Gettelfinger (72). He has been serving as the ordinary for over 18 years.

Bishop John Michael D'Arcy (75) is the ordinary of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend. He will celebrate 51 years as a priest this coming February. His retirement and the naming of a replacement are likely in the coming year.

The Diocese of Gary is led by Bishop Dale Joseph Melczek (69). He will celebrate his 25th anniversary of consecration as a bishop in about a month.

Bishop William Leo Higi (74) is the head of the Diocese of Lafayette in Indiana. While he reaches the normal retirement age of 75 at the end of August of the coming year, with the current backlog his retirement and the naming of a replacement may be delayed until the coming year has passed.

This province hasn't seen a change in its hierarchy in over a decade. But every single ordinary will very likely retire in the next decade - beginning with Bishops D'Arcy (probably this coming year) and Higi (probably the year after that).

Overview: Province of Connecticut and Rhode Island

This province is made up of the metropolitan, the Archdiocese of Hartford, and the suffragan Dioceses of Bridgeport, Norwich, and Providence. Everything is in the state of Connecticut with the exception of Providence which covers the state of Rhode Island.

Archbishop Henry Joseph Mansell (70) is the ordinary of the Archdiocese of Hartford, Connecticut. He will celebrate the 15th anniversary of his consecration as a bishop in about a week.

The Diocese of Bridgeport, Connecticut is led by Bishop William Edward Lori (56). Of his 3 predecessors, 2 were named to other posts - a fate which may befall Bishop Lori as well. If so, the next year or two would be a likely time for it to occur.

Bishop Michael Richard Cote (58) is the leader of the Diocese of Norwich, Connecticut. He has been in place for almost 5 years. He may also become a candidate for other dioceses, but probably not this year.

The Diocese of Providence, Rhode Island is headed by Bishop Thomas Joseph Tobin (59). He celebrated 15 years as a bishop last Thursday.

Overall, this province is not likely to see any changes in the coming year - the one possible exception is if Bishop Lori is promoted to another post.

Overview: Province of SE Texas

This province, the newest in the USA, has seen a lot in its 3 years of existence (the anniversary is Saturday). The metropolitan is the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston with the following suffragans: Austin, Beaumont, Brownsville, Corpus Christi, Tyler, and Victoria; all in the state of Texas.

Daniel Nicholas Cardinal DiNardo (58), the newest Cardinal in the USA (just over a month), serves as the Archbishop of Galveston-Houston. He has been the ordinary for less than 2 years.

The Diocese of Austin is led by Bishop Gregory Michael Aymond (58). He has been in that post for almost 7 years (the anniversary is next week). His age and time in his current post suggests that he may be a candidate for another diocese in the coming year. By chance, the ordinary of his home diocese (New Orleans) just recently passed the normal retirement age.

Bishop Curtis John Guillory, S.V.D. (64) is the leader of the Diocese of Beaumont. He celebrated 35 years as a priest earlier this month and will celebrate 20 years as a bishop in February. His age and time in post also suggests that he might be a candidate for other dioceses.

The Diocese of Brownsville has Bishop Raymundo Joseph Peña (73) as its ordinary. He recently celebrated 31 years as a bishop and 50 years as a priest.

Bishop Edmond Carmody is the ordinary of the Diocese of Corpus Christi - and he celebrates his 74th birthday in about a fortnight.

The Diocese of Tyler is led by Bishop Alvaro Corrada del Rio, S.J. (65). He has been in his current post for roughly 8 years. If he were to be moved to another diocese, it would likely be sooner than later.

Bishop David Eugene Fellhauer (68) is the head of the Diocese of Victoria in Texas. He is just the 2nd ordinary of this diocese and he's likely to remain here.

Overall the province has seen an amazing amount of changes in the last decade. And while the coming year may not see many changes, there are 2 dioceses that will need bishops in the next couple of years. There is also the possibility that one or more of the current ordinaries will be promoted to other posts.

Overview: Province of Iowa

This province is composed of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Dubuque and its 3 suffragan Dioceses: Davenport, Des Moines, and Sioux City; all in the state of Iowa.

Archbishop Jerome George Hanus, O.S.B. (67) has been serving as the ordinary of the Archdiocese of Dubuque for over 12 years. Only one of his predecessors was moved to another diocese (Archbishop Binz in 1961) - and there seems little chance of it happening with Archbishop Hanus.

The Diocese of Davenport is led by Bishop Martin John Amos who turned 66 earlier this month. He has been in his current post a bit over one year.

The Diocese of Des Moines is currently vacant after the resignation earlier this year of Bishop Joseph Leo Charron, C.Pp.S. - he turns 68 this coming Sunday.

Bishop Ralph Walker Nickless (60) has been the ordinary of the Diocese of Sioux City for about 2 years now.

Other than the vacant diocese of Des Moines - this province is not likely to see any changes in the coming year - or for several years to come.

Overview: Province of Michigan

This province is composed of the Archdiocese of Detroit (the metropolitan) along with the dioceses of Gaylord, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Marquette, and Saginaw as suffragans, all in the state of Michigan.

Adam Joseph Cardinal Maida (77) is the ordinary for the Archdiocese of Detroit. He has been at that post for over 17 years. While occasionally Cardinals are retained in their see until very close to the age of 80, it seems more likely that Cardinal Maida will retire and a replacement will be named early in the coming year. If my prediction about the next consistory proves accurate, this not-yet-named archbishop might very well receive his red hat in 2010.

The Archdiocese also has 4 active Auxiliary Bishops (Boyea, Flores, Quinn, and Reiss) ranging in age from 46 to 67. The most experienced (Boyea) has been a bishop for 5 years. After a couple more years, several of these auxiliaries would likely be candidates for other dioceses (such as Gaylord and Grand Rapids).

The Diocese of Gaylord is led by Bishop Patrick Ronald Cooney (73). He celebrated 48 years as a priest last week and will celebrate the 25th anniversary of his consecration as a bishop in about a month. He turns 75 in the spring of 2009.

Bishop Walter Allison Hurley (70) is the ordinary of the Diocese of Grand Rapids. He has been in place for a couple of years and will likely remain there until his retirement.

Bishop James Albert Murray (75) is the leader of the Diocese of Kalamazoo. He will celebrate his 10th anniversary of consecration as a bishop in January. I would not be surprized if he retires sometime between then and his 50th anniversary as a priest which he celebrated in June of the coming year.

The Diocese of Lansing is led by Bishop Carl Frederick Mengeling (77). He also celebrates an anniversary (12th) of his consecration as a bishop in January. His retirement and the naming of a replacement seems likely in the coming year.

Bishop Alexander King Sample (47) is the ordinary of the Diocese of Marquette. He, like so many, celebrates an anniversary (his 2nd) of his consecration as a bishop in January. Unlike the previous two mentioned, however, he will likely remain as the ordinary here for quite some time.

Finally, the Diocese of Saginaw is led by Bishop Robert James Carlson (63). His anniversary of consecration also falls in January (24 years). But like Bishop Sample, he will likely remain the ordinary here for many years.

Overall, this province is likely to see some of the biggest changes in the coming year of any province in the USA. Detroit, Kalamazoo, and Lansing are all likely to have retirements and receive new ordinaries.

In several years, Gaylord and Grand Rapids will be in a similar position, although by then some of the Detroit Auxiliaries would become likely candidates for those slots.

Overview: Province of Colorado and Wyoming

This province consists of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Denver, Colorado along with its suffragans, namely: Cheyenne, Wyoming; Colorado Springs, and Pueblo, Colorado.

Archbishop Charles Joseph Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. (63) has been the ordinary for over 10 years. His predecessor, Cardinal Stafford, departed shortly after reaching the 10 year mark for other service in Rome. While that is also a possibility for Archbishop Chaput - as well as the possibility of being appointed to another diocese - nothing is currently expected.

The Diocese of Cheyenne, Wyoming is led by Bishop David Laurin Ricken (55). He celebrates his 8th anniversary of consecration as a bishop in about 10 days. The diocese has not had an ordinary appointed to another diocese since 1911, but Bishop Ricken could break that streak. If that were to happen, it would likely be in the next several years.

Bishop Michael John Sheridan (62) is the head of the Diocese of Colorado Springs. He has been in that position for almost 4 years.

The Diocese of Pueblo, Colorado has Bishop Arthur Nicholas Tafoya as its ordinary. Bishop Tafoya reaches the normal retirement age of 75 in March 2008. Given the current backlog of appointments, his retirement and the naming of a replacement might be delayed. But it is likely to happen in the next year or two.

Overall, this province is not likely to see many changes - with the exception of Pueblo. Although there are a couple of ordinaries that are at an age where they may be candidates for other dioceses.

Random Old Movie Quotes

Nobody expects him be normal; he's a bishop. - Matilda in The Bishop's Wife.

Overview: Province of Ohio

This province consists of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Cincinnati along with its suffragan dioceses, namely: Cleveland, Columbus, Steubenville, Toledo, and Youngstown.

Archbishop Daniel Edward Pilarczyk (73) leads the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Ohio. He reaches the normal retirement age in August 2009. The only change in the coming year that is at all likely would be the appointment of an Auxiliary or perhaps a Coadjutor.

The Diocese of Cleveland is currently led by Bishop Richard Gerard Lennon (60). He served as a priest and then Auxiliary Bishop of Boston before becoming the ordinary here in 2006. He has two Auxiliary Bishops - the youngest turned 70 this year.

Bishop Frederick Francis Campbell (64) is the ordinary of the Diocese of Columbus. He has been in place about 3 years.

The Diocese of Steubenville is headed by Bishop Robert Daniel Conlon who turned 59 earlier this month. While the diocese has never had an ordinary appointed to another diocese, he might be the first. He might be a candidate for Cincinnati in a couple of years.

Bishop Leonard Paul Blair leads the Diocese of Toledo. He celebrated his 58th birthday early this month also. He has been in this post for a bit over 4 years now. He might also be a candidate for Cincinnati when the time comes.

The Diocese of Youngstown had Bishop George Vance Murry, S.J. as the ordinary. He turns 59 later this week having been in this post since early this year.

Overall this province seems likely to be quite stable for the coming year. However in a few years, there will likely be several adjustments as Archbishop Pilarczyk retires and one or more of the suffragan bishops are named to other positions.

Overview: Province of Illinois

The province consists of the metropolitan, the Archdiocese of Chicago, and the following suffragan dioceses: Belleville, Joliet in Illinois, Peoria, Rockford, and Springfield in Illinois.

The Archdiocese of Chicago, Illinois is led by Francis Eugene Cardinal George, O.M.I. who turns 71 in mid-January. It also has 6 Auxiliary Bishops ranging in age from 51 to 65 (plus an additional 4 retired Auxiliaries). Many of the 6 will likely be candidates for other appointments around the USA.

Bishop Edward Kenneth Braxton (63) is the ordinary of the Diocese of Belleville. Although the last two ordinaries of this diocese become Archbishops elsewhere, they were younger upon becoming the ordinary here. If the same fate befalls Bishop Braxton, it will likely not be for several more years.

The Diocese of Joliet is headed by Bishop James Peter Sartain (55). This diocese has never had an ordinary appointed to another diocese, but Bishop Sartain could well be the first. However, given his short tenure of about a year and a half, it would not be for many years.

Bishop Daniel Robert Jenky, C.S.C. (60), Bishop of Peoria, celebrated his 10th anniversary of consecration as a bishop just over a week ago. He is approaching the age and time in post where he seems a likely candidate for another appointment in the next few years.

The Diocese of Rockford is led by Bishop Thomas George Doran (71) who celebrated 46 years as a priest last week.

Bishop George Joseph Lucas (58) is the ordinary of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. He celebrated his 8th anniversary of consecration to a bishop less than a fortnight ago. While no previous ordinary has been appointed elsewhere, he seems more likely to be the first - perhaps in the coming year or two.

Overall this province seems quite stable at the moment. However, it has a number of ordinaries and auxiliaries that are likely to be considered for other appointments in the coming years.

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.

Overview: Province of Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia

The province's metropolitan is Baltimore with suffragans in Arlington, Richmond, Wheeling-Charleston, and Wilmington.

Archbishop Edwin Frederick O'Brien (68) is the new head of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Maryland, having been named to that post this past summer. He is likely to be named a Cardinal eventually, but probably not until after Cardinal Keeler turns 80 in 2011 (thus loses his right to vote if a conclave were needed).

The diocese of Arlington, Virginia is lead by Bishop Paul Stephen Loverde (67). He celebrated his 42nd anniversary of ordination to the priesthood last week.

Bishop Francis Xavier DiLorenzo (65) is the ordinary of the Diocese of Richmond, Virginia. He will celebrate his 20th anniversary of consecration as a bishop in March. He has served in two other dioceses (Scranton and Honolulu) before arriving here. The diocese has not had an ordinary move onto another diocese since then-Bishop (later Cardinal) James Gibbons in 1877. If Bishop DiLorenzo were to break that trend, it would likely be in the next year or two.

Wheeling-Charleston, West Virginia has been headed by Bishop Michael Joseph Bransfield (64) for about 3 years.

Bishop Michael Angelo Saltarelli, Bishop of Wilmington, Delaware, turns 75 in January. His retirement and replacement should be anticipated in the next year or two.

This province celebrates a major milestone in the coming year, the 200th anniversary of the creation of the first province in the United States. The Diocese of Baltimore was created in 1789 (it had been the Prefecture Apostolic of United States of America for the previous 5 years).

On 8 April 1808, the diocese was split into the Archdiocese of Baltimore and the suffragan dioceses of Bardstown (later changed its name to Louisville), Boston, New York, and Philadelphia.

Overview: Province of Georgia, North Carolina, & South Carolina

The metropolitan is the Archdiocese of Atlanta with Charleston, Charlotte, Raleigh, and Savannah as suffragan dioceses.

Archbishop Wilton Daniel Gregory (60), Archbishop of Atlanta, Georgia, celebrated his 24th anniversary of his consecration as a bishop just 10 days ago. He has been in his current post for about 3 years. Until the most recent past-Archbishop (John Francis Donoghue), the see had an unfortunate history of ordinaries dying rather young. God willing, that tradition has been broken.

The diocese of Charleston, South Carolina is currently vacant after Bishop Robert Joseph Baker was named Bishop of Birmingham, Alabama in August of this year.

Charlotte, North Carolina is presided over by Bishop Peter Joseph Jugis (50) for a little over 4 years now. He is the 4th ordinary and by far the youngest. In several years he may be one to watch for another appointment. Although having also served as a priest in this diocese makes that a bit less likely.

Bishop Michael Francis Burbidge (50) is serving as Bishop of Raleigh, North Carolina. He has been in that post for about a year and a half. He seems a likely candidate for another appointment, but not for several years.

The diocese of Savannah, Georgia is lead by Bishop John Kevin Boland (72).

This province, with the obvious exception of Charleston, is likely to see little change in the Hierarchy until around 2011. But at that point, it would not be surprizing for several of the dioceses to change hands over the period of a year or two.

Overview: Province of Alaska

The province of Alaska has Anchorage as the metropolitan with Fairbanks and Juneau as Suffragans.

Archbishop Roger Lawrence Schwietz, O.M.I. (67) just celebrated 40 years as a priest last Thursday. It seems likely that he will remain in his current post.

Bishop Donald Joseph Kettler (63) has been serving as Bishop of Fairbanks for over 5 years. He is the diocese's 8th ordinary and none of them have been transferred. If Bishop Kettler were to be the first it would likely be in the next year or two. But there is no indication that he'll break the trend.

The diocese of Juneau recently became vacant as Bishop Michael William Warfel was named Bishop of Great Falls-Billings, Montana last month. Hopefully a replacement will be named in the coming year, but given the current backlog, 2009 seems more likely.

A Look Ahead - 2008 in the USA Hierarchy

As the year wraps up, it seems a good time to take a look ahead at what changes in the Catholic hierarchy in the USA might be anticipated in the coming year.

First, there are 2 Cardinals currently past the normal retirement age of 75. Cardinal Egan (Archbishop of New York) turned 75 in April of this year. It seems likely that he will remain as the ordinary for another year or two. Cardinal Maida (Archbishop of Detroit), however, turns 78 in just a few months. It seems likely that he will retire and a replacement will be named in the coming year.

There are 10 other ordinaries already over 75 and another 6 that reach that age in the coming year. First, the archbishops:

• Elden Francis Curtiss: Omaha, Nebraska
  
• Harry Joseph Flynn: Saint Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota
  (Coadjutor: John Clayton Nienstedt)
  
• Alfred Clifton Hughes: New Orleans, Louisiana
  
• Oscar Hugh Lipscomb: Mobile, Alabama
  

Next, the bishops:

• Manuel Batakian, I.C.P.B.: Our Lady of Nareg in New York (Armenian)
  
• Edward Peter Cullen: Allentown, Pennsylvania
  
• John Michael D'Arcy: Fort Wayne-South Bend, Indiana
  
• Bernard Joseph Harrington: Winona, Minnesota
  
• William Leo Higi: Lafayette in Indiana
  
• John Joseph Leibrecht: Springfield-Cape Girardeau, Missouri
  
• Carl Frederick Mengeling: Lansing, Michigan
  
• James Michael Moynihan: Syracuse, New York
  
• James Albert Murray: Kalamazoo, Michigan
  
• Michael Angelo Saltarelli: Wilmington, Delaware
  
• Arthur Nicholas Tafoya: Pueblo, Colorado
  
• John Walter Yanta: Amarillo, Texas
  

In addition, there are 9 dioceses that are already vacant, namely:

• Charleston, South Carolina
  
• Des Moines, Iowa
  
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
  
• Juneau, Alaska
  
• Knoxville, Tennessee
  
• Little Rock, Arkansas
  
• New Ulm, Minnesota
  
• Saint Thomas, American Virgin Islands
  
• Shreveport, Louisiana
  

It should be expected that many if not most of those on the three lists above will receive new ordinaries in the coming year.

Over the coming weeks, I hope to do an overview of each province of the USA. You may also find the two web pages below useful (both are frequently updated):
Active Bishops Near Age Limit (USA) and Currently Vacant Dioceses (USA)

The Next Consistory to Create Cardinals

While it is far too early to discern a reasonable pattern in consistory timing - it would be down right boring not to guess anyway. So here goes.

First, some background: there have only been 2 under Pope Benedict XVI so far. One in 2006 and one in 2007.

On 24 March 2006, 12 new cardinal electors were created along with 3 non-voting cardinals. (Summary of the consistory is here.) This brought the total number of cardinal electors to 120.

On 24 November 2007, 18 new cardinal electors were created along with 5 non-voting cardinals. (Summary of the consistory is here.) In addition, Pope Benedict XVI indicating that he had intended to name a 6th non-voting cardinal, but that he had died shortly before the announcement.

It should also be noted that Pope Benedict XVI indicated his intention to abrogate the 120 limit by one at the announcement of the last consistory. But the death of Cardinal Hamao occurred between the announcement and the consistory itself. Thus with the new electors, the total stands at 120 electors.

The 2 consistories were 20 months apart. If he holds to that timing, the next one would be roughly summer of 2009.

But if Pope Benedict XVI continues to try to hold to roughly 120 cardinal electors, there simply won't be many slots available at that time. That is why I don't think there will be another consistory (assuming B16 remains in good health) until 2010.

Assuming no one dies, next year (2008) 3 cardinal elector spots open up. In 2009, an additional 4 slots open up. But, if there was a consistory in late summer 2009, there would only be 6 slots available.

That changes in 2010, with 11 additional slots opening. To break it down a bit more, by the end of March, 2010 - there would be a total of 11 slots open. But by the end of 2010, that reaches 18 total slots available.

So, that's why I'm predicting the next consistory will be held in 2010, sometime after the end of March. A mid-summer or fall consistory seems most likely. And if I had to be more specific, the last week of November seems like a good time.

An Introduction

So why yet another blog and what will you write about?

Yes, I've already got one blog (although its not a blog in the traditional sense) and several websites. But hopefully this will provide a place for rambings which don't fit into the other frameworks.

It will mostly things that are related to Catholicism - including some overviews relating to the Catholic Hierarchy, especially in the US. I hope to also mention various things relating to liturgy, the wider culture, and whatever else seems interesting at the time.