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.