20 December 2009

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. (65) is the Archbishop of Boston. The Archdiocese also has 4 active Auxiliary Bishops. Bishop Emilio Simeon Alluè, S.D.B. turns 75 in February and will likely retire in the coming year. The others are Bishop John Anthony Dooher (66), Bishop Walter James Edyvean (71), and Bishop Robert Francis Hennessey (57). None of those are likely to be offered other posts in the next year or two.

Bishop Salvatore Ronald Matano (63) is the ordinary for the Diocese of Burlington, Vermont. While he might be a candidate for another appointment eventually, it is likely a few years away.

The Diocese of Fall River, Massachusetts is lead by Bishop George William Coleman (70). He also celebrated an anniversary (his 45rd) of priestly ordination last week. Unlike his two predecessors, he is likely to remain in Fall River.

Bishop John Brendan McCormack, the head of the Diocese of Manchester, New Hampshire, turns 75 this coming August. In February he will also celebrate 50 years as a priest. His retirement and the naming of a replacement are likely to occur in the next year or so.

The diocese also has Bishop Francis Joseph Christian (67) as an Auxiliary Bishop. He would have to be considered a likely candidate for the post of Bishop McCormack.

The Diocese of Portland, Maine is headed by Bishop Richard Joseph Malone (63). He will celebrate his 10th anniversary of being consecrated a bishop in March. Like Bishop Matano, he might eventually be a candidate for another appointment.

Bishop Timothy Anthony McDonnell is the ordinary of the Diocese of Springfield, Massachusetts and this coming Wednesday is his 72nd birthday. 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 (58). He seems a likely candidate for another appointment in the next year or two.

This province is likely to see a new ordinary for Manchester and could easily lose one or two of its bishops to other posts in the next year or two.

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