The province of Alaska has Anchorage as the metropolitan with Fairbanks and Juneau as Suffragans.
Archbishop Roger Lawrence Schwietz, O.M.I. (69) recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of being named a bishop. It seems likely that he will remain in his current post.
Bishop Donald Joseph Kettler (65) has been serving as Bishop of Fairbanks for over 7 years. He is the diocese's 8th ordinary and none of them were 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 received Bishop Edward James Burns as its new bishop in early 2009.
With the possible exception of Fairbanks, this province is not likely to see any changes in its hierarchy in the next year or two.
20 December 2009
Province Overviews
My last set of province overviews were written in late 2007 through early 2008. If time permits I will be writting a new set in the coming weeks.
I'll point out a post I wrote explaining some of my thinking about the overviews for those that are interested.
I should also note that I still stand by my prediction of a consistory to create cardinals in the coming year.
I'll point out a post I wrote explaining some of my thinking about the overviews for those that are interested.
I should also note that I still stand by my prediction of a consistory to create cardinals in the coming year.
12 December 2009
Remarkable Consistory of 1583
Four hundred and twenty six years ago, on this very day, the pope held a consistory to create cardinals. It is doubtful that anyone that day could have foreseen the future events that would make it so remarkable.
The Pope was Gregory XIII and it was the twelth year of his reign. He had not held a consistory to create new cardinals in almost five years. He was less than a month from his 82nd birthday.
That day he named 19 new Cardinals. It was a typical collection of Cardinals for that era: many from Italy, but also some from France, Spain, and elsewhere. Many were Archbishops or Bishops. Three were a mere 21 years of age on that day. The oldest was just 9 years younger than the pope himself.
What makes this consistory so remarkable is four of those named cardinals that day: Giovanni Battista Castagna, Niccolò Sfondrati, Giovanni Antonio Facchinetti de Nuce, and Alessandro Ottaviano de' Medici. They are more commonly known as: Popes Urban VII, Gregory XIV, Innocent IX, and Leo XI, respectively.
No other consistory in at least the last 500 years has yielded four future popes.
Pope Gregory XIII died less than a year and a half after this consistory, but his successor was not one of these four. Instead Pope Sixtus V was elected (he was created a cardinal by Pope Pius V, Gregory's predecessor).
He was followed by Pope Urban VII, the first of the four. But he died less than a fortnight after his election.
Another of the four, Pope Gregory XIV was next. His reign lasted almost a year, quite short, but the longest of the four.
Pope Innocent IX was the next to be elected. He too had a short papacy - his death was just two months and a day after his election.
The next pope was not from our remarkable consistory, instead he was created a cardinal by Pope Gregory's immediate successor. Pope Clement VIII reigned for 13 years.
Upon his passing, the last of our four was elected. Pope Leo XI was elected on 1 April 1605 and died on the 27th of the same month.
And that is the remarkable consistory of 1583. Four future popes were created cardinals that day ... but their combined total time in the papacy was a little less than 15 months. Oddly enough, the pope who called the consistory, Pope Gregory XIII, only lived a bit under 16 more months.
The Pope was Gregory XIII and it was the twelth year of his reign. He had not held a consistory to create new cardinals in almost five years. He was less than a month from his 82nd birthday.
That day he named 19 new Cardinals. It was a typical collection of Cardinals for that era: many from Italy, but also some from France, Spain, and elsewhere. Many were Archbishops or Bishops. Three were a mere 21 years of age on that day. The oldest was just 9 years younger than the pope himself.
What makes this consistory so remarkable is four of those named cardinals that day: Giovanni Battista Castagna, Niccolò Sfondrati, Giovanni Antonio Facchinetti de Nuce, and Alessandro Ottaviano de' Medici. They are more commonly known as: Popes Urban VII, Gregory XIV, Innocent IX, and Leo XI, respectively.
No other consistory in at least the last 500 years has yielded four future popes.
Pope Gregory XIII died less than a year and a half after this consistory, but his successor was not one of these four. Instead Pope Sixtus V was elected (he was created a cardinal by Pope Pius V, Gregory's predecessor).
He was followed by Pope Urban VII, the first of the four. But he died less than a fortnight after his election.
Another of the four, Pope Gregory XIV was next. His reign lasted almost a year, quite short, but the longest of the four.
Pope Innocent IX was the next to be elected. He too had a short papacy - his death was just two months and a day after his election.
The next pope was not from our remarkable consistory, instead he was created a cardinal by Pope Gregory's immediate successor. Pope Clement VIII reigned for 13 years.
Upon his passing, the last of our four was elected. Pope Leo XI was elected on 1 April 1605 and died on the 27th of the same month.
And that is the remarkable consistory of 1583. Four future popes were created cardinals that day ... but their combined total time in the papacy was a little less than 15 months. Oddly enough, the pope who called the consistory, Pope Gregory XIII, only lived a bit under 16 more months.
07 October 2009
06 August 2009
Pre-Pope John Paul II Bishops
Bishop Joseph Willy Romélus (of Jérémie, Haïti) recently retired after 32 years of service in that post - he had been named by Pope Paul VI on 26 Apr 1977.
Which brings up the question: How many active bishops were appointed to their current post before Pope John Paul II became Pope?
The answer isForty One (now 36) ordinaries and Six (now 5) auxiliary bishops.
The ordinaries are: (Date of Appointment, Date of Birth, Name, Title)
Bishop Joseph Dao was named by Pope John Paul I.
All of the others were named by Pope Paul VI.
You'll notice that many of them are at or near the retirement age. Before they do retire, let us take a moment to thank them for their many years of service!
Note: the original list accidentally excluded several bishops whose jurisdictions had either changed names or were elevated while they have been the ordinary.
(revised 14 Nov 2009)
Which brings up the question: How many active bishops were appointed to their current post before Pope John Paul II became Pope?
The answer is
The ordinaries are: (Date of Appointment, Date of Birth, Name, Title)
- 24 Mar 1944, 12 Oct 1906, Bishop Francis Hong Yong-ho of P’yong-yang, Korea (South)
(Originally named Vicar Apostolic, Elevated to Bishop on 10 Mar 1962)
- 23 May 1966, 12 Apr 1919, Archbishop Hovhannes Tcholakian of Istanbul (Armenian), Turkey
- 13 Jul 1967, 26 Oct 1930, Bishop Joseph B. Willigers, M.H.M. of Jinja, Uganda
- 26 Jun 1970, 3 Oct 1933, Bishop Gonzalo López Marañon, O.C.D. of San Miguel de Sucumbíos, Ecuador
(Originally named Prefect, Elevated to Vicar Apostolic on 2 Jul 1984)
- 30 Jul 1972, 17 Apr 1935, Bishop Michael Patrick Olatunji Fagun of Ekiti, Nigeria
- 13 Apr 1973, 16 Jun 1936, Anthony Olubunmi Cardinal Okogie, Archbishop of Lagos, Nigeria
(Elevated to Cardinal on 21 Oct 2003)
- 13 Apr 1973, Nov 1934, Bishop Julius Babatunde Adelakun of Oyo, Nigeria
- 25 Jun 1973, 11 Dec 1936, Archbishop Nikólaos Fóscolos of Athenai {Athens}, Greece
- 26 Nov 1973, 7 May 1937, Bishop Nestorius Timanywa of Bukoba, Tanzania
24 Jan 1974, 29 Dec 1937, Bishop Joseph Bolangi Egwanga Ediba Tasame of Budjala, Congo (Dem. Rep.)
Resigned on 22 Oct 2009
- 1 May 1974, 15 Mar 1939, Archbishop Hanna Zora of Archbishop of Ahwaz (Chaldean), Iran
- 27 Jun 1974, 5 Dec 1936, Bishop Franghískos Papamanólis, O.F.M. Cap. of Syros e Milos and Santorini {Thira}, Greece
- 1 Jul 1974, 13 Oct 1933, Bishop Erwin Hecht, O.M.I. of Kimberley, South Africa
- 7 Sep 1974, 1935, Bishop Faustin Ngabu of Goma, Congo (Dem. Rep.)
(Named Coadjutor 24 Apr 1974, Succeeded to the See on 7 Sep 1974)
- 5 Oct 1974, 24 Jun 1938, Archbishop Felix Alaba Adeosin Job of Ibadan, Nigeria
(Originally named Bishop, Elevated to Archbishop on 26 Mar 1994)
- 12 Dec 1974, Sep 1937, Archbishop Anselme Titianma Sanon of Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
(Originally named Bishop, Elevated to Archbishop on 5 Dec 2000)
- 25 Apr 1975, 20 Jul 1931, Bishop Paul Nguyên Van Hòa of Nha Trang, Viêt Nam
2 Oct 1975, 19 Jan 1933, Bishop George Yod Phimphisan, C.SS.R. of Udon Thani, Thailand
Retired 14 Nov 2009
- 2 Oct 1975, 10 Oct 1935, Bishop Joseph Devellerez Thaung Shwe of Pyay, Myanmar
(Original name of diocese: Prome)
- 20 Nov 1975, 10 May 1942, Bishop Gilbert Guillaume Marie-Jean Aubry of Saint-Denis-de-La Réunion
- 4 Mar 1976, 25 Sep 1933, Bishop Ulises Aurelio Casiano Vargas of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
- 10 Apr 1976, 28 Apr 1933, Archbishop Petero Mataca of Suva, Fiji, Pacific (Oceania)
- 31 May 1976, 1 Mar 1935, Bishop Francis Folorunsho Clement Alonge of Ondo, Nigeria
- 28 Oct 1976, 12 Feb 1936, Archbishop Michael Kpakala Francis of Monrovia, Liberia
(Originally named Vicar Apostolic, Elevated to Archbishop on 19 Dec 1981)
- 3 Dec 1976, 26 Nov 1936, Archbishop Jaime Pedro Gonçalves of Beira, Mozambique
(Named Coadjutor 19 Dec 1975, Succeeded to the See on 3 Dec 1976, elevated to Archbishop on 4 Jun 1984)
9 Dec 1976, 12 Dec 1937, Bishop John Mulagada of Eluru, India
Died 15 Aug 2009
- 1 Feb 1977, 31 Oct 1938, Bishop Howard James Hubbard of Albany, New York, USA
- 26 Feb 1977, 5 Aug 1937, Archbishop Hieronymus Herculanus Bumbun, O.F.M. Cap. of Pontianak, Indonesia
26 Feb 1977, 15 May 1933, Bishop Gratian Mundadan, C.M.I. of Bijnor (Syro-Malabarese), India
Retired 14 Aug 2009
- 26 Feb 1977, 13 Sep 1936, Bishop George Punnakottil of Kothamangalam (Syro-Malabarese), India
- 26 Feb 1977, 25 Sep 1940, Bishop Jean-Claude Bouchard, O.M.I. of Pala, Chad
- 4 Mar 1977, 4 Dec 1934, Bishop Frederick D'Souza of Jhansi, India
- 30 May 1977, 20 Mar 1937, Bishop Anthony Lee Kok Hin of Miri, Malaysia
25 Jun 1977, 8 Aug 1932, Archbishop Alfons Nossol, Bishop of Opole, Poland
(given the Personal Title of Archbishop on 12 Nov 1999)
Retired 14 Aug 2009
- 10 Nov 1977, 11 Sep 1929, Bishop Sebastian Koto Khoarai, O.M.I. of Mohale’s Hoek, Lesotho
- 27 Feb 1978, 23 Sep 1939, Bishop Armando Umberto Gianni, O.F.M. Cap. of Bouar, Central African Republic
- 27 Feb 1978, 5 Jul 1942, Archbishop Zacchaeus Okoth of Kisumu, Kenya
(Originally named Bishop, Elevated to Archbishop on 21 May 1990)
- 28 Feb 1978, 15 Aug 1937, Bishop Philip Sulumeti of Kakamega, Kenya
- 5 May 1978, 12 Jan 1939, Bishop Reinaldo Ernst E. (Heribert) Pünder of Coroatá, Maranho, Brazil
- 22 Jun 1978, 26 Jul 1934, Bishop James Pazhayattil of Irinjalakuda (Syro-Malabarese), India
- 12 Sep 1978, 8 Jun 1936, Bishop Joseph Dao of Kayes, Mali
- 28 Nov 1967, 10 Oct 1929, Bishop José Ramiro Pellecer Samayoa, Auxiliary Bishop of Guatemala and Titular of Teglata in Proconsulari
- 20 Nov 1973, 10 Jan 1935, Bishop Pawel Socha, C.M., Auxiliary Bishop of Zielona Góra-Gorzów, Poland and Titular of Thunigaba
(Original name of Diocese was Gorzów)
23 Dec 1974, 19 Mar 1932, Bishop Wladyslaw Bobowski, Auxiliary of Tarnów, Poland and Titular of Abernethia
Retired 20 Oct 2009
- 12 Jul 1975, 7 Sep 1930, Bishop Roland Aboujaoudé, Auxiliary of Antiochia {Antioch} (Maronite), Lebanon and Titular of Arca in Phoenicia dei Maroniti
- 28 Nov 1977, 25 Nov 1936, Bishop Kenneth Donald Steiner, Auxiliary of Portland in Oregon, USA and Titular of Avensa
- 28 Feb 1978, 13 Feb 1935, Bishop Peter Anthony Rosazza, Auxiliary of Hartford, Connecticut, USA and Titular of Oppidum Novum
Bishop Joseph Dao was named by Pope John Paul I.
All of the others were named by Pope Paul VI.
You'll notice that many of them are at or near the retirement age. Before they do retire, let us take a moment to thank them for their many years of service!
Note: the original list accidentally excluded several bishops whose jurisdictions had either changed names or were elevated while they have been the ordinary.
(revised 14 Nov 2009)
21 April 2009
The Ordinaries of St. Louis, Missouri
No doubt ya'll have heard that Archbishop-designate Robert Carlson was named the new Archbishop of St. Louis, Missouri.
So lets take the opportunity to look over the past ordinaries of this Archdiocese. It began as a diocese in 1826 (a suffragan of Baltimore) and was elevated to an Archdiocese just 21 years later.
In the last 183 years it has only had 9 ordinaries - making the average reign an amazing 20 years.
Of course the average is a bit misleading since just 2 of those ordinaries account for more than half of the archdiocese's history.
Those two, if you hadn't guessed, are Cardinals Kenrick and Glennon. Peter Richard Cardinal Kenrick was the 2nd Bishop and 1st Archbishop of St. Louis. He served as ordinary for more than 51 years. He was named Coadjutor Bishop before he turned 35. He retired at age 88 and died less than a year later.
The second long reigning ordinary was John Joseph Cardinal Glennon. He served as ordinary for 42 years. He also began as a Coadjutor, at the age of 40. He died in office at the age of 83.
Let us hope and pray that Archbishop-designate Carlson will have a long and fruitful reign in St. Louis.
So lets take the opportunity to look over the past ordinaries of this Archdiocese. It began as a diocese in 1826 (a suffragan of Baltimore) and was elevated to an Archdiocese just 21 years later.
In the last 183 years it has only had 9 ordinaries - making the average reign an amazing 20 years.
Of course the average is a bit misleading since just 2 of those ordinaries account for more than half of the archdiocese's history.
Those two, if you hadn't guessed, are Cardinals Kenrick and Glennon. Peter Richard Cardinal Kenrick was the 2nd Bishop and 1st Archbishop of St. Louis. He served as ordinary for more than 51 years. He was named Coadjutor Bishop before he turned 35. He retired at age 88 and died less than a year later.
The second long reigning ordinary was John Joseph Cardinal Glennon. He served as ordinary for 42 years. He also began as a Coadjutor, at the age of 40. He died in office at the age of 83.
Let us hope and pray that Archbishop-designate Carlson will have a long and fruitful reign in St. Louis.
07 March 2009
The Haughty Health Care Conspiracy?
It seems that the Democrat controlled US Congress and President Obama have set their sights on Catholic Hospitals.
Through various means such as FOCA and reviewing the conscience clause, they seem to be moving toward forcing all hospitals to perform abortions.
Now the political leadership of the US isn't stupid - they know of the incredible benefits that the Catholic Hospitals across the country provide - often in some of the most under served areas of the inner cities all over the country.
They also know that a Catholic Hospital, if it is required to provide abortion "services", must cease to be. It would have to either close its doors or destroy its own soul.
No doubt a few would apostacize, some would sell out to a non-Catholic entity (if they could find a buyer), a few more would find a way to spin the situation to find a tortured excuse for providing murder as a "service", but the vast majority would simply close.
The net result is that many folks in the poorest areas would be without a good nearby source for medical care.
So if the political leadership knows these things, why are they still considering the issue?
Of course it has the side benefit (from their perspective) of allowing the media to portray the Catholic Church as a great evil for pulling their hospitals from the inner cities. And no doubt the main stream media would conviently forget to mention (except perhaps in passing) the real reason behind the closures.
I can already see the hour long news specials lauding those "courageous" hospitals that apostacized and demonizing those evil men (i.e., those bishops with a backbone) that forced the other hospitals to close.
But that's just a side show.
Is abortion so vital to their mindset that it's better to lose the whole hospital than to permit a pro-life health care provider?
Perhaps ... but let us also consider the possibility that there might be a larger plan at work.
The Democrat leadership in the Congress and President Obama have also both indicated their desire to revamp the health care system in the USA. They want the federal government to be substantially in charge of the system.
So how would one go about a federal take over of the health care system?
One of the tried and proven methods is to have a "crisis" - it allows massive federal take overs to seem justified by the current circumstances ... and once the feds have taken over ...
Well, as they say, possession is 9 tenths of the law.
So how would one go about provoking a crisis in the health care system?
What if hundreds of hospitals that served the neediest areas of the country - often the inner city - were to close forever in a short period of time?
Yep, that would be a crisis. It would leave the main stream media in an uproar. There would be calls for quick assistance from the Federal Government...
So how would we get hundreds of hospitals in the poorest areas across the USA to suddenly close?
Oh that's right ... that's how this whole post got started.
Now, I don't know if the political leadership really had thought this through, or whether it would be (for them) just a "happy coincidence".
But I do know that Satan is very sly ... and that we must always beware of his plans.
So please, pray for our bishops, our political leaders, and our country. Pray for those that need and those that provide health care services.
But because we are in this world, we also need to fight for what is right - and that means opposing any move whatsoever that would force a doctor or a hospital to provide murder as a "service".
Through various means such as FOCA and reviewing the conscience clause, they seem to be moving toward forcing all hospitals to perform abortions.
Now the political leadership of the US isn't stupid - they know of the incredible benefits that the Catholic Hospitals across the country provide - often in some of the most under served areas of the inner cities all over the country.
They also know that a Catholic Hospital, if it is required to provide abortion "services", must cease to be. It would have to either close its doors or destroy its own soul.
No doubt a few would apostacize, some would sell out to a non-Catholic entity (if they could find a buyer), a few more would find a way to spin the situation to find a tortured excuse for providing murder as a "service", but the vast majority would simply close.
The net result is that many folks in the poorest areas would be without a good nearby source for medical care.
So if the political leadership knows these things, why are they still considering the issue?
Of course it has the side benefit (from their perspective) of allowing the media to portray the Catholic Church as a great evil for pulling their hospitals from the inner cities. And no doubt the main stream media would conviently forget to mention (except perhaps in passing) the real reason behind the closures.
I can already see the hour long news specials lauding those "courageous" hospitals that apostacized and demonizing those evil men (i.e., those bishops with a backbone) that forced the other hospitals to close.
But that's just a side show.
Is abortion so vital to their mindset that it's better to lose the whole hospital than to permit a pro-life health care provider?
Perhaps ... but let us also consider the possibility that there might be a larger plan at work.
The Democrat leadership in the Congress and President Obama have also both indicated their desire to revamp the health care system in the USA. They want the federal government to be substantially in charge of the system.
So how would one go about a federal take over of the health care system?
One of the tried and proven methods is to have a "crisis" - it allows massive federal take overs to seem justified by the current circumstances ... and once the feds have taken over ...
Well, as they say, possession is 9 tenths of the law.
So how would one go about provoking a crisis in the health care system?
What if hundreds of hospitals that served the neediest areas of the country - often the inner city - were to close forever in a short period of time?
Yep, that would be a crisis. It would leave the main stream media in an uproar. There would be calls for quick assistance from the Federal Government...
So how would we get hundreds of hospitals in the poorest areas across the USA to suddenly close?
Oh that's right ... that's how this whole post got started.
Now, I don't know if the political leadership really had thought this through, or whether it would be (for them) just a "happy coincidence".
But I do know that Satan is very sly ... and that we must always beware of his plans.
So please, pray for our bishops, our political leaders, and our country. Pray for those that need and those that provide health care services.
But because we are in this world, we also need to fight for what is right - and that means opposing any move whatsoever that would force a doctor or a hospital to provide murder as a "service".
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