ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA

Good morning. Two weeks ago I shared exciting news for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia regarding the appointment of Monsignor John McIntyre as Auxiliary Bishop. Today, Pope Benedict XVI has announced two additional appointments that bring honor and pride to the Archdiocese.

The Holy Father has named Bishop Joseph McFadden as the Tenth Bishop of the Diocese of Harrisburg. Bishop McFadden is in Harrisburg this morning, holding a news conference at his Chancery.

I know that I am joined by my fellow bishops, priests, deacons, men and women religious and all the faithful of the Archdiocese in offering Bishop McFadden warmest congratulations. We join together in offering our prayers that God will watch over and bless him as he leads his new Diocese.

When I congratulated Bishop McFadden I also thanked him for his tireless and selfless service as a priest and as an Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia. I will greatly miss his invaluable assistance to me and his contribution to this local Church, especially his particular concern for Catholic education and his leadership on our important undertaking Heritage of Faith ~ Vision of Hope, the capital campaign designed to meet the extraordinary challenges we face at this time.

This appointment demonstrates that the Holy Father has confidence that Bishop McFadden will be a compassionate and wise shepherd for the people of Harrisburg. He is a skillful leader with vision and a faith-filled priest who serves joyfully in Jesus' name. Devoted to Mary our Mother, Bishop McFadden will lead the people of Harrisburg with great care and concern for their spiritual well-being.

As Bishop McFadden begins this new ministry, I offer him my fraternal support and assurance of my prayers. May the Lord bless him and the people of Harrisburg.

I also wish to thank our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, for another appointment that brings honor to our Archdiocese and will assist us in the pastoral care of the almost 1.5 million Catholics we serve. I am pleased to announce that the Holy Father has appointed Reverend Monsignor Michael Fitzgerald as Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia.

Bishop-elect Fitzgerald is one of nine children born to the late Edwin Michael Fitzgerald and to Dorothy "Dot" Fitzgerald, present here this morning. I welcome Mrs. Fitzgerald, who was the first teacher of the faith to her son, and who is here with us this morning. Bishop-elect Fitzgerald was born in Montclair, New Jersey and was one of nine children. He attended Saint Clement Parish School in Philadelphia, Saint Augustine in Bridgeport and Bishop Kenrick High School in Norristown. He attended Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary and was ordained in 1980. He is both a Canon and Civil lawyer. During his thirty years as a priest he has served the Church faithfully as a Parochial Vicar, Chaplain and administrator. He served as Vice-Rector of St. Charles Seminary. He is currently Judicial Vicar of the Archdiocese, overseeing the Metropolitan Tribunal. He is an exemplary priest with a great love for the Church. I am grateful for his constant efforts to promote vocations to the diocesan priesthood. For fourteen years he has served as Chaplain to the Serra Club of Philadelphia, which promotes priestly vocations.

It will be my honor to ordain Bishop-elect Fitzgerald on the same day I ordain Bishop-elect McIntyre: Friday, August 6th, the Solemnity of the Transfiguration of Our Lord, in the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul. I express my gratitude to Bishop-elect Fitzgerald for his generous response as we begin our new collaboration, together with the other Auxiliary Bishops, in serving God=s people.

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