Archbishop Named for Miami, Chicago Bishop Moved to State Capital

Miami, Florida: April 22, 2010, (PCTV Newsdesk)

On April 20, 2010, Benedict XVI appointed BishopThomas Wenski of Orlando, Florida, as archbishop of Miami.

Archbishop Wenski, 59, succeeds Archbishop John Favalora, 74, who resignedas he will reach the age limit this year.

Today, after the announcement of his appointment, the prelate noted thathe is "coming home" to the archdiocese where he was ordained a priest in1976, and named an auxiliary bishop in 1997.

"I am told that Miami has its challenges," the archbishop said, "but whatelse is new?"

He added, "The Lord tells us: 'Do not be afraid.'"

Quoting Benedict XVI's words from "Deus Caritas Est," Archbishop Wenskiaffirmed: "We are only instruments in the Lord's hands; and this knowledgefrees us from the presumption of thinking that we alone are personallyresponsible for building a better world.

"In all humility we will do what we can, and in all humility we willentrust the rest to the Lord. It is God who governs the world, not we.

"We offer him our service only to the extent that we can, and for as longas he grants us the strength."

The prelate has given many years to serving the Hispanic and Haitiancommunities in South Florida, and has traveled to Haiti, Cuba, the Congoand the Great Lakes region of Africa, the Caribbean, Central and SouthAmerica, Israel and the Palestinian West Bank at the service of the Church.

He became bishop of Orlando in 2004. Archbishop Wenski will be installedin the Miami Archdiocese on June 1.

The Miami Archdiocese has some 860,000 Catholics registered, served by 397priests, 119 permanent deacons and 415 religious.

Springfield, Illinois

Also today, the Vatican announced the appointment of Bishop ThomasPaprocki, auxiliary of the Archdiocese of Chicago, as bishop ofSpringfield, Illinois.

Bishop Paprocki, 57, will replace Archbishop George Lucas, who was movedto lead the Omaha Archdiocese last June.

Born in Chicago, Thomas Paprocki was ordained a priest in 1978 and abishop in 2003.

As a pastor, he worked in a poor neighborhood and helped found the SouthChicago Legal Clinic to attend to the needs of the impoverished.

The prelate also has experience working with the Polish immigrants inChicago.

In January 2008, the bishop was elected Vice-Chairman of the John Paul IIFoundation in Rome. The next year he became the executive director of theCatholic League for Religious Assistance to Poland.

Bishop Paprocki has most recently been serving as an adjunct professor oflaw at Loyola University Chicago, and as chairman of the U.S. bishops'conference Committee on Canonical Affairs and Church Governance.

He enjoys running as a hobby, and has run 16 marathon races, in theprocess raising over $265,000 for charity.

In a statement after his appointment, Bishop Paprocki quoted AbrahamLincoln -- who lived and worked in Springfield -- underlining the"fundamental blessing" of being named to lead the flock in that region.

"May God who has begun this good work bring it to completion," he said.

The Springfield Diocese has some 164,000 Catholics, with 157 priests, 23 permanent deacons and 661 religious.

www.zenit.org