Pope names Bishop Kicanas coadjutor to Tucson Diocese
By Mary Claire Gart
Assistant editor
With little more than five weeks remaining of his ministry in the Archdiocese of Chicago, Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas said he “certainly is going to miss this place,” but is excited about meeting the priests, deacons and laity of the Diocese of Tucson.
Pope John Paul II named the Chicago auxiliary bishop to be coadjutor bishop of Tucson, where he will assist and eventually succeed Bishop Manuel D. Moreno, 70, who has headed the diocese since 1982.
The appointment was announced in Washington Oct. 30 by Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, apostolic nuncio to the United States.
In an announcement to about 100 church and civic leaders who were invited on short notice to St. Augustine’s Cathedral in Tucson, Bishop Moreno, 70, said it was “a great joy” to receive Bishop Kicanas, 60, to help him.
“His hands will join with mine on the shepherd’s staff, he will aid me in the entire governance of the diocese ... and most important, in God’s good time, upon the vacancy of the episcopal see, Bishop Kicanas will become the sixth bishop of the Diocese of Tucson,” Bishop Moreno said.
He said he asked the pope for a coadjutor bishop after a period of discernment and prayer earlier this year.
He said considerations in that discernment were his age, a health condition that limits his activities, the pastoral needs of the diocese and his desire “for the Holy Spirit’s direction on how I could best serve you in the next four years leading up to my mandatory retirement at age 75.”
“Bishop Kicanas brings to us considerable gifts and the grace of much experience,” he said.
The new coadjutor is to begin his work and ministry in the diocese Dec. 18 and he will be formally welcomed at a special Mass Jan. 15 at the cathedral.
When Bishop Kicanas took the podium he spoke briefly in Spanish, an important language in the Southwest, before switching to English.
“I want more than anything to say I am very proud to be part of this parish, this diocese; proud because I know you are a very diverse diocese,” said Bishop Kicanas.
“Sometimes dioceses and communities are divided, but it cannot be that way with those of us who are the disciples of Jesus Christ,” he added. “We are to be involved in dialogue with all the major faiths. How critical that is today. The Jew, the Muslim, the Christian—we must be one in our work for peace.”
Commenting later on the diversity of the diocese, Bishop Kicanas said the area includes not only the rich wisdom of its older retirees, but the youthful energy of growing families.
“There also is a significant Hispanic presence and a number of Native Americans,” he said, adding that he even found some Lebanese, his own heritage. “We’re at home in the desert,” he laughed.
Bishop Kicanas said he is already familiar with celebrating Mass and preaching in Spanish because of the strong Hispanic presence in Vicariate I, where he is episcopal vicar. But he is looking forward to learning more about the immigration situation in the Tucson Diocese which borders Mexico.
“Bishop Moreno is a kind, gentle shepherd,” he added. “I look forward to learning from him.”
In a statement released Oct. 30, Cardinal George said he had mixed feelings about the appointment because he regretted losing Bishop Kicanas, who has spent 34 years as a priest and bishop in Chicago. The cardinal praised the new coadjutor’s “exceptional qualities as a bishop.”
Born in Chicago Aug. 18, 1941, Gerald Frederick Kicanas was ordained a priest April 27, 1967, after studies at Immaculate Heart of Mary School, Quigley Preparatory and St. Mary of the Lake seminaries. He has a master’s degree in religion and a licentiate in theology from St. Mary of the Lake Seminary and a master’s degree in education and doctorate in educational psychology from Loyola University in Chicago.
After two years as an associate pastor at St. Joseph Parish in Libertyville, he taught at Quigley Preparatory Seminary South 1969-84, serving also as dean of formation, as principal and as rector 1978-84.
He was named rector of Mundelein Seminary at the University of St. Mary of the Lake in 1984 and held that post when he was made auxiliary bishop of Chicago in January 1995. He also taught homiletics and pastoral ministry there.
Ordained a bishop March 20, 1995, he became episcopal vicar of the Vicariate I which encompasses Lake County and the northwestern suburbs in Cook County.
He also has taught clinical psychology at Loyola University, has been a caseworker for Catholic Charities, and has been chaplain of Chicago Parental School and director of the Catholic chaplaincy of the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center.
He is chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on the Diaconate and is a member of their Committee on Doctrine, their Subcommittee for Ecclesial Lay Ministry and their National Advisory Council. He also has served on the bishops’ laity, liturgy and priestly formation committees.
He is episcopal liaison to the National Association for Lay Ministry and the National Association of Diocesan Directors of Campus Ministry.
The Tucson Diocese covers nearly 43,000 square miles of southern Arizona, serving 304,000 Catholics in 71 parishes and 30 missions. Since 1996, when Bishop Moreno ordained a record class of 50 permanent deacons, the diocese has had more deacons than priests. It currently has 121 permanent deacons and 115 diocesan priests.
Catholic News Service contributed to this story.
