Cardinal George has announced assignments for Bishops-designate Francis Kane, Thomas Paprocki and Gustavo Garcia-Siller who will be ordained to the episcopacy March 19 at Holy Name Cathedral.

Bishop Kane will become vicar for Vicariate II, Bishop Paprocki becomes vicar for Vicariate IV and Bishop Garcia will become vicar in Vicariate V. Bishop Jerome Listecki will remain in Vicariate I, Bishop John Manz will stay in Vicariate III and Bishop Joseph Perry will continue as vicar for Vicariate VI.

The three auxiliary bishops will assume their new duties effective May 1. Cardinal George said the assignments will be for one year. During that time vicariate boundaries will be under study, he said.

Bishops-designate Kane and Paprocki will resign their pastorates early in March, Cardinal George said. Replacements will be named as soon as appropriate.

Bishop Raymond Goedert, who is scheduled to retire this year, will remain as vicar general until June 1. Bishop Edwin Conway, who is currently receiving treatment for a medical condition, will become vicar general “when his health permits,” said the cardinal.

Though their resignations have been accepted by Pope John Paul II, retiring Auxiliary Bishops Thad Jakubowski and John Gorman will assume some new duties.

Cardinal George said Bishop Jakubowski will become co-vicar for retired priests, assisting Bishop Timothy Lyne. He also will remain active in the Polish community. Bishop Gorman will, among other tasks, continue development of the new southwest Cook County Catholic high school.

After he relinquishes his position as vicar general, Bishop Goedert will continue as the archbishop’s delegate to the Archdiocesan Women’s Commission.

With the arrival of three new auxiliary bishops, several episcopal ministries have been restructured, said Cardinal George.

Bishop Perry will remain as liaison to the African-American Catholic community and will oversee catechesis and liturgy. Bishop Manz will oversee youth formation. Bishop Garcia will become liaison to the Hispanic community and oversee the Hispanic ministry formation programs. Bishop Paprocki will be liaison to the Polish community and to the legal community. Bishop Kane will oversee development of lay ecclesial ministries. Bishop Listecki will continue to assist Bishop Conway in matters of Catholic health care and continue as liaison to the Archdiocesan Gay and Lesbian Outreach, the boy scouts, Catholic Physicians Guild and several other groups.

A special section of the March 16 Catholic New World will honor the ordination to the episcopacy of Bishops Kane, Garcia and Paprocki. Future editions will acknowledge the service of retiring Bishops Goedert, Gorman and Jakubowski.

Return to the Cardinal's Column