Hierarchy update

In his first episcopal appointment for the U.S. in 2009, the Holy Father named His Excellency, Allen Vigneron, 60, currently bishop of the Diocese of Oakland, California as the new archbishop of Detroit. He replaces Adam Cardinal Maida, who turned 75 in 2005. Bishop Vigneron is a native of Michigan and was a priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit before becoming the bishop of Oakland. He will be installed on 28 January. The Holy Father also accepted the resignation of Bishop Jeremiah McRaith of Owensboro, Kentucky.

This brings the number of archbishops serving past the age of 75 to three: Cardinal Egan, archbishop of New York, Archbishop Hughes of New Orleans, and Archbishop Curtiss of Omaha. Archbishop Brunett of Seattle will join this group later this month. The number of bishops serving past 75 remains at six with two bishops set to turn 75 in the next month or so. With Bishop Vigneron's transfer and Bishop McRaith's resignation, the number of sede vacante dioceses in these United States increases to ten: Biloxi, Mississippi; Charleston, South Carolina; Cheyenne, Wyoming; Duluth, Minnesota; Gallup, New Mexico; Juneau, Alaska; Knoxville, Tennessee; Oakland, California; Owensboro, Kentucky; St. Louis, Missouri.