Hierarchy update

The Holy See announced today that Bishop Gerald Noonan, previously an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Miami, is the new bishop of the Diocese of Orlando Florida, succeeding Archbishop Thomas Wenski, who left Orlando upon being appointed archbishop of Miami. Bishop Noonan is 59 and was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Miami at age 32 back in 1983.

Bishop Noonan's appointment leaves only two vacant Latin Rite dioceses in the United States: Joliet in Illinois and Rapid City, South Dakota. However, there are currently eleven ordinaries serving past the canonically established retirement age of 75. The only Eastern Catholic ecclesiastical jurisdiction in the U.S. currently vacant is the Ruthenian Archeparcy, based in Phliadelphia. This see was vacated in June when Archbishop Basil Schott, O.F.M. passed away.

Veni Sancte Spiritus, Veni per Mariam