York Daily Record
November 14, 2009
http://ydr.inyork.com/ci_13788363
Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades, of the Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg, will be transferred to a post in Indiana in January.
Pope Benedict XVI appointed Rhoades to be bishop of the Fort Wayne-South Bend diocese. Rhoades will be installed in Indiana Jan. 13.
The news was announced Saturday in Rome.
"Naturally, it will not be easy for me to bid farewell to my family and friends, my brother priests and the faithful of the Harrisburg diocese," Rhoades said in a news release. He said it was "a tremendous blessing" to serve as a priest in the diocese for 26 years.
Rhoades became bishop of Harrisburg in 2004 after Bishop Nicholas Dattilo died. Previously, he had been rector at Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md. and had served at St. Patrick's Church in York.
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| Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of the Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg dedicates a marble monument of the Ten Commandments outside St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in New Freedom last year. |
Some local priests said they were sad to hear that Rhoades will be leaving.
The Rev. Edward Malesic, pastor of Holy Infant Church in York Haven, said the news was surprising.
"He's a young bishop and so he has many skills, many talents," Malesic said. "I understand the church can use his skills and talents in other ways. While it's sad, I'm happy for him and happy for Fort Wayne-South Bend."
The Rev. Louis Petruha, pastor of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Springettsbury, also said the Indiana diocese is getting "a fantastic leader."
He called Rhoades a "wonderful, personal, practical, down-to-earth bishop."
Petruha said Rhoades liked to mingle with people. Every other year, the bishop
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would come to Fan the Fire, a youth rally that was held at St. Joseph's over the weekend, and he recently celebrated Mass at the church for its 100th anniversary.
"He is with us, he is with the people," Petruha said.
Rhoades, in the news release, said "being with the people" has been among his "greatest joys" as bishop. He has made many visits to parishes in York County for church anniversaries, school events and special Masses.
"I don't think he's missed a church in the area," said Malesic, who was installed as Holy Infant's pastor by Rhoades.
The priests said Rhoades has worked hard to promote vocations at a time when priests are sorely needed.
"We have almost 30 men studying for the priesthood now under his leadership," Malesic said.
Petruha said Rhoades has also worked hard to promote Catholic education, work with other denominations and support the anti-abortion movement. Malesic said the bishop was also able to reach out to other cultures.
"Energetic," is the word that comes to mind when Malesic thinks of Rhoades.
"He doesn't sit back and wait for people to come to him," Malesic said. "He was a tireless worker."
Petruha said he hopes the diocese gets a new bishop who can carry on Rhoades' work, "especially the spirit he has created in the diocese."
WHAT'S NEXT
Bishop Kevin Rhoades will remain with the Diocese of Harrisburg until Jan. 13, when he will be installed as Bishop of Fort Wayne-South Bend, in Indiana.
On Jan. 14, a group of priests called the College of Consultors will meet, said Joe Aponick, spokesman for the diocese. That group will elect a priest to be the diocesan administrator, who will be responsible for carrying on the policies and procedures established by Rhoades. That priest will not make changes or new policies but will lead the diocese until a new bishop is appointed.
It could be months before a new bishop is appointed, Aponick said. It was seven months before Rhoades was appointed to replace Bishop Nicholas Dattilo, who passed away in 2004.
Rhoades will hold a news conference today at 2 p.m. at the Diocesan Center, 4800 Union Deposit Road, Harrisburg.
Visit www.hbgdiocese.org to read Bishop Kevin Rhoades' statement about being transferred to the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Indiana.
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