By Melissa Nann Burke
York Daily Record
June 22, 2010
http://www.ydr.com/ci_15346249
The Vatican said early this morning that the Most Rev. Joseph Patrick McFadden, an auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, will be the next leader of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg.
This summer, McFadden will succeed Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades, who served the 15-county diocese for five years until he was moved to the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend in Indiana earlier this year.
He was introduced at a 10 a.m. news conference in Harrisburg, after which McFadden will celebrate the noon Mass at Saint Patrick's Cathedral. "I am deeply humbled by the confidence Pope Benedict has placed in me by appointing me the new shepherd of this church," McFadden said during the news conference. "I know in the days ahead I will have a lot to learn, and I am eager to listen and learn."
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| The Most Rev. Joseph Patrick McFadden, an auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, talks with Peg Rizzuto, principal of St. Rose Of Lima School located in Thomasville, after the announcement that he will be the next leader of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg, in Harrisburg Tuesday. Photo by Paul Kuehnel |
A Philadelphia native, McFadden, 63, was a Catholic school teacher and basketball coach before entering seminary. He was consecrated a bishop in 2004 by Cardinal Justin Rigali after serving at a large parish in Downingtown, Chester County, for roughly four years.
McFadden attended St. Charles Borromeo Seminary and was ordained a priest in 1981. He served in several parishes and as personal secretary to Cardinal John J. Krol from 1982-93. From 1993-2001, he directed Cardinal O'Hara High School in Springfield, Delaware County.
As auxiliary bishop, McFadden assists Rigali with overall pastoral governance of the archdiocese with a special focus on Catholic education.
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| The Most Rev. Joseph Patrick McFadden, an auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, talks this morning after the announcement that he will be the next leader of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg. Photo by Paul Kuehnel |
This past school year, he helped to oversee the closings of two of Philadelphia's Catholic high schools -- Cardinal Dougherty High School and Northern Catholic High School. Both had experienced declining enrollment.
Bishop selection process
The process for selecting candidates for bishop usually starts with consultations at the diocesan level and ends six to eight months later when a recommended candidate is submitted to the pope for consideration.
Bishops can suggest candidates to the archbishop of their province (in this case, Cardinal Justin Rigali heads the province that encompasses Pennsylvania). At a meeting of the bishops of the province, they vote on names to recommend to the apostolic nuncio in Washington -- the pope's representative in the United States.
The nuncio gathers facts about the potential candidates for diocesan bishop and oversees the final list of names forwarded to Rome. He also receives a report from the diocese on its conditions and needs.
In Rome, a congregation of 35 cardinals and archbishops from around the world (of which Rigali is a member) discusses the appointment and votes.
That recommendation is presented to the pope, who makes the final decision.
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