Pope Francis Appoints Three New Bishops for New York

Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York
June 14, 2014

http://www.archny.org/news-events/news-press-releases/index.cfm?i=33528

POPE FRANCIS APPOINTS THREE NEW BISHOPS FOR NEW YORK                                  

Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, has appointed three priests of the Archdiocese of New York to serve as Auxiliary Bishops to Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the Archbishop of New York.  The announcement was made today in Rome and in Washington.

Bishop-elect John Jenik, 70, currently the pastor of Our Lady of Refuge Parish in the Bronx, Bishop-elect John O’Hara, 68, currently directing the archdiocesan planning process Making All Things New and former pastor of Saint Teresa of the Infant Jesus Parish on Staten Island, and Bishop-elect Peter Byrne, 62, currently the pastor of Saint Elizabeth Parish in Manhattan, all bring many years of experience as pastors to their new roles as bishops.  Cardinal Dolan praised the appointments, saying, “All three bishops-elect are seasoned pastors of the archdiocese, with years of acclaimed ministry in all areas of the archdiocese. “

The three new bishops will be ordained as bishops on August 4, 2014 in Saint Patrick’s Cathedral.  They join Bishop Gerald Walsh and Bishop Domenick Lagonegro as auxiliary bishops of New York.  Cardinal Edward Egan, Archbishop-emeritus, is the retired Archbishop of New York, and Bishop Robert Brucato and Bishop Josu Iriondo are retired auxiliary bishops.

Bishop-elect John Jenik was born to John and Helen (Kelly) Jenik in Manhattan on March 7, 1944.  He was ordained a priest by Cardinal Terence Cooke on May 30, 1970, who sent him to Catholic University of Ponce, Puerto Rico to learn Spanish language and culture.  He has served at Saint Jerome’s Parish, Saint Thomas Aquinas Parish, and Our Lady of Refuge Parish, all in the Bronx.  He was named a Monsignor in 1995 by Pope John Paul II, and in 2006 Cardinal Egan appointed him vicar for the Northwest Bronx.

A native of Jersey City, New Jersey, Bishop-elect John O’Hara was born to John and Helen (Quinn) O’Hara on February 7, 1946.  After working in the field of journalism, he entered Saint Joseph’s Seminary in 1980, and was ordained to the priesthood on December 1, 1984 by Cardinal John O’Connor.  He has served at Saint Augustine’s Parish, New City, Saint Charles Parish, Staten Island, and Saint Teresa Parish, also on Staten Island.  In 2012 he was appointed to assist with the pastoral planning process, Making All Things New, which he has led since 2013.

Bishop-elect Peter Byrne was born to John and Dorothy (Nolan) Byrne in Manhattan on July 24, 1951, in Manhattan.  He was ordained a priest by Cardinal O’Connor on December 1, 1984, and has served at Holy Family Parish, the Bronx, Saint Thomas Aquinas Parish, also in the Bronx, Immaculate Conception Parish and Saint John the Baptist Parish, Staten Island, and, since 2013, at Saint Elizabeth Parish in Manhattan.  He is also fluent in Spanish and French.