Kansas Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann Appointed Apostolic Administrator of Kansas City - St. Joseph

Roman Catholic Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph
April 21, 2015

http://www.diocese-kcsj.org/news/viewNews.php?nid=269

Statement on the Resignation of Bishop Robert W. Finn from the Pastoral Care of the

Diocese of Kansas City – St. Joseph

April 21, 2015

Today, the Holy Father Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Bishop Robert W. Finn from the pastoral care of the Diocese of Kansas City – St. Joseph. At the same time, the Holy Father appointed Kansas City in Kansas Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann as Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Kansas City – St. Joseph.

As Apostolic Administrator, Archbishop Naumann serves as the episcopal leader of the Diocese of Kansas City – St. Joseph until such time as a permanent bishop is appointed. He retains his duties as Archbishop of Kansas City in Kansas.

“It has been an honor and joy for me to serve here among so many good people of faith,” Bishop Robert W. Finn said. “Please begin already to pray for whomever God may call to be the next Bishop of Kansas City - St. Joseph.”

In an open letter to the people of the Diocese of Kansas City – St. Joseph, Archbishop Naumann expressed his thanks to the Holy Father for his appointment.

“I have been part of the Kansas City Community for more than 11 years, so I have an awareness of the vitality and beauty of the Catholic community in Northwest Missouri,” Archbishop Naumann said. He prayed that the coming weeks and months will be “a time of grace and healing for the Diocese.”

Archbishop Naumann explained that his time as Administrator will “not be a time for innovation or change, but a time to sustain the ordinary and essential activities of the Church and where possible to advance the initiatives that already are under way.”

Archbishop Naumann prayed that when a new bishop is appointed for Kansas City – St. Joseph, he “will find a community united both in their love for Jesus and His Bride – the Church.”

Finally, he looked forward to the many ordinations to the priesthood to take place in the coming weeks on both sides of the state line, calling it “one of the great signs of the New Springtime in the Church.” Four men will be ordained for the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas and nine for the Diocese of Kansas City – St. Joseph.

Archbishop Naumann is scheduled to spend the day engaged with the Administrative Cabinet of the Diocese of Kansas City – St. Joseph and the staff at the Catholic Center.

The full text of Archbishop Naumann’s letter to the people of the Diocese of Kansas City – St. Joseph is below.

Letter to the People of the Diocese of Kansas City – St. Joseph

on the Occasion of my Appointment as Apostolic Administrator

By Archbishop Joseph F Naumann

April 21, 2015

I am grateful to the Holy Father for his Appointment to serve as Apostolic Administrator for the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, Missouri, while continuing to serve as the Archbishop of Kansas City in Kansas.

I have been part of the Kansas City Community for more than 11 years, so I have an awareness of the vitality and beauty of the Catholic community in Northwest Missouri. Living in the same media market, I am also keenly conscious of some of challenges and difficulties this Diocese has suffered in recent years.

I pray that the coming weeks and months will be a time of grace and healing for the Diocese. All of us, who are privileged to serve in leadership for the Church, do so for only a season. It is not our Church, but Christ’s Church. We are mere stewards of His Church for a time.

By definition, the role of an Administrator is for a very short season. This will not be a time for innovation or change, but a time to sustain the ordinary and essential activities of the Church and where possible to advance the initiatives that already are under way.

It is my desire to do all that I can to prepare this Diocese to welcome well its new bishop. I pray that your new bishop, when he arrives, will find a community united both in their love for Jesus and His Bride – the Church – as well as eager to proclaim the truth and beauty of His Gospel to the world.

For this to happen, I will need the prayers and support of the Priests, Deacons, Religious, Diocesan and Parish lay staffs, and most importantly the people of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, Missouri. I want to be as available as I can, while still fulfilling my responsibilities as the Archbishop of Kansas City in Kansas. I am confident that I can count on the prayerful support of the Priests, Deacons, Religious and Laity of Northeast Kansas to assist me in fulfilling these dual roles to the best of my ability.

One of the great signs of the New Springtime in the Church that we give thanks for on both sides of State Line Road is the increase in recent years of priestly vocations. Both dioceses look forward with eager anticipation in a few weeks to the ordination of many new priests – nine for the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph and four for the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas.

One of the great treasures that the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph and the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas share in common is Mary as our primary Patron under her title, the Immaculate Conception.

We seek our Blessed Mother’s intercession that Her Son might bless abundantly the Catholic Community of Northwest Missouri during this time of transition.

Mary, Mother of the Church, place the people of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph under your protective mantle, drawing us closer to your Son, Jesus. Amen.