Oakland bishop selected for Detroit
DETROIT (CNS) -- Applause and even some cheers filled the room as Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron was escorted in front of priests, church employees, media and Catholic school students at Sacred Heart Major Seminary to be introduced as the next shepherd of the Detroit Archdiocese.
Currently the bishop of Oakland, Calif., the Mount Clemens native was named Jan. 5 by Pope Benedict XVI to succeed Cardinal Adam J. Maida as the archbishop of Detroit, effective upon his installation Jan. 28.
"On this first day of my appointment as archbishop, my thoughts and prayers are particularly focused on the priests, the deacons and seminarians, the religious and the lay faithful I will serve here," said a visibly emotional Archbishop Vigneron during his introduction. "Because I am a son of this archdiocese, they have long been dear to me. Now that I have become the spiritual father of this local church, I want them to know they are even dearer still."
Archbishop Vigneron, 60, will become the first head of the Detroit Archdiocese to have been ordained as a priest for the archdiocese. He grew up at Immaculate Conception Parish in Anchorville, now Ira Township, before attending Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit and being ordained by Cardinal John Dearden in 1975.
At his introduction Jan. 5, he was flanked by Archdiocese of Detroit spokesman Ned McGrath and Cardinal Maida.
"We may be 175 years old, but we still know how to make history," said McGrath, referring to Detroit's current jubilee year and the historic nature of a native son being named the archbishop.
Before being named coadjutor bishop of Oakland in 2003, Archbishop Vigneron served as an associate pastor, a seminary professor, rector of Sacred Heart Major Seminary, and an auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of Detroit.
Cardinal Maida, who ordained Archbishop Vigneron as a bishop in 1996, showed his support for his successor throughout the day, first in front of media, and later with priests and employees of the archdiocese.
Both the Holy Spirit and the Holy Father know of Archbishop Vigneron's gifts and talents as well as the many needs that we have here in Detroit," said Cardinal Maida, who had submitted his letter of resignation to the Vatican in March 2005 upon his 75th birthday, as is required by church law. "Over the years, I have valued his friendship and come to appreciate his wisdom, pastoral sensitivity and loving care for all those in need. It is a great blessing to have him return back to us."
Because he had spent most of his life and ministry in the Archdiocese of Detroit, many in the church of Detroit are familiar with the new archbishop, especially through Sacred Heart Major Seminary.
"He's a very intelligent man and a good teacher, but also with a pastoral heart," said Msgr. Charles Kosanke, current rector of SS. Cyril & Methodius Seminary in Orchard Lake. Msgr. Kosanke served with Archbishop Vigneron at Sacred Heart Major Seminary. "Because of his good mind and his good heart, he is going to make a very effective chief shepherd for Detroit," he said.
From his days at Sacred Heart, Msgr. Kosanke recalled the archbishop's heartfelt concern for his seminarians.
"There are certain challenges at the seminary, and he's always shown genuine fatherly love for the students," he said.
He added that Archbishop Vigneron is a good listener who can hear different perspectives and, ultimately, make decisions in the interest of the faithful.
Sister Mary Finn, a member of the Home Visitors of Mary and a longtime faculty member at Sacred Heart, remembers Archbishop Vigneron not only from his days as rector, but from his days as a seminarian, when she taught him.
"He was a student of God's word," Sister Finn said. "He's not only a reader of books -- he's a reader of people. He's a good reader of the needs of the area."
Another contingent excited about the new archbishop was his own family. Archbishop Vigneron's parents and four of his five siblings still live in the archdiocese.
"We feel blessed, first of all, to have him back home," said Gary Vigneron, the new archbishop's brother. "We missed him while he was in California. We're a very close family."
He said his parents, now both in their 80s, were excited to hear the news about their son's appointment.
"He goes where the Spirit leads him, he always says. It's a really joyful day for all of us," said Gary Vigneron.
(By Joe Kohn)
Catholic News Service
