Fr Robert Barron has been named as one of three new auxiliary bishops of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles by Pope Francis.
Known for his strong commitment to evangelisation, Fr Barron is the founder of the “global media ministry”
Word on Fire, which produces programmes for EWTN and YouTube. He is currently rector of the University of St Mary and Mundelein Seminary in Chicago.
Writing on Word on Fire’s website, bishop-designate Barron said the appointment came as “an enormous surprise”.
“It is with a humble and joyful heart that I accept it. The Church of Los Angeles – the most populous in the United States – is energetic, diverse and creative,” he wrote.
“The late Francis Cardinal George – the spiritual grand-father of Word on Fire – was a mentor and friend to me. The mission closest to his heart was the evangelisation of the culture, bringing Christ to the arenas of media, politics, law, education, the arts, etc.
“I can’t think of a more exciting field for this sort of work than Los Angeles, which is certainly one of the great cultural centres of our time.”
Mgr Joseph Brennan, the vicar general and moderator of the curia of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, and Irish-born Mgr David O’Connell, pastor of St Michael Parish in Los Angeles, have also been made auxiliary bishops. Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Los Angeles auxiliary bishop Gerald Wilkerson, who has now reached retirement age.
The bishop-designates are expected to be installed this autumn. Damian Thompson, Page 20
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