Philadelphia, Pa., Jun 22, 2010 / 10:30 am
Philadelphia’s faithful received news this morning that Pope Benedict has appointed the judicial vicar of their diocese, Bishop-elect Michael J. Fitzgerald, to be their new auxiliary bishop.
The announcement of Bishop-elect Fitzgerald's appointment was made by Cardinal Justin Rigali at a 10 a.m. news conference in Philadelphia. The cardinal said of the bishop-elect, “He is an exemplary priest with a great love for the Church. I am grateful for his constant efforts to promote vocations to the diocesan priesthood. For 14 years he has served as Chaplain to the Serra Club of Philadelphia, which promotes priestly vocations.”
Bishop-elect Fitzgerald also commented on his own appointment, saying, “In accepting this nomination I am conscious of the great responsibility that has been entrusted to me but I am even more aware of the providence of Almighty God in calling me to the priesthood and sustaining me happily in the priesthood these past thirty years. It is in that Providence that I continue to place my trust as I answer a new call of the Church to serve the People of God as a bishop.”
Bishop-elect Michael Fitzgerald was ordained a priest in 1980, and served as a parochial vicar after his ordination. In 1989, and then again in 1991, he received degrees in canon law from Catholic University in America and Rome’s Gregorian University, respectively.