Milwaukee, Wis., Oct 30, 2007 / 08:15 am
Today the Holy Father announced the appointment of Father William Patrick Callahan as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Bishop-elect Callahan is a Conventual Franciscan serving as Spiritual Director at the Pontifical North American College in Rome.
Born in 1950, Fr. Callahan was ordained in 1977 by the archbishop of Milwaukee and served as the Director of Vocations for the Conventual Franciscans.
The Conventuals are often referred to as the “Black Franciscans,” focus on assisting large urban areas and live in convents, giving them the name Conventual Franciscans.
“The fact that he is from a religious order affirms the strong tradition and presence of religious orders in southeastern Wisconsin. The service of men and men religious are an essential part of our Church in southeastern Wisconsin,” stated Archbishop Timothy Dolan of Milwaukee.