Home / News & Publications / Michigan Catholic News / 2009 / New Archbishop introduced to Detroit
New Archbishop introduced to Detroit
Article by Joe Kohn of The Michigan Catholic
Photography by Larry A. Peplin
Published online January 6, 2009
Archbishop transition updates: www.aodonline.org/archbishop
Detroit - Applause and even some cheers filled the room as Archbishop-elect Allen 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 archdiocese.
Currently the bishop of the Diocese of Oakland, Calif., the Mount Clemens native was named Monday by Pope Benedict XVI to succeed Cardinal Adam Maida as the archbishop of Detroit, effective upon his installation on 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 Bishop 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."
Bishop Vigneron will become the first archbishop of Detroit 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 on Monday, 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 coadjudor bishop of Oakland in 2003, Bishop 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 Bishop Vigneron as an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Detroit in 1996, showed his support for his successor throughout the day, first in front of media, and later in 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 archbishop-designate, 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 Bishop 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 bishop'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 Bishop Vigneron is a good listener who can hear different perspectives and, ultimately, make decisions in the interest of the faithful.
Sr. Mary Finn, HVM, a longtime faculty member at Sacred Heart, remembers Bishop 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," Sr. 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."
Friends and classmates of Bishop Vigneron also voiced their support for Pope Benedict's selection early in the week. Msgr. Patrick Halfpenny, pastor of St. Paul on the Lake Parish in Grosse Pointe, attended seminary with Bishop Vigneron and remained close friends with him over the years, even visiting him in Oakland.
"People whose opinions matter much more than mine, including Pope Benedict, see him as a very talented person and a gifted leader in the Church -- and from my perspective, I wholeheartedly agree," said Msgr. Halfpenny as Bishop Vigneron was being introduced to media members on Monday.
He noted that Bishop Vigneron showed a sincere attachment for the people in the Diocese of Oakland where he had served for the past six years, and he was confident that the people in the Archdiocese of Detroit would experience that love from their new archbishop.
"He's going to love the Church here with that same intensity which he had in Oakland," he said.
Another contingent excited about the new archbishop was that of his own family. Bishop Vigneron's parents and four out 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, who was at the press conference. "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.
At his press introduction, Bishop Vigneron expressed his gratitude to the Lord for the opportunity. He also expressed his confidence that it was God's will, conveyed through His vicar in Pope Benedict XVI, that he would be the archbishop of Detroit.
"I take this opportunity to express, also, my gratitude to our Holy Father, Pope Benedict, for the confidence he has shown in me by calling me to be the principal pastor of the Archdiocese of Detroit," Bishop Vigneron said. "My answer of 'yes' to his call is the fruit of my communion with him, the Successor of Peter – communion in the life and faith handed on to us from the Apostles.
"I have promised him, and I promise all the faithful of the archdiocese, that this Catholic communion will be the touchstone of my ministry in the archdiocese."
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