Pope Benedict XVI on Saturday named Miami auxiliary bishop John Noonan as the new Bishop of Orlando.
Noonan's new position is effective immediately, but he will be
formally installed as the head Central Florida's 800,000-member Roman
Catholic church on Dec. 16.
He succeeds Thomas Wenski, who left his post
as Bishop of Orlando, held since 2004, when he was installed in June as
the Archbishop of Miami.
``I am deeply grateful to God and our
Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, for his confidence in me and his
consideration in appointing me to become your bishop. I promise to
preach and to teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And to the best of my
ability to be a bishop and shepherd to the people,'' Noonan, 59, said in
a statement.
The Irish-born priest was ordained in the Archdiocese of Miami
in 1983 and has held posts at several Catholic churches and institutions
in South Florida, including St. Elizabeth of Hungary church in Pompano
Beach, St. Rose of Lima church in Miami Shores, Msgr. Edward Pace High
School and St. Brendan High School.
In 1996, he was appointed rector of
St. John Vianney College Seminary in Westchester and 2005, he was
appointed auxiliary bishop of Miami.
Noonan studied for the
priesthood at St. John Vianney and St. Vincent de Paul Regional
Seminary
in Boynton Beach. He has a master's degree in education from Boston
College and
speaks Spanish.
``The Holy Father has chosen for
the Diocese of Orlando an energetic shepherd who brings to the priests
and people of Central Florida many talents and gifts. The church of
Miami, of course, will miss him -- and, in the short time that I have
been back in Miami as its new Archbishop, Bishop Noonan was a good
friend and a valuable collaborator of mine,'' Wenski said in a
statement. ``While I, too, will miss his assistance in Miami, I am very
happy for Orlando. With Bishop Noonan to lead them, the Catholics of
Central Florida will continue to witness to the hope that does not
disappoint, Jesus Christ.''
Noonan is the fifth bishop of the
Diocese of Orlando, which was established in 1968 and includes 80
parishes, 12 missions and 37 schools in nine counties.
SIC: MH/USA