FORT WAYNE — Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades, bishop of Harrisburg, Pa., has been appointed the bishop of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend. He was introduced by Bishop John M. D’Arcy and greeted those gathered for the 8 a.m. Mass at the St. Mother Theodore Guérin Chapel.
Video of the press conference can be accessed here.

Whirlwind tour of the diocese introduces
new diocesan shepherd
FORT WAYNE — “This is a historic and spiritual moment,” said Bishop John M. D’Arcy of the announcement that the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend will have a new bishop. Bishop D’Arcy welcomed the new bishop, Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades, on Nov. 14, at the morning Mass celebrated in the St. Mother Theodore Guérin Chapel on Cathedral Square.

Bishop Rhoades hails from Harrisburg, Pa., where he was ordained into the priesthood in 1983. He served in the Diocese of Harrisburg for 26 years in several parishes, the past five as its bishop.

Following Mass the two bishops joined many of the diocesan priests in a special welcoming service at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, and later in the afternoon, again at St. Matthew Cathedral in South Bend, where Bishop Rhoades was introduced to the presbyterate. In his remarks to the priests the energetic Bishop Rhoades said, “I am really looking forward to getting to know you, to learning about your ministries here in the diocese, and to working together with you in serving the church in this portion of the vineyard of the Lord.”

Bishop Rhoades spoke of his commitment to interior renewal, not only for the priests but for the whole church. The bishop also offered his continued pledge to promote vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life, which was one of his priorities in his former diocese.

Fort Wayne press conference
Media staff from around the Fort Wayne area waited in anticipation as Bishop D’Arcy and his successor Bishop Rhoades joined them and the diocesan staff for an official press conference held in the Archbishop Noll Catholic Center.

In a statement, Bishop D’Arcy announced that Pope Benedict XVI had appointed the ninth bishop of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Bishop Kevin Rhoades.

He continued, “This appointment shows the great importance Pope Benedict XVI places on this diocese. He has sent us a well-prepared bishop, who has served five years as bishop of a diocese larger than ours — Harrisburg, Pa.,. … I know from other sources how beloved he is there, and this will be painful for them. A gift for us. A loss for them.

“Bishop Rhoades is bishop of his home diocese. … He probably presumed he would be bishop there for the rest of his life, and he certainly was content there. Yet, he immediately accepted the request of Pope Benedict XVI. Like the apostles in the fifth chapter of Luke, he left everything to follow the call of Christ,” said Bishop D’Arcy, adding that the diocese must welcome him with love, to cooperate and collaborate with him and “pray for him from this moment on.”

Bishop Rhoades, who has a devotion to the Blessed Mother, said in his acceptance statement, “I am both humbled and honored by Pope Benedict XVI’s appointment of me as ninth bishop of Fort Wayne-South Bend. I am particularly humbled to succeed Bishop John D’Arcy, who has served the faithful of this diocese with such great devotion and love for over 24 years. I am deeply grateful to Bishop D’Arcy for his very warm welcome and I look forward to learning from him about this wonderful diocese as I prepare to become your new shepherd.”

The enthusiastic new bishop requested prayers as he noted how difficult it will be to leave his home diocese, family and friends, but added, “With joyful anticipation, I look forward now to serving as bishop of Fort Wayne-South Bend. I look forward to meeting the priests, deacons, men and women in consecrated life, and lay faithful of the diocese. My greatest joys as bishop have been in being with the people, teaching the faith and celebrating the sacraments. I am looking forward to visiting the parishes, schools and other communities of my new diocese.”

Bishop D’Arcy opened the floor to questions which concerned the discernment process of the appointment and Bishop D’Arcy’s thought process involved in handing the pastorate over. He spoke of the letter of retirement at age 75 that he submitted over two years ago and admitted, “Then you don’t know.” He added, “I still enjoy everyday here.”

When asked about future plans the outgoing bishop reported that he will reside in Fort Wayne, in the house he occupies currently, and “help any way the new bishop wants.”

Bishop Rhoades interjected that he felt blessed to have Bishop D’Arcy remain in the diocese.

When asked about his priorities as he joined the diocese, the congenial Bishop Rhoades said his first priority would be to get to know the diocese and its people. Secondly, the new bishop, who admits to a mindset of Pope John Paul II’s new evangelization, hopes to promote vocations, support Catholic schools and religious education. He hopes to strengthen youth ministry for vocation formation and “get the priests behind it.”
The new bishop blessed those in attendance and said, “I pledge to the people of my new diocese my love and my prayers.”

South Bend press
conference
A few hours later in  South Bend Bishop Rhoades was asked about his other top priorities.
“Bishop D’Arcy is leaving the diocese to me in very good shape,” answered Bishop Rhoades. “I think it’s very similar to my own diocese in that some of the priorities and needs are the same.  Promoting priestly vocations would be way up there …that’s very important. We need more priests, no question.”

He also addressed financial challenges facing Catholic schools, saying he dealt with that in Harrisburg. Bishop Rhoades is in the middle of a $45-million building project in Harrisburg.

He talked about growing secularism and relativism in today’s society, and the need to “bear witness to our faith with courage.”

Bishop Rhoades is fluent in Spanish, having served in several Hispanic parishes and participating in the culture before becoming a bishop. Enid Roman-DeJesus, director of Hispanic Ministry for the diocese, says she’s excited.  “I think this is going to be a great thing for the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, absolutely,” said Roman-deJesus, discussing her hope that more resources might be added to the Office of Hispanic Ministry.
“Hundreds of people need our services, and now that the economy is kind of run down, the people need a lot of social outreach … food pantry, things like that … (help with) problems in the family,” explained Roman-deJesus. “The Hispanic community tends to come to the church for whatever they need … the church is pretty much everything for them and it’s a safe place for them to ask for help.”

Bishop Rhoades says he’s looking forward to meeting Holy Cross Father John I. Jenkins, president of the University of Notre Dame, and looks forward to a “personal and pastoral relationship” with the Notre Dame community. Bishop Rhoades said he is “very aware” of the controversy this past spring surrounding Father Jenkins’ decision to honor President Barack Obama, despite the president’s support of abortion.

“I supported the position of Bishop D’Arcy and his pastoral concerns this past year,” said Bishop Rhoades. “I feel there’s a responsibility of the bishop to promote Catholic education at Catholic universities, especially in their own dioceses, and especially to promote the strengthening of Catholic identity. I think that’s just part of the role of the bishop. And I think that Bishop D’Arcy has done that in an admirable way, and I hope that I can do the same.”

While Bishop Rhoades asked for prayers as he begins his new job, Bishop D’Arcy said his successor makes personal prayer a priority himself.
“We were looking last night for a place for him to live,” explained Bishop D’Arcy,  “and he said he was thinking of where he could make his holy hour every day in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. What a wonderful thing to hear.”

Bishop Rhoades says he is grateful that Bishop D’Arcy will remain in residence in Fort Wayne, and as a token of appreciation gave him a gift from Hershey, Pa. — a 5-pound chocolate bar may help make up for what Bishop D’Arcy refers to as “a cross to bear.”
“There is one thing that has to be said,” deadpanned the Boston-born Bishop D’Arcy. “No one is perfect, and I’ve always been honest with the press. The new bishop is a New York Yankee fan!”

After the laughter died down, both bishops met with members of the media, diocesan staff members and others who wished to visit. Moments earlier, Bishop Rhoades called on Our Lady to guide us all.

“I was very happy to learn that the Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of the Immaculate Conception, is the patroness of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend,” concluded Bishop Rhoades. “Let us implore her intercession, that we may fulfill the  tasks which Christ has entrusted to us. Our Blessed Mother accompanies us, with her maternal care, as we journey together on our earthly pilgrimage of faith, hope and love.”