Cardinal Justin Rigali, Archbishop of Philadelphia, announced at a news conference at the Archdiocesan Office Center in Philadelphia this morning that Pope Benedict XVI has accepted the resignation of the Most Reverend Robert P. Maginnis, Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia. Cardinal Rigali also announced that the Holy Father has appointed Reverend Monsignor John J. McIntyre as an Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia.

Bishop Maginnis, age 76, has headed the Secretariat for Evangelization for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia since June of 2004. Bishop Maginnis oversees all aspects of Evangelization, as well as the Archdiocesan Metropolitan Tribunal, Chancery Office, Office for Consecrated Life, Office for Research and Planning; Office for Black Catholics and Office for Hispanic Catholics. Prior to his Episcopal ordination in 1996, Bishop Maginnis served for 21 years in the Department of Youth Activities; this later became the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO). A Philadelphia native, Bishop Maginnis is a graduate of St. Joseph's Preparatory School in Philadelphia.

Bishop Maginnis said, "I thank God for the gift of the priesthood. I have enjoyed 49 years of the priesthood in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in various assignments. I look forward to continuing to work in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in any capacity that Cardinal Rigali would wish me to be involved. I look forward to continuing to be of service to the people of the Archdiocese."

Bishop-elect McIntyre, age 46, is a native of Philadelphia. After attending Father Judge High School for three years, he decided to study for the Redemptorists and attended Saint Mary's High School Seminary located within the Diocese of Erie. He then attended Saint Alphonsus Seminary in Connecticut and, having decided to study for the diocesan priesthood, attended Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, PA. He was ordained a priest in 1992. Since 1999, Bishop-elect McIntyre has served as Secretary to the Cardinal Archbishop.

Cardinal Rigali said, "Monsignor McIntyre - now Bishop-elect McIntyre - is a priest of great compassion and kindness, humility and tranquility. He is self-effacing and always puts the Lord's work first, never his own needs. He lives out his priestly ministry with quiet joy each day and I know he will bring the same zeal to his episcopal ministry."

Cardinal Rigali will ordain Bishop-elect McIntyre to the episcopacy on August 6, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia.

The Bishop-elect's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas and Blanche McIntyre, along with his brother priests, friends and colleagues, attended the news conference. In his remarks, Bishop-elect McIntyre said, "For the last eighteen years I have had the singular privilege of being a Catholic priest. What a joy to know the will of God in your life and to be given the grace to follow it! What a joy for me to know that the will of God for me is a share in the Priesthood of His Son Jesus Christ. I can think of no greater honor than celebrating Mass each day and being about the many and varied responsibilities that make up the day of a priest."

Bishop-elect McIntyre has served the Church in a number of capacities. For three years following his 1992 Ordination he was parochial vicar at Saint Dominic Parish, Philadelphia, followed by four years in a similar capacity at St. Mark Parish in Bristol, Bucks County. Since 1999, he has served as Secretary to the Cardinal Archbishop.

Biographical Information:

John J. McIntyre was born in the Germantown section of Philadelphia on August 20, 1963 to Thomas and Blanche (nee Ferrero) McIntyre. He has two brothers, Thomas (Kim) and Brian.The McIntyres were parishioners of St. Michael of the Saints Parish in Germantown followed by Resurrection of Our Lord Parish in Rhawnhurst. John McIntyre graduated from Saint Basil Elementary School (of the Ukrainian Archeparchy) in Philadelphia. He attended Father Judge High School, Philadelphia, for three years before deciding to study for the Redemptorists and attended Saint Mary's High School Seminary located within the Diocese of Erie. He graduated from Saint Alphonsus Seminary in Connecticut in 1986. He served as a lay teacher for two years at Saint Benedict School in Philadelphia before entering Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary. He earned a Masters of Divinity from Saint Charles in 1991. He was ordained a priest in 1992.

Bishop-elect McIntyre served as a parochial vicar at St. Dominic Parish, Philadelphia from 1992 to 1995, and as parochial vicar at St. Mark Parish, Bristol from 1995 to 1999. Since 1999 he has served as Secretary to the Cardinal Archbishop.

In 2003, he was named Chaplain to His Holiness with the title of "Monsignor" and in 2005 a Prelate of Honor.

He also has served on the Archdiocesan Admissions Board for Saint Charles Seminary; the Council of Priests; and as Chaplain to the Sisters of Mercy, Merion, PA.

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