ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA

Good morning. Earlier today our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, made two important announcements that impact our Archdiocese. First, the Holy Father announced that he has accepted the resignation of Bishop Robert Maginnis, one of our Auxiliary Bishops in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Bishop Maginnis was ordained a priest in 1961 and a bishop in 1996. He has served in numerous capacities in the Archdiocese, including as Director of CYO for twenty-one years, and since 2004 he has overseen the Secretariat for Evangelization as well as other offices.

Bishop Maginnis is a faith-filled and tireless servant who demonstrates his devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus through selfless service to the faithful of the Archdiocese. I am so grateful to Bishop Maginnis for his constant assistance in the pastoral and administrative care of the Archdiocese. Those who know him well are touched day in and day out by his serenity, his wisdom and the dedicated priestly example he sets. His ministry has been a grace for the Archdiocese and I am confident that in retirement Bishop Maginnis will continue to be an instrument of grace to all who benefit from his pastoral care. Bishop Maginnis.

Our Holy Father has made another announcement this morning that brings honor and pride to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. It gives me great pleasure to announce that our Holy Father has appointed Monsignor John McIntyre as an Auxiliary Bishop for Philadelphia.

I welcome Monsignor McIntyre's parents, Tom and Blanche, who are here with us today and who provided for Monsignor the foundation of his faith. Monsignor McIntyre was born in Germantown in St. Michael of the Saints Parish. His family moved to Resurrection of Our Lord Parish in Rhawnhurst and 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 our own Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary. He was ordained a priest in 1992.

Monsignor McIntyre served as parochial vicar at Saint Dominic Parish in Philadelphia and Saint Mark Parish in Bristol. Since 1999 he has been Secretary to the Cardinal Archbishop.

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. Bishop-elect McIntyre will be Ordained a bishop on Friday, August 6th at 2:00 p.m. the Solemnity of the Transfiguration of Our Lord at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul.

I ask God's blessing upon his new ministry and our continued collaboration together with the other Auxiliary Bishops. It is planned that Bishop-elect McIntyre will assume the responsibilities of Bishop Maginnis who has graciously offered to continue in his current position until August 6. I am grateful to our Holy Father for graciously recognizing the pastoral needs of the almost 1.5 million people in the Archdiocese. I thank our new bishop for his willingness to serve the faithful. Bishop-elect McIntyre.