November 20, 2009
Special Report | Strategic Planning
The first of three? New bishop appointed for Fort Wayne-South Bend
Bishop John M. D'Arcy of Fort Wayne-South Bend (left) stands with his successor, Bishop Kevin Rhoades of Harrisburg, Pa. (Submitted photo) Click for a larger version.
By PAUL R. LEINGANG (Message editor)
Bishop Gerald A. Gettelfinger met Nov. 12 with news executives from newspaper, magazine, radio and television outlets serving the people of the Diocese of Evansville. There were just two topics for discussion at the working luncheon: the bishop’s retirement and the strategic planning process.
Bishop Gettelfinger pointed out that in accord with Church law, he had to submit his resignation when he reached the age of 75 — which will be Oct. 20, 2010. He quickly added that there is no law governing when the pope has to accept such a resignation.
He noted that two other bishops had already submitted their resignations — but as of Nov. 12, neither had been accepted. Two days later, on Nov. 14, the news broke that Bishop Kevin Rhoades of Harrisburg, Pa., had been named by Pope Benedict XVI to succeed Bishop D’Arcy of Fort Wayne-South Bend..
Bishop D’Arcy had submitted his resignation at age 75 — in 2007. Bishop William Higi of Lafayette in Indiana reached the age of 75 in 2008.
Bishop Gettelfinger had predicted that Bishop D’Arcy’s successor would be the first to be named, then the successor for Bishop Higi, and then — the third for Indiana — his successor would follow.
Bishop Gettelfinger noted that Bishop D’Arcy had already remained for more than two years after his resignation was offered, and that Bishop Higi had remained for more than a year in his position.
Even though Bishop Gettelfinger will be 75 next October, he said he expects that he “will be around for a few more years.”
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