Father David J. Walkowiak, a priest of the Cleveland diocese, was
appointed Bishop of Grand Rapids, Mich., on April 18 by Pope Francis.
“I am grateful to Pope Francis for entrusting me with this apostolic
office as bishop of the Diocese of Grand Rapids,” said Bishop-designate
Walkowiak.
“In accepting this appointment I renew my trust in the Lord who asks me
to set out again on a new mission. I thank God for providing me with
the opportunity to serve this local church, which I pray will be a
blessing to its people.”
Bishop-designate Walkowiak will be consecrated a bishop June 18,
becoming the 12th bishop of Grand Rapids. The diocese is located in
western Michigan, and is home to 182,000 Catholics in 82 parishes. In
2006, nearly 13 percent of the total population of the diocese was
Catholic.
He succeeds Bishop Walter Hurley, who has been the shepherd of Grand
Rapids since 2005.
Beginning today, Bishop Hurley serves as apostolic
administrator of the diocese until Bishop-designate Walkowiak's
installation on June 18 at the Cathedral of Saint Andrew.
Bishop Hurley turned 75, which is the mandatory retirement age for
bishops, last May. He submitted his resignation to Pope Benedict, which
has now been accepted by Pope Francis.
Bishop Hurley announced that he will continue to live in the diocese,
assisting Bishop-designate Walkowiak “in our parishes and the diocese as
called upon to serve.”
“Catholics in the Diocese of Grand Rapids are fortunate to have someone
with Bishop-designate Walkowiak’s experience to lead the faithful of
West Michigan into the future,” Bishop Hurley said.
“Bishop-designate Walkowiak’s education, service to the Church and
pastoral ministry to the people of the Diocese of Cleveland will be of
great benefit in this new role to which he has been called.”
The incoming bishop was raised in Ohio and was ordained a priest for
the Cleveland diocese in 1979. He has served in parishes and is
currently a pastor.
He received a doctorate in canon law from Catholic University of
America, and has worked in the diocesan chancery, as an associate judge
of the appellate tribunal for the Cincinnati province. He has also been
on the faculty of Saint Mary Seminary in Wickliffe.
Pope Francis also appointed a bishop to a Croatian archdiocese today.
In the U.S., there are currently seven vacant dioceses, as well as an Eastern Catholic eparchy.