Archbishop Daniel Buechlein, OSB (right), introduces Bishop-Designate Christopher Coyne during a Press Conference at St. John Church in Indianapolis on January 14, 2010.On Friday, January 14, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Fr. Christopher Coyne as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. He will be assisting Archbishop Daniel Buechlein, OSB, in the administration and pastoring of the Archdiocese. Fr. Coyne is a priest of the Archdiocese of Boston and is currently serving as pastor of St. Margaret Mary Church in Westwood, Massachusetts. This is an exciting day for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, and we look forward to welcoming Bishop-designate Coyne to our local church!
Here are some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) you may be interested in:
What is an auxiliary bishop? Each diocese has a bishop who is called the ordinary, or diocesan bishop, the chief shepherd of the diocese. When pastoral needs suggest it, additional bishops can be appointed to assist the diocesan bishop in his ministry. An auxiliary bishop “assist[s] the diocesan bishop in the entire governance of the diocese and take[s] his place if he is absent or impeded” (Code of Canon Law, 405.2).
How will the new bishop relate to our current archbishop? Archbishop Daniel Buechlein, OSB, remains the diocesan bishop of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and is the chief shepherd of the diocese, with full pastoral and administrative responsibility for the diocese. As an auxiliary bishop, Bishop-designate Coyne will serve as Vicar General of the Archdiocese, second in leadership after the Archbishop, and will help Archbishop Daniel in his ministry. He will be able to assist in some pastoral functions that are reserved to bishops, like celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation, as well as other duties designated by the Archbishop.
Why have an auxiliary bishop now? Over the past few years, Archbishop Daniel has battled cancer and other health issues. The presence of an auxiliary bishop will allow the many responsibilities of a bishop to be shared among two people.
Have we had an auxiliary bishop before? The last auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis was in 1933-1934, when then-Bishop Joseph Ritter, a New Albany native, served in this capacity. Upon the death of Bishop Joseph Chartrand, Bishop Ritter became the diocesan bishop. He was later named Archbishop of St. Louis and a Cardinal. Bishop Denis O’Donaghue also served as auxiliary bishop in Indianapolis from 1900 until he was named bishop of Louisville in 1910.
Does an auxiliary bishop automatically succeed a diocesan bishop when he leaves the office? No. An auxiliary bishop does not have a right to succession when the diocesan bishop retires or dies. He remains as an auxiliary bishop, although he could be raised to the position of diocesan bishop or transferred to another diocese through a papal appointment. A coadjutor bishop does have automatic right to succession, but that is a different office and title than auxiliary bishop.
When will our new auxiliary bishop be ordained? Bishop-designate Coyne will be ordained a bishop on Wednesday, March 2, 2011, at St. John Church in downtown Indianapolis.
What do we know about our new auxiliary bishop? Bishop-designate Coyne is 52 years old and has served as a priest for 25 years. A native of Boston, he has a background as a pastor, teacher, liturgist, and communications coordinator. He holds a doctorate in liturgy from Sant’ Anselmo in Rome. In the Archdiocese of Boston, he has served as a parish pastor, media spokesperson, director of the Office of Worship, and professor of liturgy and homiletics at St. John Seminary in Brighton, MA. A media-savvy priest, he has a blog and has recorded a number of videos for CatholicTV.com, especially on issues of liturgy. He is new to Indiana – his only visit to the state before his appointment was to the University of Notre Dame – so we have a chance to show him some Hoosier hospitality!
What is an auxiliary bishop? Each diocese has a bishop who is called the ordinary, or diocesan bishop, the chief shepherd of the diocese. When pastoral needs suggest it, additional bishops can be appointed to assist the diocesan bishop in his ministry. An auxiliary bishop “assist[s] the diocesan bishop in the entire governance of the diocese and take[s] his place if he is absent or impeded” (Code of Canon Law, 405.2).
How will the new bishop relate to our current archbishop? Archbishop Daniel Buechlein, OSB, remains the diocesan bishop of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and is the chief shepherd of the diocese, with full pastoral and administrative responsibility for the diocese. As an auxiliary bishop, Bishop-designate Coyne will serve as Vicar General of the Archdiocese, second in leadership after the Archbishop, and will help Archbishop Daniel in his ministry. He will be able to assist in some pastoral functions that are reserved to bishops, like celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation, as well as other duties designated by the Archbishop.
Why have an auxiliary bishop now? Over the past few years, Archbishop Daniel has battled cancer and other health issues. The presence of an auxiliary bishop will allow the many responsibilities of a bishop to be shared among two people.
Have we had an auxiliary bishop before? The last auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis was in 1933-1934, when then-Bishop Joseph Ritter, a New Albany native, served in this capacity. Upon the death of Bishop Joseph Chartrand, Bishop Ritter became the diocesan bishop. He was later named Archbishop of St. Louis and a Cardinal. Bishop Denis O’Donaghue also served as auxiliary bishop in Indianapolis from 1900 until he was named bishop of Louisville in 1910.
Does an auxiliary bishop automatically succeed a diocesan bishop when he leaves the office? No. An auxiliary bishop does not have a right to succession when the diocesan bishop retires or dies. He remains as an auxiliary bishop, although he could be raised to the position of diocesan bishop or transferred to another diocese through a papal appointment. A coadjutor bishop does have automatic right to succession, but that is a different office and title than auxiliary bishop.
When will our new auxiliary bishop be ordained? Bishop-designate Coyne will be ordained a bishop on Wednesday, March 2, 2011, at St. John Church in downtown Indianapolis.
What do we know about our new auxiliary bishop? Bishop-designate Coyne is 52 years old and has served as a priest for 25 years. A native of Boston, he has a background as a pastor, teacher, liturgist, and communications coordinator. He holds a doctorate in liturgy from Sant’ Anselmo in Rome. In the Archdiocese of Boston, he has served as a parish pastor, media spokesperson, director of the Office of Worship, and professor of liturgy and homiletics at St. John Seminary in Brighton, MA. A media-savvy priest, he has a blog and has recorded a number of videos for CatholicTV.com, especially on issues of liturgy. He is new to Indiana – his only visit to the state before his appointment was to the University of Notre Dame – so we have a chance to show him some Hoosier hospitality!
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