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Home  / News & Publications /  Michigan Catholic News / 2009 /  Welcome home!

by Joe Kohn of The Michigan Catholic
Published January 9, 2009

Gregg McIntosh | The Michigan Catholic A cheering crowd greets Archbishop-designate Allen Vigneron as he enters the Cardinal Mooney Room at Sacred Heart Major Seminary Monday for a press conference after his appointment was announced.

Detroit — When Bishop Allen Vigneron was introduced Monday as the next archbishop of Detroit, many in the local Church gave thanks to the Lord and to the Holy Father for sending them not just a new chief shepherd, but also one with a friendly and familiar face.

"He's a very intelligent man and a good teacher, but also with a pastoral heart," said Msgr. Charles Kosanke, current rector of SS. Cyril & Methodius Seminary in Orchard Lake who had served with Bishop Vigneron at Sacred Heart Major Seminary.

"Because of his good mind and his good heart, he is going to make a very effective chief shepherd for Detroit," he said. Msgr. Kosanke joined a chorus of local Church leaders who know Bishop Vigneron from his days in Detroit as an associate pastor, professor, seminary rector and auxiliary bishop. Many expressed their approval early in the week of Bishop Vigneron's appointment – a surprise to many, as he becomes only the first priest ordained for the archdiocese to go on to become its archbishop.

Bishop Vigneron, 60, has most recently been bishop of Oakland, Calif., where he was assigned as coadjutor bishop in 2003; he shortly after was named chief shepherd of that diocese. On Monday, Pope Benedict XVI named him the successor to Cardinal Adam Maida effective upon his installation at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament on Jan. 28. Upon becoming archbishop of Detroit, he also will become the publisher of The Michigan Catholic newspaper.

At a media introduction on Monday, Bishop Vigneron returned the warm thoughts, saying he feels close to the people to whom he's been appointed shepherd.

"On this first day of my appointment as archbishop, my thoughts and prayers are particularly focused on the priests, the deacons and seminarians, the religious and the lay faithful I will serve here," said a visibly emotional Bishop Vigneron during his introduction. "Because I am a son of this archdiocese, they have long been dear to me. Now that I have become the spiritual father of this local Church, I want them to know they are even dearer still."

Cardinal Maida had ordained Bishop Vigneron as an auxiliary bishop in 1996, when the latter chose the phrase "Aspicientes in iesum" for his coat of arms – taken from Hebrews (12:2) and meaning "keeping our eyes fixed on Christ." The cardinal this week expressed his admiration for and confidence in the bishop as he introduced him.

At his press introduction, Bishop Vigneron also met with Catholic school students from Loyola High School in Detroit, St. Joan of Arc in St. Clair Shores and Detroit Cristo Rey High School.

"Both the Holy Spirit and the Holy Father know of Archbishop Vigneron's gifts and talents as well as the many needs that we have here in Detroit," said Cardinal Maida, who had submitted his letter of resignation to the Vatican in March 2005 upon his 75th birthday, as is required by Church law. "Over the years, I have valued his friendship and come to appreciate his wisdom, pastoral sensitivity, and loving care for all those in need. It is a great blessing to have him return back to us." In Sacred Heart Major Seminary's Cardinal Mooney Room, where the media introduction had taken place on Monday, it wasn't hard to find old acquaintances of the soon-to-be archbishop. Bishop Vigneron recalled his days as a student at the seminary, telling of how the room had once had been divided and had housed a pool table and typewriters.

Sr. Mary Finn, HVM, a longtime faculty member at the seminary remembered Bishop Vigneron from when he was a student. She expressed confidence in the metro area's new spiritual leader.

"He was a student of God's Word," Sr. Finn said. "He's not only a reader of books — he's a reader of people. He's a good reader of the needs of the area."

Msgr. Patrick Halfpenny, pastor of St. Paul on the Lake Parish in Grosse Pointe, attended seminary with Bishop Vigneron and remained close friends with him over the years, even visiting him in Oakland.

"People whose opinions matter much more than mine, including Pope Benedict, see him as a very talented person and a gifted leader in the Church — and from my perspective, I wholeheartedly agree," said Msgr. Halfpenny as Bishop Vigneron was being introduced to media members on Monday.

He noted that Bishop Vigneron showed a sincere attachment to the people in the Diocese of Oakland, and he was confident that the people in the Archdiocese of Detroit would experience that same love from their new archbishop.

Gregg McIntosh | The Michigan Catholic Cardinal Adam Maida and his successor, Archbishop-designate Allen Vigneron, stroll the cathedral grounds early Monday morning.

"He's going to love the Church here with that same intensity which he had in Oakland," he said.

Another contingent excited about the new archbishop was that of his own family. Bishop Vigneron's parents and four out of his five siblings still live in the archdiocese.

"We feel blessed, first of all, to have him back home," said Gary Vigneron, the new archbishop's brother, who was at the press conference. "We missed him while he was in California. We're a very close family."

He said his parents, now both in their 80s and still at Immaculate Conception Parish in Anchorville, where Bishop Vigneron was raised, were excited about their son's appointment.

"He goes where the spirit leads him, he always says. It's a really joyful day for all of us," he said.

Larry A. Peplin | The Michigan Catholic Cardinal Edmund C. Szoka, the eighth archbishop, shares a quiet moment with Archbishop-designate Allen Vigneron, who will be the 10th archbishop.

At his press introduction, Bishop Vigneron also met with Catholic school students from Loyola High School in Detroit, St. Joan of Arc in St. Clair Shores and Detroit Cristo Rey High School.

The youngsters said they were excited to meet the archdiocese's next archbishop.

"It's an honor, because not a lot of people get to meet our new archbishop on the day he's announced," said Marisa Ruggirello, 13, an eighth-grader at St. Joan of Arc.

Her classmate, Jeremy Otto, 14, noticed the healthy turnout for the archbishop's introduction.

"I look around and I don't see a lot of seats, so I feel blessed to be a part of it," Jeremy said.

At his introduction on Monday, Bishop Vigneron expressed his gratitude to the Lord for the opportunity to serve in his home diocese.

Gregg McIntosh | The Michigan Catholic Cardinal Adam Maida, the ninth bishop and fourth archbishop, welcomes his successor, Bishop Allen Vigneron, to speak at a press conference announcing his new position Monday morning at Sacred Heart Major Seminary.

"I take this opportunity to express, also, my gratitude to our Holy Father, Pope Benedict, for the confidence he has shown in me by calling me to be the principal pastor of the Archdiocese of Detroit," Bishop Vigneron said. "My answer of 'yes' to his call is the fruit of my communion with him, the Successor of Peter – communion in the life and faith handed on to us from the Apostles.

Gregg McIntosh | The Michigan Catholic Students from Detroit Cristo Rey, St. Joan of Arc and Loyola schools present Bishop Vigneron with a Detroit sweatshirt.

"I have promised him, and I promise all the faithful of the archdiocese, that this Catholic communion will be the touchstone of my ministry in the archdiocese."

"A New Archbishop for Detroit" will air at 11 a.m. today and 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10, on CTND.

• Archbishop transition updates: www.aodonline.org/archbishop