Home / News & Publications / Michigan Catholic News / 2009 / Msgr. Halfpenny to oversee clergy, consecrated life office
Msgr. Halfpenny to oversee clergy, consecrated life office
by Jared Field of The Michigan Catholic
Published October 23, 2009
Detroit - Archbishop Allen Vigneron announced Msgr. Patrick Halfpenny, pastor of St. Paul on the Lake Parish in Grosse Pointe Farms, has been appointed the director of the newly-organized Office for Clergy and Consecrated Life.
The new office is one part of the restructuring plan set forth with the goal of streamlining Central Services of the archdiocese.
Msgr. Halfpenny will lead a team of priests and others, providing pastoral care including the ongoing theological, pastoral and spiritual formation of priests. The office will also oversee the permanent diaconate program, the delegate for consecrated life, and immigration legal services for clergy and religious.
In a letter to priests making the announcement, Archbishop Vigneron reminded priests of his dedication to support their ever-expanding scope of service.
"Strengthening the priesthood is one of my key priorities as your archbishop," he wrote. "I am grateful that we are blessed with so many generous and talented priests."
Msgr. Halfpenny said he was surprised and honored by the announcement.
"There's going to be a lot involved in this, but how it will work out is not altogether clear to me," he said. "But, if this is what God wants me to do, He will give me the wherewithal to do it. It's His work, not mine."
Msgr. Halfpenny said he will be responsible for helping his fellow priests develop specific ways of supporting each other spiritually and emotionally.
"I know how important that has been in my own life," said Msgr. Halfpenny, who, as part of his new position, will also work to further ongoing spiritual formation among priests. "As priests, with increased demands and fewer numbers, it's even more important that we take time away for these kinds of things."
Msgr. Halfpenny has served previously in numerous capacities, including spiritual director and vice-rector at Sacred Heart Major Seminary, editor-in-chief of The Michigan Catholic and Ecumenical Advisor to the archbishop. He will continue to serve as pastor of St. Paul on the Lake.
Archbishop Vigneron also announced that Msgr. Michael LeFevre, rector of Most Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in Detroit, will continue to serve as part of the team, coordinating specific care for priests needing special assistance and support. Msgr. George Browne will continue to serve as the archbishop's delegate to senior priests and Fr. Tim Babcock will also remain in his role of processing the requests of international priests and overseeing their acculturation into the archdiocese.
According to the letter, the new office will have primary responsibilities for "relations with international priests, the incardination process and various administrative matters concerning the provision of benefits to priests."
For the time being, Msgr. Halfpenny will remain the ecumenical advisor, though Archbishop Vigneron said he anticipates appointing another priest to succeed him in the coming weeks.
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