June 10, 2020

Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski introduced as 10th archbishop of St. Louis

REGIONAL
By Rebecca Drake

 

SPRINGFIELD – Springfield Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski traveled to the St. Louis Archdiocese as its archbishop-elect with this advice from his mother, Jean: “Don’t get a big head.”

Bishop Rozanski shared this anecdote during a morning press conference held June 10 at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis.

Earlier that morning, the news had broken that Pope Francis had named Bishop Rozanski as the 10^th archbishop of St. Louis, Missouri. Concurrently, the pope accepted the resignation of Archbishop Robert J. Carlson, who has led the St. Louis Archdiocese for 11 years, having been named to his post on June 10, 2009.

On June 30, 2019 Archbishop Carlson turned 75 and submitted his resignation to the pope, as required by church law.

For Bishop Rozanski, the 61-year-old archbishop-elect, this appointment will move him from one of the smaller dioceses in the United States to one of the larger archdioceses with some 505,000 Catholics worshipping in 182 parishes.

Geographically, the archdiocese comprises St. Louis and 10 western Missouri counties, covering an area in excess of 5,900 square miles, roughly twice the size of the Springfield Diocese.

In a letter emailed to diocesan clergy, religious, and staff, Archbishop-elect Rozanski said it was a “privilege to serve” as bishop of Springfield.

“Please know of my great esteem for you, especially evident in our parishes, schools and so many services that reach out to the poor, the underprivileged, and the pre-born and youth, that make the Gospel truly present where it is needed the most,” he wrote in his letter.

Archbishop-elect Rozanski was appointed as the ninth bishop of Springfield on June 19, 2014, coming to western Massachusetts from his home, the Archdiocese of Baltimore, where he was raised and attended Catholic schools. He was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Baltimore on Nov. 24, 1984. He was nominated to serve as auxiliary bishop on July 3, 2004 by Pope St. John Paul II and his episcopal ordination took place on Aug. 24, 2004 at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen, Baltimore.

Although this appointment takes effect immediately, Archbishop-elect Rozanski will serve as apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Springfield until he is formally installed in St. Louis on Aug. 25 in the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis.

Local leaders offer congratulations

Springfield Bishop Emeritus Timothy A. McDonnell introduced Bishop Rozanski to the Springfield Diocese in June 2014 with the words, “You’re gonna love him.” On June 10, 2020, he offered praise and congratulations for the archbishop-elect.

“It was just six years ago this month that, as in the Archdiocese of St. Louis today, the announcement of a new bishop was made here in the Springfield Diocese. That new bishop was Mitchell Rozanski,” Bishop McDonnell said in a written statement. “Over the past six years, Bishop Rozanski has been for the Diocese of Springfield a shepherd, a priest, a pastor, a father and a friend. We’ve come to know his compassion in times of sadness, his strength in situations of challenge, and the constancy of his caring and generous heart. He has been for us a man of God and a people person. He is family.

“St. Louis’ gain is our loss. But we are better off for having had his presence the past six years,” said Bishop McDonnell. “We thank him. We shall miss him. May God bless Archbishop Rozanski in his new endeavor, and may God bless all of us in the Diocese of Springfield. Let us pray for Bishop Mitch and for each other.”

Springfield mayor Domenic Sarno also issued a statement on Wednesday morning, saying,  “Bittersweet — Springfield and surrounding areas’ loss and St. Louis’ gain. I’ve had a wonderful spiritual and working relationship with Bishop Rozanski,” Sarno said. “He has always put forth a very caring, calming and reassuring leadership style. I will miss him and wish him congratulations and continued success in preaching the word of the Lord: peace, understanding and harmony.”

St. Louis Press Conference

At the press conference in St. Louis, Archbishop Carlson told an audience of staff, clergy, and reporters: “You are receiving from the Holy Father a true man of God. Pope Francis is appointing someone who knows the joy of the Gospel. He has a zeal for evangelization and is known throughout the Northeast, from Baltimore to Boston, for his work with peoples of all colors, all creeds.”

Noting that Archbishop-elect Rozanski has managed a big city, as well as serving as a parish pastor, Archbishop Carlson said, “To my mind, he is exactly what we need.”

Addressing Archbishop-elect Rozanski, he described the more than 500,000 Catholics in the St. Louis Archdiocese as “amazingly friendly,” generous, and possessing “a deep love for the Lord.” He also noted that the archdiocese has 182 parishes, 80 religious communities, and a thriving Catholic school system, including 24 Catholic high schools.

In his own remarks at the press conference, Archbishop-elect Rozanski said he was very surprised to receive the news two weeks ago of his new appointment. He offered thanks to Pope Francis “for the trust he has placed in me” and to Archbishop Carlson, saying, “I will count on his wise counsel and wisdom.”

Citing the current crises of the pandemic and the “specter of racism” in the U.S., Archbishop-elect Rozanski said, “Jesus has entrusted to us his church, to be his presence in our world.” He said he would work together with the laypeople, religious, and clergy of the archdiocese to bring the healing presence of God that is needed at this time.

The archbishop-elect also thanked the people of the Springfield Diocese for their welcome and collaboration over the last six years. “They are in my prayers,” he said. “Good-byes are never easy, but we remain close in faith.”

Following the two prelates’ remarks, Archbishop-elect Rozanski answered reporters’ questions, which dealt with inclusivity, clergy abuse, and declining numbers of parishioners in the St. Louis Archdiocese. He said getting to know each other as people, sharing the faith joyfully, and increasing transparency regarding abuse claims would be priorities for him

On the personal level, when asked how he would describe himself, he responded, “The happiest day of my life was the day of my ordination as a priest. And the happiest years of my life where when I served in parishes… I am a parish priest.”

Asked how his family members, including his parents, Alfred and Jean, and his brothers, Kenneth and Albert, responded to his elevation to archbishop, he shared this comment from his mother: “I told you this when you were named a bishop, I told you this when you were named to Springfield, and I’m telling you this again: Don’t get a big head. Always be humble.”

An interview with Archbishop-elect Rozanski will be featured on the June 13 edition of “Real to Reel” which airs Saturday evenings at 7 p.m. on WWLP-22 NEWS and in the Berkshires Sunday mornings at 5:30 on Albany’s Fox 23, WXXA.