Pope Names Detroit Priests As Auxiliary Bishops of Detroit

WASHINGTON—Pope Benedict XVI has named Msgr. Donald F. Hanchon, 63, pastor of Holy Redeemer Parish in Detroit and episcopal vicar for the central region of the Archdiocese of Detroit, and Father Michael Byrnes, 52, pastor of Presentation/Our Lady of Victory Parish and vice-rector of Sacred Heart Seminary, as auxiliary bishops for the Detroit Archdiocese.

The appointments were publicized in Washington, March 22, by Archbishop Pietro Sambi, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States.

Donald F. Hanchon was born October 9, 1947, in Wayne, Michigan. He holds a Master of Divinity degree from St. John Provincial Seminary, a Master of Arts degree in religious studies from the University of Detroit and a Master of Arts degree in liturgical studies from the University of Notre Dame.

Bishop-elect Hanchon was ordained a priest for the Detroit Archdiocese in 1974, and named Chaplain to His Holiness (Monsignor) in 2005.

After ordination, Bishop-elect Hanchon’s assignments included associate pastor, Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Detroit, 1974-1979; associate pastor, St. Mark Parish, Warren, Michigan, 1979-1981; director of vocations for the archdiocese and administrator of St. Bernard Parish, Detroit, 1981-1985; study for Hispanic ministry, 1986; pastor, St. Joseph Parish,

Monroe, Michigan, 1987-1992; coordinator, Archdiocesan Hispanic Ministry, 1992-2009; pastor, St. Gabriel Parish, Detroit and administrator of Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission, Port Huron, Michigan, 1992-1999; pastor, Holy Redeemer Parish, 1999-present; and episcopal vicar for central region of the archdiocese, 2009-present.

Michael Byrnes was born August 23, 1958 and ordained a priest for the Detroit Archdiocese in 1996.

Bishop-elect Byrnes holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Michigan; Master of Divinity and Master of Arts degrees from Sacred Heart Seminary, Detroit; and a Licentiate and Ph.D. in biblical studies from the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome.

Assignments after ordination include associate pastor, St. Joan of Arc Parish, St. Clair Shores, Michigan, 1996-1999; graduate studies in Rome, 1999-2003; faculty of Sacred Heart Seminary, 2003; vice-rector and dean of formation, Sacred Heart Seminary, and pastor Presentation/Our Lady of Victory Parish, 2004-present.

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