Pope Francis Accepts Resignation of Bishop Michael Bransfield of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston (English & Spanish)
WASHINGTON—Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Michael Bransfield from the pastoral governance of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, West Virginia and has appointed the Most Revered William E. Lori, Archbishop of Baltimore, as the Apostolic Administrator to serve until the appointment
WASHINGTON—Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Michael Bransfield from the pastoral governance of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, West Virginia and has appointed the Most Revered William E. Lori, Archbishop of Baltimore, as the Apostolic Administrator to serve until the appointment and installation of the new bishop. Bishop Bransfield has reached the retirement age for bishops of 75.
The resignation and appointment were publicized in Washington, September 13, 2018, by Archbishop Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States.
Bishop Bransfield was born September 8, 1943, in Philadelphia, PA. He graduated from St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in 1971, where he earned a master's in Divinity. He also earned his Master's in Philosophy from The Catholic University of America.
He was ordained to the priesthood on May 15, 1971 by Cardinal John Krol for service in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
Assignments after ordination included: teacher, chaplain, and Chairman of the Religion Department at Lansdale Catholic High School. In 1980, Bishop Bransfield went on to serve as Assistant Director and Director of Liturgy, Director of Finance, and then Rector of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (1990).
On December 9, 2004, Pope Saint John Paul II appointed Bishop Bransfield the eighth Bishop of Wheeling-Charleston, West Virginia. He was ordained a bishop on February 22,2005.
Bishop Bransfield served as a member of the Communications Committee, the National Collections Committee, and Treasurer of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
The Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston is comprised of 24,282 square miles in the state of West Virginia and has a total population of 1,844,128 of which 77,874or 4 percent, are Catholic.
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Keywords: U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, USCCB, Pope Francis, Archbishop Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio, Bishop Michael Bransfield, Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, Archbishop William E. Lori, Baltimore.
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Judy Keane
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WASHINGTON— ElPapa Francisco aceptó la renuncia del Obispo Michael Bransfield del gobierno pastoral de la Diócesis de Wheeling-Charleston, West Virginia, y nombró alReverendísimo William E. Lori, Arzobispo de Baltimore, como el Administrador Apostólico hasta el nombramiento e instalación del nuevo obispo. El obispo Bransfield alcanzó la edad de jubilación para los obispos que es de 75 años.
La renuncia y elnombramiento fueron publicados en Washington, hoy 13 de septiembre de 2018, porel Arzobispo Christophe Pierre, nuncio apostólico en los Estados Unidos.
El Obispo Bransfield nació el 8 de septiembre de 1943 en Filadelfia, Pensilvania. Segraduó del Seminario St. Charles Borromeo en 1971, donde obtuvo una maestría enDivinidad. También obtuvo su Maestría en Filosofía de la Universidad Católicade América.
Fue ordenado sacerdote el 15 de mayo de 1971 por el Cardenal John Krol para servir en la Arquidiócesis de Filadelfia.
Entre susasignaciones después de la ordenación estuvieron: maestro, capellán ypresidente del Departamento de Religión en Lansdale Catholic High School. Desde1980, el Obispo Bransfield ejerció como Director Asistente, Director deLiturgia, Director de Finanzas y luego Rector de la Basílica del Santuario Nacional de la Inmaculada Concepción (1990).
El 9 dediciembre de 2004, el Papa San Juan Pablo II nombró al Obispo Bransfield como eloctavo obispo de Wheeling-Charleston, West Virginia. Fue ordenado en ese cargoel 22 de febrero de 2005.
El Obispo Bransfield fue miembro del Comité de Comunicaciones, del Comité Nacional deColectas Nacionales y Tesorero de la Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de los Estados Unidos.
La Diócesis de Wheeling-Charleston está conformada por 24.282 millas cuadradas en el estado de West Virginia y tiene una población total de 1.844.128 personas de las cuales77.874, lo que equivale al 4 por ciento, son católicas.
