Pope Leo XIV Accepts Resignation of Bishop Liam Cary of the Diocese of Baker; Appoints Rev. Thomas Hennen as Successor

WASHINGTON – Pope Leo XIV has accepted the resignation of Bishop Liam Cary, 77, from the pastoral governance of the Diocese of Baker, and has appointed Reverend Thomas Hennen, as Bishop-elect of Baker. Father Hennen is a priest of the Diocese of Davenport and currently serves as the diocese’s vicar general and rector of Sacred Heart Cathedral in Davenport, Iowa. The resignation and appointment were publicized in Washington, D.C. on July 10, 2025, by Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States.

The following biographical information for Bishop-elect Hennen was drawn from preliminary materials provided to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops:

Father Hennen was born July 4, 1978, in Ottumwa, Iowa. Bishop-elect Hennen pursued studies at Saint Ambrose University in Davenport. He also studied at the Pontifical North American College in Rome, and the Pontifical Gregorian University, earning a bachelor’s in sacred theology (2003). He received a licentiate of sacred theology (2005) from the Pontifical Alphonsian Academy in Rome. Father Hennen was ordained to the priesthood on July 10, 2004.

Bishop-elect Hennen’s assignments after ordination include: parochial vicar, Prince of Peace parish in Clinton (2005-2010); campus minister and parochial vicar, Newman Center and Saint Mary in Iowa City (2010-2011); chaplain and theology teacher at Assumption High School in Davenport (2014-2017). He also served at Sacred Heart parish in Oxford Junction, Saint James parish in Toronto, Sacred Heart parish in Lost Nation and Saints Philip and James parish in Ground Mound (2015); chaplain and director of campus ministry at Saint Ambrose University in Davenport (2017-2021); parochial vicar at Saint Anthony parish in Davenport (2017-2018). Since 2021, he has served as priest moderator of Saint Andrew parish in Blue Grass and rector of Sacred Heart Cathedral in Davenport.

Bishop-elect Hennen’s additional responsibilities for the Diocese of Davenport have included: director of vocations (2011-2018); associate director of vocations (2018-2021); consultor and vicar general (2020-present). Bishop-elect Hennen speaks English, Spanish, and Italian. 

The Diocese of Baker is comprised of 66,826 square miles in the State of Oregon and has a total population of 532,734 of which 33,356 are Catholic.

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