Pittsburgh Receives an Old Friend as a New Shepherd

CNA reports:

This morning the Vatican announced that Pope Benedict XVI has named the Bishop of Green Bay, Wisconsin, Most Reverend David A. Zubik as the Bishop of Pittsburgh. The Bishop Zubik’s reaction to the news was that he was “stunned” to hear of his appointment by the Pope.

Personally, this appointment is interesting to me because I was born in the diocese of Pittsburgh and have family still living in the area. From all reports, this seems to be a great fit for the diocese. Bishop Zubik grew up in the diocese, served as a priest and then as an auxilary bishop before moving to Green Bay. More of his "stats" can be found in a story the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette did about this time last year:

A Sewickley native, he was ordained in 1974. He spent five years in parish ministry before becoming vice principal of Quigley Catholic High School in Baden. He has a master's degree in education and is an excellent homilist. He is noted for his deep spirituality and life of prayer.

He became secretary to then-Bishop Anthony Bevilacqua in 1987 and rose through the chancery ranks. He was a key player in the diocesan reorganization that closed and merged parishes. He was made a bishop in 1997.

He was sent to Green Bay in 2003 to overhaul its administration. He has undertaken a Pittsburgh-style reorganization, but protests do not appear to have harmed his reputation. His Bishops' Appeal last year surpassed its goal of $4.8 million.

In 2004, he urged Catholics to make opposition to abortion and gay marriage top priorities when they voted, but he did not advocate denying communion to Catholic politicians who support abortion rights.

He has made outreach to Hispanics a priority and issued a strong statement urging compassion for all immigrants.

In church, "people are not illegal. People are people," he wrote.

He is a man who is well loved by the people and will be able to slide right into "the flow of things" because of his familiarity with the diocese and the friendships he already has with many of the priests there.

Wraping up his press confrence this morning he spoke about the future:

The newly appointed bishop says that his plans for his new diocese are to continue to try and involve the laity in leadership within the diocese, foster good relationships with people of other faiths, and to continue to strengthen the already strong Diocese of Pittsburgh.

Bishop Zubik closed the press conference by saying, “I beg for your prayers, patience, and your participation in the sacred service of leadership. I ask you to walk with me toward the kingdom.” He also invoked the protection of Mary the Mother of Jesus and offered God’s blessing to those gathered—“May God bless us always and in all ways.”

Bishop Zubik will be installed as Bishop of Pittsburgh at Saint Paul Cathedral, Oakland, on September 28, 2007, which he noted is the 49th anniversary of the late Pope John Paul II’s ordination as a bishop.