Pope Names New Bishop for Harrisburg

Today at 12 noon, Rome time, it was announced that Pope Benedict XVI has named Bishop Joseph McFadden, auxiliary bishop of Philadelphia, as the 10th Bishop of the Diocese of Harrisburg.  We have been praying for a new bishop and the Holy Father has given us a new shepherd.  There will be a press conference at the Diocese today at 10am where Bishop-Designate McFadden will be introduced.  He will then go to the Cathedral of Saint Patrick in Harrisburg to celebrate the 12noon Mass.  I'm sure much more information will be forthcoming about Bishop McFadden.  

He will be installed as our Bishop on Wednesday, August 18 at Saint Patrick Cathedral in Harrisburg.  Stay tuned...

Already, here's more information about Bishop-Designate McFadden:

Joseph P. McFadden was born in Philadelphia on May 22, 1947, the son of Thomas and Ellen (Griffin) McFadden.  He lived with his parents and brother, John, and his two sisters, Jane and Ellen, in West Philadelphia and was baptized at Saint Rose of Lima Parish.  He attended Our Lady of Lourdes elementary school from 1953-1961.  He attended Saint Thomas More High School for Boys from 1961 to 1965. While in high school, he was a member of the Student Council, the Newspaper, the J.V. and Varsity Basketball teams and a member of the National Honor Society.  He was also the Class Valedictorian. Following high school, he matriculated to Saint Joseph University majoring in Political Science.  He graduated in 1969 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Politics. While at St. Joseph, he played on the Freshmen Basketball Team and then embarked on a career of coaching basketball during his remaining years in college, first as the Freshman Coach at St. Thomas More High School and then as the Junior Varsity Coach at West Catholic High School for Boys.

On graduating from Saint Joseph University, Bishop McFadden was hired to teach at West Catholic Boys High School.  While teaching, he also coached the J. V. Baseball Team, the J.V. and Varsity Basketball Teams becoming the Head Coach in 1973 and was Moderator of the Student Council.  In 1972 he was appointed the Director of Athletics for West Catholic and served on the Board of Directors for the Philadelphia Catholic League.

In 1976 Bishop McFadden entered Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary to study for the priesthood and was ordained a Deacon in 1980 and assigned to Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Secane.  On May 16, 1981 he was ordained a Priest in the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul by His Eminence John Cardinal Krol.  Bishop McFadden received a Master of Divinity Degree on completion of his studies at Saint Charles Seminary graduating Summa Cum Laude.

In June of 1981, he was assigned the Parochial Vicar at St. Laurence Parish, Highland Park.  In 1982 he was appointed Administrative Secretary to Cardinal Krol and held that position from 1982 to 1993.  On May 29, 1991, he was named an Honorary Prelate to His Holiness, Pope John Paul II, with the title of Monsignor.

In 1993, Bishop McFadden was named by Cardinal Bevilacqua to be the first President of Cardinal O’Hara High School, Springfield, PA.  During his tenure as President, the school’s enrollment increased from 1540 students to 2000 students and he helped to initiate the innovative computer “Laptops for Learning” program in the school.

In 2001, Bishop McFadden was appointed Pastor of St Joseph Parish, Downingtown, where he ministered until his appointment as Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia in June 2004.  Bishop McFadden was ordained to the Episcopacy by Cardinal Justin Rigali in the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul on July 28, 2004.

In his 29 years as a priest, Bishop McFadden has served on many Archdiocesan Boards and Committees:

Council of Priests, 1988 - 1993 ; 2004 - present
Priests’ Personnel Board, 1988 - 1993; 2004 - present
Archdiocesan Advisory Board for Renewal, 1991 - 1994
Chairman, Subcommittee for Clergy Renewal, 1991 - 1994
Diocesan Priests Continuing Formation Committee, 2002 - present
Archdiocesan Admissions Board for St. Charles Seminary, 2001 - present
Personal Spiritual Director for Seminarians - 2001 - present
Members, Tenth Synod of Archdiocese of Philadelphia, 2001 - 2002
Diocesan Priests’ Compensation and Benefits Committee, 2003 - present
Chairman, Pastor’s Committee for Elementary Schools, 2002 - 2006
Mentor, Pastoral Leadership Institute of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia
Member, Pastoral Formation Sub-Committee of the Strategic Plan Committee, St. Charles Borromeo Seminary
Member, USCCB Committee on Education - 2006 - present
Member, USCCB Task Force Committee on Faith Formation and Sacramental Preparation - 2008 - present
Advisor, Bishops’ Committee for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs (CEIA)
Member, Episcopal Board of Advisors for the Cause for the Beatification of Archbishop Fulton John Sheen - 2009 - present
Member, Episcopal Advisory Board for Catholic Athletes for Christ - 2010
Member, Board of Directors of the Heritage of Faith~Vision of Hope Campaign - 2010

Honors and Awards

St. Thomas More Golden Bear Award - St. Thomas More Alumni Association, 1992
Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick of Delaware County Man of the Year Award, 2001
Honorary Member, Roman Catholic High School Hall of Fame, 2002
Cardinal O’Hara High School Hall of Fame, 2004
Inducted into Ring of Honor - St. Patrick’s Day Parade - 2007
Named one of the 75 Greatest Living Philadelphians in celebration of the Philadelphia Eagles 75th Anniversary season - 2007
Doctor of Humane Letters, Honoris Causa - Neumann College - 2008
Grand Marshall - Springfield Township St. Patrick’s Day Parade - 2008
Recipient of First “Shamrock Award” presented by Alumni of Saint Thomas More and West Catholic High Schools - 2009

Affiliations

Chaplain, Philadelphia Serra Club, 1987 - 1993
Chaplain, Central Delaware County Serra Club - 1993 - 2001
Chaplain, Ancient Order of Hibernians Division 87 - 1986-1991
Chaplain, Ancient Order of Hibernians Division 65, 1993 - 1995
Member, Advisory Board of Bishop Shanahan High School, 2003 - 2007
Life-time Member, The Pennsylvania Society - 2005 - present
Board Member, Hero Scholarship Fund of Philadelphia, 2005 - present
Member, The Union League of Philadelphia - 2005 - present
Member, Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick - 2007 - present