February 27, 2008
New Bishop for the Catholic Diocese of Lansing
Pope Benedict XVI has appointed Detroit Auxiliary Bishop Earl Boyea as the fifth bishop of the 10-county Catholic Diocese of Lansing. Pope Benedict XVI has accepted the resignation of Bishop Carl F. Mengeling.
On Feb. 27, 2008, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Archdiocese of Detroit Auxiliary Bishop Earl Boyea as the fifth bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Lansing. Bishop Boyea succeeds Bishop Carl F. Mengeling, who has led the diocese since Jan. 25, 1996.
Bishop Boyea was born April 10, 1951. His home parish was Our Lady of the Lakes in Waterford and he attended the parish school. After eighth grade, he entered Sacred Heart Seminary High School and then attended its college, where he earned a B.A. in history. From there, he went to the North American College in Rome and studied at the Gregorian University, where he received an S.T.B in 1976 and an S.T.L. in biblical theology in 1980.
He was ordained a priest on May 20, 1978. After ordination, he served as associate pastor at St. Michael Parish, Monroe, and then at St. Timothy Parish, Trenton. After a brief stint as the temporary administrator at St. Christine Parish, Detroit, he returned to Sacred Heart Seminary as professor of church history and scripture. In addition to assisting with Masses on weekends, Father Boyea earned an M.A. in American history from Wayne State University in 1984. In 1987, he received his Ph.D. in church history from the Catholic University of America. From 1990 through 2000, he served as dean of studies at Sacred Heart Seminary and in 2000, was named a prelate of honor.
In February 2000, Msgr. Boyea became rector/president of the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio. He served there until he was named auxiliary bishop of Detroit and titular bishop of Siccenna. He was ordained a bishop Sept. 13, 2002. His motto, in manus tuas (into your hands), is taken from the final words of Jesus on the cross, according to the Gospel of Luke. As auxiliary bishop of Detroit, Bishop Boyea was given responsibility for the northeast region of the Archdiocese of Detroit, which includes the following vicariates: Blue Water, Central Macomb, Genesis, North Macomb and SERF.
Bishop Boyea is a member of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Ad Hoc Committee on Priestly Formation. He is also a member of the following societies: Catholic Biblical Association, Fellowship of Catholic Scholars, American Historical Association and the U.S. Catholic Historical Society. His writings have appeared in a variety of publications, including the Catholic Historical Review and Michigan Historical Review.
Bishop Boyea will be installed as the bishop of Lansing April 29 at 2 p.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, East Lansing. On April 28, a vesper service will be held at St. Mary Cathedral, Lansing at 7 p.m.
Bishop Boyea will succeed Bishop Carl F. Mengeling, now age 77. As is customary, Bishop Mengeling submitted his letter of resignation upon his 75th birthday. Pope Benedict XVI accepted Bishop MengelingÕs resignation Feb. 27, 2008. Until Bishop BoyeaÕs installation, governance of the diocese rests with its college of consultors or with an administrator appointed by them or the Vatican.
Carl F. Mengeling was born Oct. 22, 1930 in Hammond Ind., the second son of Carl H. and Augusta Huke Mengeling. He was ordained a priest on May 25, 1957 in Gary, Ind. Father Mengeling earned a doctorate in sacred theology in Rome.
Father Mengeling became a monsignor in June 1984 and on Nov. 7, 1995, was named the fourth bishop of Lansing, succeeding Bishop Kenneth Povish. He was ordained a bishop Jan. 25, 1996 at St. Mary Cathedral, Lansing. He has served the Diocese of Lansing as its bishop for 12 years.
Bishop Boyea will become the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Lansing, which was created out of the Archdiocese of Detroit and the Diocese of Grand Rapids in 1937. It comprises Clinton, Eaton, Genesee, Hillsdale, Ingham, Jackson, Lenawee, Livingston, Shiawassee and Washtenaw Counties. The Diocese of LansingÕs 97 parishes and pastoral centers serve 222,519 Catholics.
For more information, contact:
Michael Diebold, Director of Communications
Diocese of Lansing
mdiebold@dioceseoflansing.org
517-342-2475 Direct
517-342-2544
Web sites:
Diocese of Lansing: www.dioceseoflansing.org
FAITH Magazine, Diocese of Lansing: www.FAITHmag.com
Archdiocese of Detroit: www.aodonline.org
United Conference of Catholic Bishops: www.usccb.org
The Vatican: www.vatican.va
For photos and electronic versions of this press packet:
www.dioceseoflansing.org |
