Welcome Bishop Earl Boyea
The Diocese of Lansing’s Fifth Bishop will be installed April 29, 2008
Photography by J. Carlson


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 Mengeling’s resignation Feb. 27, 2008. Until Bishop Boyea’s 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 Lansing’s 97 parishes and pastoral centers serve 222,519 Catholics.

How a bishop is appointed

Stage 1: Bishops’ recommendations
Every bishop may submit to the archbishop of his province the names of priests he thinks would make good bishops. Prior to the regular province meeting (usually annually), the archbishop distributes to all the bishops of the province the names of priests who have been submitted to him and their curricula vitae. Following a discussion among the bishops at the province meeting, a vote is taken on which names to recommend. The number of names on this provincial list may vary. The vote tally, together with the minutes of the meeting, is then forwarded by the archbishop to the apostolic nuncio in Washington. The list is also submitted to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

Stage 2: The apostolic nuncio
By overseeing the final list of names forwarded to Rome, the apostolic nuncio plays a decisive role in the selection process. He not only gathers facts and information about potential candidates, but also interprets that information for the congregation. Great weight is given to the nuncio’s recommendations, but it is important to remember that his “gatekeeper” role does not mean his recommendations are always followed.

For diocesan bishops
• After receiving the list of candidates forwarded by a province, the apostolic nuncio conducts his own investigation into the suitability of the candidates.
• A report is requested from the current bishop or the administrator of a diocese on the conditions and needs of the diocese. If the appointment is a replacement for a diocesan bishop or archbishop about to retire, consideration will be given to the incumbent’s recommendations. Broad consultation within the diocese is encouraged with regard to the needs of the diocese, but not for the names of candidates. The report is to include the names of individuals in the diocese with whom the nuncio might consult and how to contact them.
• Previous bishops of the diocese are consulted.
• Bishops of the province are consulted.
• The president and vice president of the USCCB are consulted.
• If the vacancy to be filled is an archdiocese, other archbishops in the United States may be consulted.
• At this point, the nuncio narrows his list and a questionnaire is sent to 20 or 30 people who know each of the candidates for their input.
• All material is collected and reviewed by the nuncio, and a report (approximately 20 pages) is prepared. Three candidates are listed alphabetically – the terna – with the nuncio’s preference noted. All materials are then forwarded to the Congregation for Bishops in Rome.

On average, this part of the
process may take two to six months.

Stage 3: Congregation for Bishops
Once all the documentation from the nuncio is complete and in order, and the prefect approves, the process moves forward. If the appointment involves a bishop who is being promoted or transferred, the matter may be handled by the prefect and the staff. If, however, the appointment is of a priest to the episcopacy, the full congregation is ordinarily involved.
A cardinal relator is chosen to summarize the documentation and make a report to the full congregation, which generally meets twice a month on Thursdays. After hearing the cardinal relator’s report, the congregation discusses the appointment and then votes. The congregation may follow the recommendation of the nuncio, chose another of the candidates on the terna, or even ask that another terna be prepared.

Stage 4: The pope decides
At a private audience with the pope, usually on a Saturday, the prefect of the Congregation for Bishops presents the recommendations of the congregation to the Holy Father. A few days later, the pope informs the congregation of his decision. The congregation then notifies the nuncio, who in turn contacts the candidate and asks if he will accept. If the answer is “yes,” the Vatican is notified and a date is set for the announcement.

It often takes six to eight months – and sometimes longer – from the time a diocese becomes vacant until a new bishop is appointed.

Key Terms

Apostolic nuncio
• The pope’s representative to both the government and to the hierarchy of a given nation; a key person in deciding what names are recommended to the Congregation for Bishops for possible episcopal appointment.

Congregation for Bishops
• A department of the Roman Curia, headed by a cardinal. The head of the congregation is called the “prefect.” Among the congregation’s responsibilities are moderating all aspects of episcopal appointments; assisting bishops in the correct exercise of their pastoral functions; handling ad limina visits (regular visits to Rome by bishops every five years); and establishing episcopal conferences and reviewing their decrees as required by canon law. Its membership consists of approximately 35 cardinals and archbishops from around the world

Diocesan bishop
• Pastoral and legal head and representative of a diocese.

Province
• A territory comprising one archdiocese, called the metropolitan see, and one or more dioceses, called suffragan sees. The Code of Canon Law spells out certain limited obligations and authority that the metropolitan archbishop has with respect to the dioceses within his province. The United States is divided into 33 ecclesiastical provinces. The Diocese of Lansing is located in the Detroit Province, which includes the Archdiocese of Detroit and the Dioceses of Gaylord, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Marquette and Saginaw.

Terna
• A list of three candidates for a vacant office, including the office of bishop.

– United States Conference of Catholic Bishops