Statement of Bishop Paul S. Loverde

Following is the statement of Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde on the appointment of two new auxiliary bishops for the Washington Archdiocese:

The clergy, religious and laity of this Diocesan Church of Arlington are one with me as together we rejoice with our neighbor across the Potomac – the Archdiocesan Church of Washington – on the appointment of two auxiliary bishops for service in that great archdiocese: Most Rev. Kevin J. Farrell and Most Rev. Francisco Gonzalez, S.F. We offer warmest congratulations to these two new bishops and to His Eminence Theodore Cardinal McCarrick with whom they will collaborate closely in the pastoral care of God’s People in the Archdiocese of Washington and in solicitude for the Universal Church.

We also pledge to Bishop Farrell and to Bishop Gonzalez the support of our prayers as they prepare for their ordination to the office of bishop on Feb. 11. May our Blessed Mother, who is honored in the liturgy each year on Feb. 11 as Our Lady of Lourdes, intercede for these new bishops, asking from Her Son the grace that they may always be good and faithful shepherds to the people whom they serve.

To Bishop Farrell and Bishop Gonzalez, I echo the joy-filled sentiments of all of us in the Diocese of Arlington: Ad Multos Gloriosque Annos!

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