Bishop Jeffrey M. Monforton, who has shepherded the Diocese of Steubenville for the past 11 years, was named an auxiliary bishop in his native Archdiocese of Detroit on Thursday and retired Diocese of Kalamazoo Bishop Paul J. Bradley was appointed apostolic administrator in Steubenville, the Holy See announced.
Bishop Monforton, 60, was a priest in the Archdiocese of Detroit from 1994 to 2012, rector of the Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit and a parish pastor before his appointment as Steubenville’s bishop. Bishop Bradley, 77, led the Diocese of Kalamazoo from 2009 until July 2023.
Bishop Earl K. Fernandes of the neighboring Diocese of Columbus extended his congratulations to Bishop Monforton and Bishop Bradley.
“Grateful for the ministry of Bishop Monforton and wishing him every blessing, I also look forward to working collaboratively with Bishop Bradley in building the Kingdom in the State of Ohio, offering my prayers for both Bishop Bradley and the people of Steubenville, during this period of transition,” Bishop Fernandes said.
Pope names Bishop Monforton as auxiliary bishop of Detroit
The Diocese of Steubenville was established in 1944 when 13 eastern Ohio counties covering 4,913 square miles were separated from the Diocese of Columbus. Steubenville’s Catholic population of 28,339 is the smallest among Ohio’s six dioceses and includes 51 parishes, three high schools, nine grade schools and Franciscan University of Steubenville.
“This appointment is bittersweet for me: my hometown is Detroit, and I look forward to ‘going home’ and to serve the faithful of Detroit under the leadership of Archbishop Allen Vigneron,” Bishop Monforton said in a statement issued ahead of a 10 a.m. news conference on Thursday in Steubenville.
“At the same time, I have come to know and to love the good people of the Diocese of Steubenville, from Carroll County in the north to Lawrence County in the south. It has been my distinct pleasure and profound joy to serve the faithful in this Diocese for 11 years as their shepherd. The people of the Diocese of Steubenville will always remain in my prayers and have a special place in my heart. I kindly ask that you will pray for me.”
BREAKING: Pope names Steubenville’s Bishop Monforton as Detroit’s 32nd auxiliary bishop
Bishop Bradley comes to Steubenville with some familiarity with the area. He is a Pittsburgh native who served as a priest and then as an auxiliary bishop for five years in the Diocese of Pittsburgh before he was chosen to lead the Diocese of Kalamazoo in 2009.
Pope Francis appoints Bishop Bradley Apostolic Administrator for the Diocese of Steubenville
After reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75 for bishops in October 2020, Bishop Bradley continued to lead the Kalamazoo diocese until Bishop Edward Lohse was appointed and then installed there this past July.
“As Apostolic Administrator, my first responsibility will be to ensure that our Catholic faith remains strong and active during this time of transition,” Bishop Bradley said. “I am here to make sure that the Church continues to be responsive to the spiritual and temporal needs of the people in these 13 counties.
“To be successful, it is essential for me to listen closely to you, the people I have been sent to serve; I intend to consult broadly with clergy, religious and lay leaders to learn about your concerns.”
In Detroit, Bishop Monforton will serve under Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron. A Liturgy of Welcome and Inauguration of Ministry at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit is scheduled for Nov. 7.
Bishop Monforton will join three other active auxiliary bishops in the Archdiocese of Detroit, which also has three retired auxiliary bishops and retired Cardinal Adam Maida in residence.
“On behalf of the clergy, religious, and faithful of the Archdiocese, I offer a heartfelt ‘welcome home’ to Bishop Monforton,” Archbishop Vigneron said. “This is the local Church in which his priestly vocation was nurtured, and we are blessed to have him be with us once again to help lead our efforts to unleash the Gospel.”