[CUA Office of Public Affairs]

May 16, 2006

 

Message From the President on New Archbishop of Washington

 

Archbishop Wuerl, the late Monsignor Stephen Happel and Father O’Connell share a light moment.

The appointment of Bishop Donald Wuerl as sixth Archbishop of Washington brings special joy to The Catholic University of America and to me personally. He is an extremely loyal alumnus of the university and our seminary, Theological College. In addition, he generously served on the university Board of Trustees for three terms. In those years, he contributed greatly to the governance and direction of the university at some of its most important times. He was incredibly supportive and kind to me as I assumed the presidency of CUA in 1998.

Archbishop Wuerl brings to his new position a keen intellect, a profound sense of the spiritual, a clear focus on the Gospel and evangelization, and a deep love of and commitment to the Church, especially its teaching mission. His many years of dedicated service as a bishop will serve him well in his new ministry as Shepherd of the Church of Washington, D.C. He will be warmly welcomed by the wonderful priests and people of the Archdiocese. The Catholic University of America is, likewise, so very grateful to our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI for the wonderful gift of pastoral leadership he has given us in Archbishop Wuerl! We look forward to welcoming him home to Washington, D.C., and his alma mater, The Catholic University of America.

As we do so, we also express our thanks to another loyal son of the university, His Eminence Cardinal Theodore McCarrick. His extraordinary life of service to the Church in our country, indeed, throughout the whole world has earned him the respect of people of all faiths everywhere. He received our university’s highest honors this past Saturday at Commencement. I am happy that we could bid him farewell in such a wonderful way as he embarks upon a new chapter of his life.


Very Reverend David M. O’Connell, C.M.
President

 

 

 

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Revised: 5/16/2006

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The Catholic University of America,
Office of Public Affairs.