Bishop Cummins of Oakland retires, is succeeded by coadjutor

Published: 2003-10-01

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Pope John Paul II has accepted the resignation of Bishop John S. Cummins of Oakland, Calif., meaning that Coadjutor Bishop Allen H. Vigneron immediately succeeds him as head of the diocese. The changes were announced Oct. 1 by Msgr. Leopoldo Girelli, charge d'affaires at the apostolic nunciature in Washington. In March Bishop Cummins turned 75, the normal retirement age for bishops. Bishop Vigneron, who turns 55 on Oct. 21, was a Detroit auxiliary bishop when he was appointed coadjutor of the Diocese of Oakland in January. Under church law a coadjutor of a diocese automatically succeeds the residential bishop when he dies or retires. The diocese planned to hold evenings of prayer and Benediction at six different parishes during the month of October to celebrate the beginning of Bishop Vigneron's leadership of the diocese.

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