Two auxiliary bishops named for U.S. military archdiocese

Published: 2004-05-07

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Two priests serving as military chaplains have been named by Pope John Paul II as auxiliary bishops of the U.S. Catholic Archdiocese for the Military Services. They are: Msgr. Joseph W. Estabrook, a Navy chaplain and a priest of the Diocese of Albany, N.Y., who turns 60 on May 19, and Msgr. Richard B. Higgins, 60, chaplain at the U.S. Air Force Academy and a priest of the Diocese of Sacramento, Calif. The appointments were announced May 7 in Washington by Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, apostolic nuncio to the United States. Both men spoke at a news conference held the same day at the military archdiocesan headquarters in Washington. Bishop-designate Higgins, who has been an Air Force chaplain since 1974, said he is now going to have "to get real smart real quick" about the Army, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard. "I'm a blue-suiter," he said, referring to the color of his Air Force uniform, which he wore. Bishop-designate Estabrook said he was glad to accept the appointment because it will allow him to continue ministering to military personnel during these "ominous times" marked by the war in Iraq and the fight against terrorism.

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