Auxiliary Bishop Rueger of Worcester resigns

Published: 2005-01-25

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The resignation of Auxiliary Bishop George E. Rueger, 75, of Worcester, Mass., has been accepted by Pope John Paul II. Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, papal nuncio to the United States, announced the resignation in Washington Jan. 25. Bishop Rueger has spent his entire priestly life as part of the Worcester Diocese and was its auxiliary bishop for 18 years. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1958, becoming the first diocesan native to be ordained a priest for the diocese. When he was ordained a bishop on Feb. 25, 1987, he chose an ecumenical theme for his episcopal motto: "That they all may be one." "I am most grateful to God for the many years he permitted me to minister both as a priest and bishop," Bishop Rueger said after learning that his resignation had been accepted. He turned 75 last September, the mandatory age for a bishop to submit his resignation.

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