Grand Rapids bishop, Miami auxiliary named; Bishop Straling retires

Published: 2005-06-21

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI has named a Detroit auxiliary bishop to head the Diocese of Grand Rapids, Mich. He also accepted the resignation of a Nevada bishop and appointed a new auxiliary bishop in Miami. The changes were announced June 21 in Washington by Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, apostolic nuncio to the United States. The new head of the Grand Rapids Diocese is Canadian-born Bishop Walter A. Hurley, 68, an auxiliary in Detroit since 2003. The Nevada bishop who has retired is Reno's Bishop Phillip F. Straling, 72. Msgr. John G. Noonan, 54, the Irish-born president and rector of St. John Vianney College Seminary in Miami, will be the newest U.S. bishop when he is ordained Aug. 24 to serve as an auxiliary bishop in Miami. Bishop Hurley succeeds Bishop Kevin M. Britt, who died unexpectedly of a rare disease in May 2004. He is to be installed as 11th bishop of Grand Rapids at the Cathedral of St. Andrew on Aug. 4.

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