Bishop Sample ordained in Marquette; at 45 he is youngest U.S. bishop

Published: 2006-01-27

MARQUETTE, Mich. (CNS) -- With St. Peter Cathedral in Marquette filled to capacity for his episcopal ordination, Bishop Alexander K. Sample became the 12th bishop of the Diocese of Marquette Jan. 25. At age 45, he is the youngest Catholic bishop in the United States. Addressing the people for the first time as their bishop, Bishop Sample recalled wearing a cassock as he prepared for his first Mass as associate pastor at the cathedral. "At the end of Mass, one of the ladies of the parish came up to me and said, 'So you're our new associate. I saw you before Mass and I thought you were one of the altar boys,'" the new bishop said. "From that point on, I became known as the altar-boy priest. Being now the youngest bishop at the moment in the United States, I do not want to be known as the altar-boy bishop!" he added. On a more serious note, Bishop Sample said, "I hope to be truly a shepherd to minister in the person and in the image of Christ the Good Shepherd, who came not to be served but to serve and to give his life. I give to you that pledge today to do that to the best of my ability."

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