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Breaking News | Saturday, October 23, 2010

Statement: Bishop John Noonan

Appointed fifth Bishop of the Diocese of Orlando.

Thank you Father Richard Walsh for your kind words and especially the care you have given the diocese over these past months. For the welcome and help I have received from the diocesan staff, thank you. It is indeed an honor and a privilege to be here with you this morning as your new bishop. It is also only fitting that it should be at such an event as this in honor of Mary the Mother of God. At the Annunciation, the Angel Gabriel said to Mary, �Peace be with you.� I, too, pray that the peace of the Lord may be with all of you too. A peace that transforms people's lives. Mary�s response to God�s call to become the mother of Jesus is the greatest and most powerful response ever given by any living person. Mary�s response is a great example of Humility, a great example of Faith and a great example of Love. We are all called to imitate Mary�s example of discipleship, a discipleship of authenticity in faith and love for the Lord.

Bishop John Noonan

Photographer: FILE PHOTO

Bishop John Noonan

I come here today with all this in mind as I become the fifth Bishop of the Diocese of Orlando.

I am deeply grateful to God and our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI for his confidence in me and his consideration in appointing me to become your bishop. I promise to preach and to teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And to the best of my ability to be a bishop and shepherd to the people of the Diocese of Orlando. I thank Archbishop Sambi, Apostolic Nuncio of Pope Benedict to the U.S.A., for conveying the wishes of the Holy Father to me.

Archbishop Wenski: your former bishop and now the Metropolitan Archbishop of Miami, I am grateful for his support. I appreciate the fine work he has done here in the Diocese of Orlando.

I look forward to learning from you, the people, about this great Diocese of Orlando. I have much to learn and see over the next few months. I also look forward to working with the many fine priests, religious priests and sisters of the diocese. Some I have known from seminary days as rector or as fellow priests. In the next few weeks and months I hope to be able to visit all the parishes throughout the diocese. In that way we may be able to get to know each other. I pray that together we may not only hear the Word of God but that we may also live the Word of God in our daily lives. In the words of St. Augustine to the people, �For you I am your bishop but with you I am a Christian.� 

My motto as a bishop comes from the book of Exodus 3:12: �God be before me and God be with me.� These are the words that God used in calling Moses to lead the People of Israel out of Egypt. These too are the words of St. Patrick when he began to preach the Gospel to the people of Ireland. Like Mary�s prayer in the Gospel, �Let it be unto to me according to thy Word,� I pray that God will be with you and me to lead us to his ultimate gift which is the promise of eternal life, a life forever like Mary with the Lord. Thank you for being here today and I ask only that you pray for me as I will also pray for you.
 

To read article "Miami Auxiliary appointed Bishop of Orlando"  click here.

To read a statement from Archbishop Thomas Wenski click here.



Comments from readers

Father John Madigan, O.M.I. - 10/26/2010 04:06 PM
Dear Bishop Noonan, I happily recall our years together at the Pastoral Center and your wonderful commitment to the Religious Sisters, Brothers and Priests. I praise God with you and for you. The Missionary Oblates of Mary Imaculate from Belleville and the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows congratuate you for your new ministry in Orlando.
Marta Vargas - 10/25/2010 06:23 PM
When Archbishop Wenski was appointed to come to Miami, in knowing Orlando and my family there had lost a great Bishop, I prayed that God would send them a wonderful new Bishop for the diocese and for my family's blessings. Well, God did answer my prayer, and boy did he ever, even if the not at all surprising news of such a well deserved appointment did bring with them some sadness. Yet, at the same time, blessings are even greater when shared, and share we must. Orlando is so blessed. You will be missed so much as many prayers go with you. I am deeply grateful to God for the time He has blessed Miami with your presence, inspiration, leadership, and as if not more importantly, your kindness, good cheer and generous spirit of true service. Thank you so much for all you have done for everyone here, and thanks be to God in advance for the amazing things He surely will continue to do for you and through you in this new journey. God bless you always!
Rev. Father Rolando G. Garcia - 10/25/2010 05:15 PM
Dear Bishop Noonan:
The People of God at St. Agatha Church & School congratulates you. We will miss you. We thank you for the time that you were with us here at St. Agatha. Our Pastor, Fr. Garcia and all the priests, sisters, lay staff and all of us, thank you and wishes you God's love and joy in your new appointment. Please do not forget to come to have a cup of cuban coffee with us.

Fraternally yours in Christ,
Fr. Rolando G. Garcia, Pastor
Sergio J. Guzman - 10/25/2010 05:08 PM
Dear Bishop Noonan:

The Diocese of Orlando will be truly blessed to be under your guidance and direction. We will miss you in South Florida. Rest assured that all of us will be praying for you so that the Lord may continue to bless you with the Wisdom and Charismas that He has bestowed upon you. Dear Bishop Noonan:

The Diocese of Orlando will be truly blessed to be under your guidance and direction. We will miss you in South Florida. Rest assured that all of us will be praying for you so that the Lord may continue to bless you with the Wisdom and Charismas that He has bestowed upon you.

We thank the Lord and you for all that you have done for us in South Florida.

Your servant in Christ,

Sergio J. Guzman, Esq
Carlota E. Morales, Ed. D. - 10/25/2010 07:25 AM
Dear Bishop Noonan,
Congratulations are in order!
Although the Diocese of Orlando must be rejoicing about your appointment as their new Bishop, it is with much happiness and a true-felt sadness, that I congratulate you. You have been an inspiration to all of us in many ways. I will never forget the first homily that I heard from you at St. Agatha with Bishop Estevez on one of our graduations. The sutdents enjoyed it and so did we. You went through memory lane with them. Again, congratulations and many the Lord continue to guide you as He has always done.
In His name,
Carlota E. Morales, Ed.D.
Principal
Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic School
Norma T. Molina - 10/23/2010 09:11 PM
Dear Bishop Noonan,

I was so happy to hear the news today. Congratulations!
I've read your most beautiful and spiritual statement to the people of Orlando… so fatherly and pastoral. How wonderful!
You'll be a great Ordinary with the grace of God… �God be before me and God be with me�; what a beautiful motto, Bishop.

Again, I rejoice with you and the people of Orlando but certainly we will miss you in Miami… your joy and your always friendly presence.

Chip DiComo - 10/23/2010 01:36 PM
Congratulations Bishop Noonan....To think in the late 70's early 80's as a high school student and retreat director in the Archdiocese of Miami I had to calm down your pranks to move the retreat along and now you will lead the Diocese of Orlando.... God will truly be with you!
Mary Matheus - 10/23/2010 11:25 AM
Congratulation Bishop Noonan. We in Orlando thank Pope Benedict XVI for your appointment as our new bishop. We look forward to your arrival and your guidance. I pray for you as you begin this assignment and ask prayers for the Diocese of Orlando. May God bless you.

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