Auxiliary Bishop Robert Casey welcomes parishioners to a Mass that included the official enthronement and installation of a statue of Nuestra Senora del Rosario de Talpa at St. Joseph Parish, 4821 S. Hermitage Ave. on Sept. 29, 2019. On Aug. 28, 2020, Cardinal Cupich appointed Bishop Casey as the next vicar general for the Archdiocese of Chicago. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Cardinal Cupich announced Aug. 28 the appointment of Bishop Robert Casey as vicar general of the Archdiocese of Chicago, effective Sept. 12. Bishop Casey, episcopal vicar for Vicariate III, will replace Bishop Ronald Hicks, who was named the sixth bishop of Joliet by Pope Francis in July. Cardinal Cupich will name an interim vicar for Vicariate III in the near future. “The Archdiocese of Chicago is blessed to have Bishop Casey succeed his classmate Bishop Hicks as vicar general,” said Cardinal Cupich. “Bishop Casey has served the people of the archdiocese as a pastor and leader in diocesan renewal. His love for our Hispanic faithful is evident in his work of forming priests from Latin America and his co-founding of Taller de José.” Bishop Casey is a native of Evergreen Park and grew up in Alsip, where he attended public elementary schools. He graduated from Marist High School before entering Niles College Seminary, where he received a bachelor’s degree in English. Bishop Casey graduated from University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary and was ordained to the priesthood May 21, 1994. His first assignment was as associate pastor at St. Ita Parish, where he served until 1999. Bishop Casey, who is fluent in Spanish, was named associate director of Casa Jesús, a house of discernment for men from Latin America in 1998. In 1999, he became its full-time director. In 2003, he completed a 40-day pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in Spain before becoming pastor of Our Lady of Tepeyac Parish and in 2008, he co-founded Taller de José, a ministry sponsored by the Congregation of St. Joseph that offers accompaniment to people in need. He served as pastor of St. Barbara Parish in Brookfield from 2009 to 2016, when he was appointed pastor of St. Bede the Venerable. He also served on the priests’ placement board and the priest steering committee for Renew My Church. Bishop Casey was appointed auxiliary bishop by Pope Francis on July 3, 2018, and ordained on Sept. 17, 2018.
Auxiliary Bishop Raymond Goedert dies at 96 Retired Auxiliary Bishop Raymond E. Goedert, 96, died Dec. 9. “As we grieve the death of Bishop Emeritus Raymond Goedert, we thank God for giving his servant to us and the Church for 71 years,” said Cardinal Cupich.
Bishop Joseph Perry: Humble servant with pastor’s heart When asked to describe Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Perry, four people who worked closely with him on local and national levels used similar terms, calling him a humble, intelligent bishop of great faith who leads with a pastor’s heart.
Bishop Andrew Wypych reflects on vocation Auxiliary Bishop Andrew P. Wypych might have resigned from ministry in September, but he is clear that he has not retired from being a bishop.