New archbishops lie prostrate during their episcopal ordination Mass in this 2018 file photo. (Natalie Battaglia/Chicago Catholic)
The Archdiocese of Chicago will receive five new auxiliary bishops in early 2025, the Vatican announced Dec. 20, 2024. Pope Francis has named Bishops-elect Timothy J. O’Malley, Lawrence J. Sullivan, José María Garcia-Maldonado, Robert M. Fedek and John S. Siemianowski, all archdiocesan priests, to assist Cardinal Cupich in the administration and pastoral care of the archdiocese. The bishops-elect will remain in their present assignments until changes in their archdiocesan roles are announced. “We are grateful to the Holy Father for the gift of these new auxiliary bishops,” Cardinal Cupich said in a statement. “These fine archdiocesan priests reflect the people of this particular church and the many talents of our local presbyterate. Yet, each has a solid and notable record of pastoral service rooted in their shared fidelity to the Gospel and their generosity in using their unique gifts for the good of the church and society.” Bishop-elect Timothy O’Malley, 65, has been pastor of Most Blessed Trinity Parish in Waukegan since 2018. Before that, he served as pastor of St. Genevieve Parish on the Northwest Side (2015-2018) and St. Joseph Parish, Round Lake (2007-2015). His first parish assignment was as associate pastor of St. Agnes of Bohemia (1997-2002), immediately after being ordained. In addition, Bishop-elect O’Malley has been a member of the Priest Placement Board and Dean in Vicariates IV-C, IV-A and I-B. He earned a bachelor’s degree in management from Purdue University, a CPA from the University of Illinois and a law degree from DePaul University, in addition to his master of divinity and baccalaureate of sacred theology from the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary. He has been named the titular bishop of Numida. Bishop-elect Lawrence Sullivan, 58, is priest director of Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Chicago and has served as pastor of St. Christina Parish in the Mount Greenwood neighborhood since 2008 and Christ the King Parish in the Beverly neighborhood since earlier this year. He has served as interim vicar of Vicariate VI, covering an area on the South Side and in the south suburbs, since 2023. He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Niles College of Loyola University and a master of divinity from the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1992. He also earned a master’s degree in ecclesial management from the Catholic University of America. After ordination, he served as associate pastor and then pastor of St. Celestine Parish, Elmwood Park. In addition to his parish assignments, Bishop-elect Sullivan has worked in the bereavement ministries of the archdiocese since 2013 as associate priest director and as interim priest director of Catholic Cemeteries. He is a member of the Archdiocesan School Board and has been a member of the College of Consultors and a member and vice-chair of the Presbyteral Council. He was named titular bishop of Lamfua. Bishop-elect José María Garcia-Maldonado, 45, has been pastor of St. José Sánchez del Río Parish in the Humboldt Park neighborhood since 2021. Born in San Julián, Jalisco, Mexico, he attended local public elementary and middle schools before entering the minor seminary of the Diocese of San Juan de los Lagos Introductory Program, then completed philosophy requirements at the local major seminary. In August 2001, he joined his family, who had immigrated to the United States eight years earlier. A year later, he entered the Casa Jesus Program of the Archdiocese of Chicago for Spanish-speaking men discerning vocations to the priesthood. In 2003, he entered the University of St. Mary of the Lake/ Mundelein Seminary, completing a master of divinity degree in 2007. He was ordained to the priesthood in 2008 and was named associate pastor of St. Sylvester Parish. Since then, Bishop-elect José María Garcia-Maldonado has served as associate pastor of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines and as administrator and then pastor of Good Shepherd Parish. In addition to his parish assignments, Bishop-elect Garcia-Maldonado has served as assistant director of vocations at St. Joseph College Seminary and as a member of the Presbyteral Council and the College of Consultors. He was also administrator of the parish of Our Lady of Tepeyac and Dean of Vicariate IV-C and IV-A. He was named titular bishop of Fallaba. Bishop-elect Robert Fedek, 45, has been administrative secretary to Cardinal Cupich since 2020. Born in Bielsko-Biala, Poland, he attended local public schools before entering the Archdiocesan Theological Seminary in Kraków, Poland, in 1998. Three years later, he was admitted to the Bishop Abramowicz Preparatory Seminary in Chicago, for Polish seminarians intending to study for the priesthood in the Archdiocese of Chicago. He earned a master of divinity degree from the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 2005. Bishop-elect Fedek then served as associate pastor of St. Mary of the Annunciation Parish in Mundelein before being named pastor of Our Lady of Victory Parish in 2010. In 2017, he became pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish (Talcott Avenue). He has also served the archdiocese as assistant vocation director in Vicariate I, member of the Presbyteral Council and the College of Consultors and as coordinator of Polish ministry. He was appointed titular bishop of Dardano. Bishop-elect John Siemianowski, 64, has served as pastor of St. Juliana Parish on the Northwest Side since 2021. Born in Chicago, he attended Our Lady of Charity Grade School and Morton East High School, both in Cicero, and he earned a bachelor’s degree and a secondary education certificate from Southern Illinois University before entering the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary and earning a master of divinity degree and a baccalaureate of sacred theology. After being ordained in 1989, Bishop-elect Siemianowski served as associate pastor of St. Francis de Sales, Lake Zurich (1989-1990); St. Mary, Buffalo Grove (1990-1993); and St. Elizabeth Seton, Orland Hills (1993-1996). He also served as pastor of St. Agnes (1996-2021), administrator and then pastor of St. Paul (2004-2010) and St. Kieran Parish (2012-2021), all in Chicago Heights. In addition to his parish assignments, Bishop-elect Siemianowski has served as a member and executive Secretary of the Priest Placement Board. He was named titular bishop of Grazianopoli.
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Archdiocese mourns death of Bishop Kevin Birmingham Archdiocese of Chicago Auxiliary Bishop Kevin Birmingham, 51, died unexpectedly Oct. 2. He was recently appointed episcopal vicar of Vicariate VI, after having served as episcopal vicar of Vicariate IV since shortly after being ordained a bishop on Nov. 13, 2020.
Bishop John Manz retires after 25 years as a bishop On July 1, the Vatican announced that Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Auxiliary Bishop John Manz, who celebrated a half-century of priesthood and a quarter-century as a bishop on May 12.