An auxiliary bishop is a bishop assigned by the Holy See to assist a resident bishop or archbishop in the pastoral care and administration of a diocese. Auxiliary bishops help administer the sacraments, especially confirmation, and often represent the resident bishop at various types of functions.
Although an auxiliary bishop has the fullness of holy orders, he does not have the same degree of jurisdiction or governing power as the resident bishop.
He does not have the automatic right of succession when the resident bishop dies, is transferred or retires.
In some dioceses, auxiliary bishops are given charge of either specific territories within the diocese or special areas of ministry, such as ministry to ethnic groups.
All auxiliary bishops are given what is called a “titular diocese.” This is a diocese that once existed but has since been suppressed by the Holy See. Thus, the auxiliary is bishop of a diocese in title only. The reason for this is that historically a bishop is supposed to be the head of a diocese.
Like all bishops, auxiliaries are required to submit their resignation to the pope when they turn 75.
(From “Our Sunday Visitor’s Catholic Encyclopedia”)
Auxiliary bishops of Chicago
Alexander J. McGavick (1898-1921); 1921- bishop of LaCrosse; died 1948
Peter J. Muldoon (1901-1908); 1908-first bishop of Rockford; died 1927
Paul P. Rhode (1908-1915); 1915-bishop of Green Bay; died 1945
Edward F. Hoban (1921-1928); 1928-bishop of Rockford; 1945-archbishop of Cleveland; died 1966
Bernard J. Sheil (1928-1969); died 1969
William D. O’Brien (1934-1962); died 1962
William E. Cousins (1948-1952); 1952- bishop of Peoria; 1958-1977-archbishop of Milwaukee; died 1988
Raymond P. Hillinger (1956-1971); died 1971
Aloysius J. Wycislo (1960-1968); 1968-bishop of Green Bay; 1983-retired; died 2005
Cletus F. O’Donnell (1960-1967); 1967-bishop of Madison, Wisconsin; died 1992
John L. May (1967-1969); 1969-bishop of Mobile, Alabama; 1980-archbishop of St. Louis; died 1994
Thomas J. Grady (1967-1974); 1974-1990- bishop of Orlando; died 2002
William E. McManus (1967-1976); 1976-bishop of Fort Wayne/South Bend; 1984-retired; died 1997
Alfred L. Abramowicz (1968-1995); died 1999
Michael R. Dempsey (1968-1974); died 1974
Nevin W. Hayes, O.Carm. (1971-1988); died 1988
Timothy J. Lyne (1983-1995); died 2013
John G. Vlazny (1983-1987); 1987-bishop of Winona, Minnesota; 1997-archbishop of Portland; 2013-retired
Placido Rodriguez, CMF (1983-1994); 1994-bishop of Lubbock, Texas; 2016-retired
Wilton D. Gregory (1983-1994); 1994-bishop of Belleville; 2005-archbishop of Atlanta
Thad J. Jakubowski (1988-2003); died 2013
John R. Gorman (1988-2003)
Raymond E. Goedert (1991-2003)
Edwin M. Conway (1995-2004); died 2004
Gerald F. Kicanas (1995-2001); 2001-coadjutor bishop of Tucson; 2003-bishop of Tucson; 2017-retired
George V. Murry, SJ (1995-1999); 1999-bishop of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands; 2007-bishop of Youngstown, Ohio
John R. Manz (1996-present)
Joseph N. Perry (1998-present)
Jerome E. Listecki (2000- 2005); 2004-bishop of LaCrosse; 2010-archbishop of Milwaukee
Francis J. Kane (2003-2018)
Thomas J. Paprocki (2003-2010); 2010-bishop of Springfield
Gustavo Garcia-Siller, MSpS (2003-2010); 2010-archbishop of San Antonio
George J. Rassas (2006-2018)
Alberto Rojas (2011-present)
Andrew P. Wypych (2011-present)