U.S.

Nashville parishes begin rebuilding after March tornado

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The historic Church of the Assumption in Nashville has started the long walk back from the damage it sustained from the tornadoes that swept across the middle of Tennessee March 3. The repairs to the church, which was built in 1859 to serve German-speaking Catholics in Nashville, could take several years to complete and will cost an estimated $4 million to $6 million, said Father Bede Price, pastor. “They just don’t know” the full extent of the damage, Father Price said. Construction crews already have been removing everything from the church, including pews, statues and other artwork, the Stations of the Cross, the pipe organ and all of the stained-glass windows. The items will be put in storage until they can be reinstalled. The work crew plans to remove the plaster on the ceiling so they can inspect the roof and assess the full extent of the damage, Father Price said.

Pope accepts resignation of Cincinnati auxiliary bishop

WASHINGTON — Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of 65-year-old Auxiliary Bishop Joseph R. Binzer of Cincinnati, less than nine months after it was revealed he had failed to inform the archbishop and priest personnel board of a priest’s inappropriate conduct with minors. Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr removed Bishop Binzer as director of priest personnel for the archdiocese in August after his failure to report the incidents became known; Bishop Binzer also resigned from the U.S. bishops’ Committee on the Protection of Children and Young People. Bishop Binzer’s resignation as auxiliary bishop was announced May 7 in Washington by Archbishop Christophe Pierre, Vatican nuncio to the United States. The announcement and a similar one published by the Vatican did not give a reason for the resignation.

Pope names Duluth priest to be bishop of Rapid City

WASHINGTON — Pope Francis has named Father Peter M. Muhich, rector of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary in Duluth, Minnesota, to be the new bishop of Rapid City, South Dakota. The announcement of Bishop-designate Muhich’s appointment was made May 12, the day before his 59th birthday. Archbishop Christophe Pierre, the Vatican nuncio to the United States, announced the appointment in Washington. The Diocese of Rapid City has been without a bishop since July 2019 when Bishop Robert D. Gruss was installed as bishop of Saginaw, Michigan. The date of Bishop-designate Muhich’s episcopal ordination and installation as the ninth bishop of Rapid City has not yet been set.

Chicago priest named coadjutor bishop of Peoria

WASHINGTON — Pope Francis has appointed Father Louis Tylka, a pastor in the Archdiocese of Chicago, to be the coadjutor bishop of the Diocese of Peoria, Illinois. Bishop-designate Tylka, who will celebrate his 50th birthday May 26, will eventually succeed Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, 73, who has led the diocese for 18 years. The normal retirement age for a bishop is 75. The appointment of the coadjutor bishop was announced May 11 in Washington by Archbishop Christophe Pierre, the Vatican nuncio to the United States. The new coadjutor bishop currently is pastor of St. Julie Billiart parish in Tinley Park and president of the Archdiocesan Presbyteral Council.

WORLD

At morning Mass, Pope Francis offers prayers for unemployed

VATICAN CITY — As countries continue to reel from the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic, Pope Francis offered prayers for the men and women who have been unable to work. “In these days, many people have lost their jobs, were not rehired or work off the books. Let us pray for these brothers and sisters of ours who are suffering from this lack of work,” the pope said May 11 at the start of his Mass in the Domus Sanctae Marthae. The pope’s prayer came at a time when jobless rates have skyrocketed as businesses were forced to close their doors due to lockdown measures. According to a Washington Post report May 11, White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett said the U.S. unemployment rate “is likely to rise to 20 percent” in June.

— Catholic News Service