Pope names Monsignor John Barres
Bishop for Diocese of Allentown
The Vatican announced May 27, 2009 that the holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI has named Monsignor John O. Barres, STD, JCL, Chancellor of the Diocese of Wilmington, to be the fourth Bishop of the Diocese of Allentown, succeeding Bishop Edward Cullen. Bishop Cullen, 76, submitted his resignation to the pope, as required under church law, when he turned 75 in March 2008.
Bishop-elect Barres was born on September 20, 1960 and is a native of Larchmont, New York. He is the fifth of six children of Oliver and Marjorie Barres. He was baptized by Bishop Fulton Sheen in 1960 while his father was working for the Bishop at the Propagation of the Faith in New York City.
Bishop-elect Barres is a graduate of Phillips Academy (Andover), Princeton University (BA in English Literature), and the New York University Graduate School of Business Administration (MBA in Management). His theological education includes an STB and an STL in Systematic Theology from the Catholic University of America (where he received seminary formation at Theological College) and a JCL in Canon Law and an STD in Spiritual Theology from the pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome.
He was ordained to the priesthood October 21, 1989 by Bishop Robert Mulvee (Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Providence). He served as an associate pastor at Holy Family Church in Newark, KE from 1989 to 1992, and St. Elizabeth's parish in Wilmington, DE from 1992 to 1996. After further study in Rome (1996-1999) with residence at the Pontifical North American College (Casa Santa Maria) he served as Vice-Chancellor and then Chancellor for Bishop Michael Saltarelli and Bishop Malooly.
Pope John Paul II named him a "Chaplain to His Holiness" in July 2000 with the title of "Monsignor". Pope Benedict XVI named him a "Prelate of Honor" in November 2005. in addition to serving on various diocesan boards and committees, Bishop-elect Barres has served on the Administrative Board of the Maryland Catholic Conference (Annapolis), the Board of St. Francis Hospital (Wilmington), and the board of the Cathedral Foundation (Baltimore).
Bishop-elect Barres' Mass of Episcopal Ordination and Installation will be on Thursday, July 30, 2009 at the Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena in Allentown.
Read comments from Bishop-elect John Barres (pdf file)
Remarks from Bishop Malooley
"Today, three bishops of the Diocese of Wilmington - the seventh bishop,
Bishop Robert Mulvee, now retired Bishop of Providence; Bishop Emeritus Michael
Saltarelli, the eighth bishop; and myself, the ninth bishop - are very proud.
Our spiritual son and brother in priesthood, Monsignor John O. Barres, has been
named Bishop-elect of the Diocese of Allentown by our Holy Father, Pope Benedict
XVI.
In Bishop-elect Barres, the Church of Allentown will receive a shepherd who is
deeply spiritual, exceptional in his theology and dedicated to his ministry.
In my first year in the Diocese of Wilmington he has shepherded and guided me
around the diocese. In that time I have seen his pastoral concern, much like The
Curé of Ars. When we would enter a church before a Saturday or Sunday Mass and
he would see people standing in line for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, he
would immediately go into one of the other confessionals to help minister that
sacrament.
You receive a bishop with a missionary spirit not unlike Saint Paul. He is
always looking to see how he can invite others to experience the Lord in their
lives. You will quickly discover why, for twenty years of priesthood, he has
been one of the most loved and respected priests of our diocese.
We are saddened to lose his ministry here in Wilmington. We are delighted that
the Church Universal, and especially the Diocese of Allentown, will benefit from
his assignment today.”