Monday, May 14th, the Feast of St. Matthias, Bishop David J. Malloy was ordained as the ninth bishop of the Rockford diocese. Cardinal Francis George of Chicago was the principal consecrator, with Archbishop Jerome Listecki of Milwaukee and Bishop Emeritus Thomas Doran of Rockford as co-concentrators. Cardinal Timothy Dolan and of New York, Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, Apostolic Nuncio to the U.S, dozens of bishops, hundreds of priests, religious sisters and brothers, deacons, Knights of Columbus, Knights and Dames of the Holy Sepucher, Knights and Dames of St. Gregory and thousands of lay faithful were also in attendance.
With over 5000 attending, the ordination was held at the BMO Harris Bank Center in Rockford, amazingly transformed into a prayerful place. The reverent ceremony culminated with Cardinal George’s laying on of hands and reciting of the prayer of Ordination officially ordaining David J. Malloy as Bishop of the Rockford diocese.
Bishop Malloy’s background is quite impressive; secretary to the Apostolic Nunciature in Pakistan and Syria; secretary to the permanent observer Mission to the Holy See; the perfecture of the Papal Household; General Secretary, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. He has spent most of the last year as Pastor of St. Francis de Sales Parish in the sleepy resort area of Lake Geneva, WI.
Bishop Malloy graciously greeted many well-wishers at a reception following the ceremony. Mother Marguerite, Sr. Mary William and Sr. Mary Timothy presented him with a statue of St. Jeanne Jugan and a copy of The Final Years, To the Very End: Pope John Paul II, a book published by the Little Sisters on the words and example of John Paul II in his final years.
God Bless you Bishop David J. Malloy!
God Bless Bishop David J. Malloy!