Pope Francis Accepts Resignation of Archbishop Leonard Blair who is Succeeded by Coadjutor Archbishop Christopher Coyne - FULL TEXT

May 1, 2024 - Pope Francis Accepts Resignation of Archbishop Leonard Blair of Hartford; Succeeded by Coadjutor Archbishop Christopher Coyne

 WASHINGTON - Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Archbishop Leonard P. Blair, 75, from the Office of Archbishop of Hartford. Archbishop Christopher J. Coyne, up until now coadjutor archbishop of the same diocese, will succeed him as archbishop of Hartford. The resignation and appointment were publicized in Washington, D.C. on May 1, 2024, by Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States.

  Archbishop Coyne’s biography may be found here (below). The Archdiocese of Hartford is comprised of 2,288 square miles in the State of Connecticut and has a total population of 1,949,519 of which 543,341, are Catholic.

USCCB Release

BIOGRAPHY of The Most Reverend Christopher J. Coyne

The Archdiocese of Hartford welcomed The Most Reverend Christopher J. Coyne as Coadjutor Archbishop of Hartford at a Solemn Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Joseph on October 9, 2023. On May 1, 2024, he began his episcopal ministry as the Sixth Archbishop of Hartford.

Archbishop Coyne is an uncle to 11 nieces and nephews. Through the gift of his extended family, he’s additionally blessed with the love and goodness of many aunts, uncles and cousins. A product of public education in his hometown, Archbishop Coyne graduated from Woburn High School in 1976, while working through both high school and college as a dishwasher, sporting goods salesman, lifeguard and musician. After college he worked full time as a bartender for two years before entering the seminary. Archbishop Coyne is a lifelong Patriots, Celtics and Bruins fan, a Maine beach bum and hopes to return soon as an avid skier and golfer.

Ministry as Archbishop

• Coadjutor Archbishop of Hartford (June 2023 – April 2024)
• Archbishop of Hartford (May 2024 –)

Ministry as Bishop

• Titular bishop of Mopta and auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis (January 2011 – December 2014)
• Apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis (September 2011 – December 2012)
• Vicar general of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis (March 2011 – December 2014)
• Bishop for the southern region of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis (October 2014 – December 2014)
• Bishop of Burlington (December 2014 – October 2023)

National Offices (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops)
• Chairman of USCCB Communications (elected November 2014; term 2015 – 2018)
• Member of USCCB Evangelization and Catechesis Committee (2012 – 2017)
• Member of USCCB Committee on Divine Worship (2017 – present)

Ministry as Priest

• Ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Boston (June 1986)
• Parochial Vicar, St. Mary of the Hills, Milton, Massachusetts (1986 – 1989)
• Professor of Sacred Liturgy and Homiletics, St. John’s Seminary, Brighton (1994 – 2003); adjunct faculty (2003 – 2006)
• Director of the Office of Worship, Archdiocese of Boston (2000 – 2002)
• Secretary for communications/principal spokesman, Archdiocese of Boston (2002 – 2005)
• Pastor, Our Lady Help of Christians, Newton, Massachusetts (2005)
• Pastor, St. Margaret Mary Parish, Westwood, Massachusetts (2006 – 2011)

Education

• Attended Woburn public schools; graduated from Woburn High School (1976)
• Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from the University of Lowell (1980)
• Master of Divinity, St. John’s Seminary, Boston (1986)
• Licentiate (1992) and Doctorate (1994) in Sacred Liturgy; Pontifical Athenaeum of Sant’Anselmo, Rome

Awards

• Nominated for a regional Emmy award (2002) for 13-part television series,“Sacred Space” (aired on CatholicTV)
• Winner of both a judged Telly and People’s Telly Award for the internet series “Everything You Wanted to Know About Catholic Liturgy” (2014)

Coadjutor Archbishop Coyne’s Coat of Arms

The personal heraldry of Archbishop Coyne, upon a blue (azure) field, is Archbishop Coyne’s coat of arms which blends images representing his love for God, family genealogy and ministry history in the Archdiocese of Boston.

Archbishop Coyne’s grandfathers were Irish and his grandmothers were French. The coat of arms reflects those two heritages with the Celtic cross and the fleur de lis. The Celtic cross also calls to mind the centrality of the cross in the history of salvation and the sacrifice of Jesus which brings redemption. The fleur de lis also represent Mary, the Mother of our Savior, and Saint Joseph, her most chaste spouse. Finally, the blue (azure) field also calls to mind Mary, the Immaculate Conception, under whose patronage the United States of America has been placed.

On October 9, 2023, The Most Reverend Christopher J. Coyne, the former 10th Bishop of Burlington, Vermont, was welcomed as Coadjutor Archbishop of Hartford. On May 1, 2024, he was appointed the Sixth Archbishop of Hartford.

The Most Reverend Christopher J. Coyne
Sixth Archbishop of Hartford