Pope Accepts Resignation Of Bishop Hurley Of Grand Rapids, Names Father David Walkowiak From Diocese Of Cleveland As Successor

WASHINGTON—Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Walter A.Hurley, 75, from the pastoral governance of the Diocese of Grand Rapids,Michigan, and named Father David J. Walkowiak, 59, a pastor in the Diocese ofCleveland, to succeed him.

The resignation and appointment werepublicized in Washington, April 18, by Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, apostolicnuncio to the United States.

Bishop-designateWalkowiak was born June 18, 1953, in Cleveland. He was ordained a priest forthe Cleveland Diocese in 1979. He is a graduate of the University of Notre Dameand holds a master of divinity degree from St. Mary Seminary of Cleveland and alicentiate and doctorate in canon law from The Catholic University of AmericaCUA).

Assignmentsafter ordination include 1979-1984, associate pastor, St. Mary Parish, Lorain,Ohio; 1984-1988, study at CUA; 1988-2006, vice-chancellor, Cleveland Diocese andprofessor and vice-rector at St. Mary Seminary; and 2006-present, pastor, St.Joan of Arc Parish, Chagrin Falls, Ohio.

BishopHurley was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Detroit in 1965. He wasnamed an auxiliary bishop of Detroit in 2003 and Bishop of Grand Rapids, in2005.

TheDiocese of Grand Rapids has 6,795 square miles and includes 11 counties in theLower Peninsula of the State of Michigan. It has a population of 1,283,717people, of whom 178,000, or 14 percent, are Catholic.

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