A letter from Bishop Coyne to the people of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis

Prayer for a New Archbishop

O God, eternal shepherd, who governs your flock with unfailing care, bless the Church in central and southern Indiana with a new archbishop who will please you by his holiness and show us your watchful care. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. †

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

Peace be with you. It gives me great joy to address you in this letter on the one-year anniversary of my being named Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.

My joy is founded on the manner of Catholic life and faithfulness that I have encountered in the people, religious and clergy of this great archdiocese. We are truly a Catholic people who seek to spread the good news wherever we are that Jesus is Lord to His praise and glory forever.

I am deeply grateful for everything you do for your parish and for the greater Church in central and southern Indiana.

As you are aware, we are still in a state of transition as we await the announcement of who our next archbishop will be. I, like you, continue to pray for the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, as he discerns who will be our next Ordinary, but as to who it will be and when he will be named I have no idea. In the meantime, things are fine.

When I was named Apostolic Administrator, I was basically given normal powers of administration and governance, which has allowed for the regular course of ministry and work. I have been able to ordain priests and deacons, name priests as administrators of parishes, and direct the proper ecclesial and financial activities of the archdiocese for the past year. With this one-year anniversary, I am now able to name pastors and have subsequently named eight parish administrators as pastors. In addition, the long process of finding a new Chief Financial Officer for the archdiocese is just about completed, and I hope to be able to appoint him or her in the very near future.

All of this is to assure you of the continuing health and well-being of the Catholic community here in central and southern Indiana as we faithfully carry out the mandate Jesus gave us. I am glad to serve you as your bishop alongside such good and holy priests, administrators, staff and religious.

Please continue to support the work of our faith, especially through the annual United Catholic Appeal, and to involve yourselves in the wider community of Indiana and the United States through your thoughtful and Catholic involvement in electing our next government officials.

May God bless you all, and may God bless America.

Most Rev. Christopher J. Coyne, S.L.D.
Apostolic Administrator
Archdiocese of Indianapolis