From the Rocky Mountains to Rocky's Hometown

This is big news:

Photo by James Baca
August, 2010



Cardinal Justin Rigali will hold a news conference this morning to announce that Pope Benedict XVI has named Archbishop Charles J. Chaput O.F.M., Cap. as the 13th Bishop and 9th Archbishop of Philadelphia. Archbishop Chaput will be Installed on Thursday, September 8, 2011, the feast of the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul at 2:00 p.m. The Holy Father has also appointed Cardinal Rigali as Apostolic Administrator with all of the responsibilities of Archbishop until the Installation of Archbishop Chaput.

Archbishop Chaput, who is 66, is a member of the Order of Friars Minor, Capuchin. He was ordained a priest in 1970 and became a bishop at the age of 43. At that time he became the Bishop of Rapid City, South Dakota. Since 1997 he has served as Archbishop of Denver. A member of the Prairie Band Potowatami Tribe, Archbishop Chaput is the second Native American to be ordained a Bishop in the United States and the first Native American Archbishop.

I LOVE Archbishop Chaput!  He is amazing!  Philadelphia is so blessed to have had Cardinal Rigali and now Abp. Chaput - who will most likely come to be known as Cardinal Chaput.  Keep Cardinal Rigali, Abp. Chaput and the Archdioceses of Philadelphia and Denver in your prayers during this time of transition.

Update:
Here is the video of Archbishop Chaput's remarks at the press conference: