Amy Welborn reports that Bishop Aymond of Austin is heading back home to New Orleans. Congratulations to New Orleans, but who's next for us, I wonder?
Here's Rocco's writeup of the move.
A few weekends ago, I saw Bishop Aymond ordain on of my friends to the deaconate, one of six transitional deacons for the diocese. The next weekend, he ordained five men to the priesthood. Austin has had an upswing in vocations under Bishop Aymond, which I pray continues under his successor. I hope we can be as fortunate as Cincinnati under our new bishop.
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12 comments:
As a New Orleans native, I'm glad to hear that Aymond has been a good bishop for Austin. Other than a strong effort for vocation, is there anything else we should expect from our new shepherd?
He oversaw a renovation of our 19th-century-gothic cathedral which restored much of the beauty lost to 60s and 70s maintenance and left it a really beautiful building.
The Latin mass group in Austin has been moved to the cathedral, where they have the 3pm mass every Sunday.
We seem to get overall solid guidance out of the chancery on religious education and catechesis type stuff, but not insanely stellar, and some of the beaurocats still come up with poor choices. (The approved list of curriculums for religious education is rather thin gruel.)
Everything I hear from our priest and seminarian friends about his work with formation has been very positive.
He's also done a very good job of dealing with a rapidly growing diocese -- though I don't know how that experience will help when it comes to dealing with a shrinking diocese, which I gather has been one of NO's problems.
Overall, he seems good, and all the young priests and seminarians I've known around here are _very_ solid.
I worked with him for two years and saw how he built a solid foundation for the Diocese of Austin. However, he does have a problem with control and his temper. The Archdioces of New Orleans, at this time, may need a cut-throat business man to rebuild it from the ashes. If you work for the Archdiocese, update your resume!
Traditionally, this role is filled by either the local Archbishop (maybe Cardinal DiNardo, needed for any ordinations) or the Vicar General of the diocese. In Austin, this office is in transition - Monsignor Michael Mulvey is our current Vicar General, but will move to become the Vice-rector of our seminary in the middle of July. After that, we will have two Vicars General Monsignor Elmer Holtman and Father Mike Sis. Some of this information was released with the new assignments posted in May.
Aymond is a native New Orleaninan and should be able to handle some the peculiarities of the parishes. We're a difficult flock - very orthodox in ways, but feisty in social practices.
The next bishop of Austin will be Msgr. Ronnie Jenkins. He's a total opposite of Aymond (control freak and has anger management issues).
Anon,
Interesting news -- are you stating a fact or making a prediction?
Jenkins is laid back and easy to work with. Aymond is the control freak and has a really bad temper. For some reason, he really dislikes large, overweight women.
Aymond owes a lot to the work that Jenkins did while he was here in Austin. Aymond has been grooming Jenkins since his move out of the diocese and into USCCB. Jenkins also helped with the last Papal visit.... I'm simply making a prediction.
Anon, I've never known Archbishop Aymond to be anything other than a kind and gentle man. Also, I doubt that Msgr. Jenkins will be the new Bishop. For a large diocese like Austin, I suspect the new bishop will be someone who already has episcopal experience, either as the Ordinary of a smaller diocese or as an auxiliary somewhere.
Also, 1990bluejay, while Msgr. Holtman and Fr. Sis were going to be the new Vicars General, I think I read somewhere that all Vicar General appointments cease as soon as it is announced a bishop is leaving.
I wouldn't be surprised, though, if one of them were tapped to be the Diocesan Administrator until a new Bishop is named.
Aymond can be very kind at times and he is a smart business man. However, there is a very different side to him that some people have seen and have been hurt by. While I was there in the Diocese of Austin, people worked in fear of him and his temper. He may have resolved this through counseling and/or drugs. One day, he will have to account for his abusive behavior. I think that is why he focuses so much on the topic: forgivness.
Aymond has sent millions of dollars to Rome in the form of program support and taxes. That money will not be so available from the New Orleans Archdioces.
I do love New Orleans and hope for the best for them. I'm also happy that Aymond is leaving Austin. There needs to be a time of healing here....
Bishop Aymond has turned his back on a parish in Round Rock. Placing an ill-equipped priest in a growing thriving parish..that is now barely staying afloat. He made some poor choices when moving priests around. He knows of the situation as does the Vicar General and many of the priests in the area. Due to his poor decisions in leadership and the leadership of the priests in the area I am leaving the Church. He will probably do well in his native area.
I have heard the same about Archbishop Aymond regarding his temper (alhtough I have never seen it first hand myself.) To his credit however, he does place importance on addressing the concerns of the laity in a variety of fashions. When I had voiced my concerns I was impressed that he followed up with a personal phone call and later on a very thorough letter. Although I will not be in the Austin diocese for much longer, it is my hope that the Holy Father will appoint someone with more conservative liturgical tastes.
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