DETROIT — Bishop Jeffrey M. Monforton joined Detroit Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron and a handful of clergy, lay faithful and Church leaders during a solemn Vespers service Nov. 6 to pray for God's blessing upon his new ministry as the Archdiocese of Detroit's 32nd auxiliary bishop.
Bishop Monforton, who since 2012 has served as bishop of the Diocese of Steubenville, Ohio, will begin his ministry in Detroit today during a special 2 p.m. Liturgy of Welcome and Inauguration of Ministry at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament.
During the evening prayer service at the cathedral, which also was attended by Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States, Bishop Monforton made a solemn profession of faith and oath of fidelity, both longstanding traditions in the Catholic Church.
When he begins his ministry, Bishop Monforton will serve as episcopal moderator for the Archdiocese of Detroit's South Region, which includes Monroe County and parts of Wayne County outside of the city of Detroit. Current Detroit Auxiliary Bishop Gerard W. Battersby, who currently serves the South Region, will become moderator of the Northwest Region (Oakland and Lapeer counties); Auxiliary Bishop Arturo Cepeda will serve the Central Region (the cities of Detroit, Hamtramck and Highland Park) with assistance from Msgr. Charles Kosanke, the current Central Region episcopal moderator. Auxiliary Bishop Robert J. Fisher will remain episcopal moderator of the Northeast Region (Macomb and St. Clair counties, as well as Grosse Pointe).
(Photos by Alissa Tuttle | Special to Detroit Catholic)
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