“It’s not just a hierarchy kind of move for him,” says Deacon Sanders, who has ministered alongside Fr. Byrnes, the parish’s pastor prior to his ordination as a bishop. “It’s truly God working in his life, because he’s a brother in Chirst first, and he’s a true servant. I wouldn’t say that if I hadn’t experienced it personally.”
Deacon Sanders is one of many people who are praying in thanksgiving that Bishop Hanchon and Bishop Byrnes have joined the ranks of bishops.
Having three bishops ordained is tremendous news, and no doubt the local Church will grow to love Bishop Arturo Cepeda – but there’s something special about the two local men that already has made the Church of Detroit embrace them.
Bishop Hanchon’s good friend and seminary classmate, Msgr. Patrick Halfpenny, says the Church of Detroit should know of Bishop Hanchon’s passion for God’s people.
“He loves the Church, which means he loves the people of God,” Msgr. Halfpenny says. “He loves Christ. He loves the priesthood – so he’s going to be a good pastor for the priests with whom he interacts. He’s going to be a good pastor for the people with whom he interacts.”
Msgr. Halfpenny describes Bishop Hanchon “spiritually adventurous” and selfless.
“If it’s a choice between his well-being and somebody else’s, he’ll opt for somebody else’s rather than taking care of himself,” he says.
Fr. Timothy Pelc, another classmate of Bishop Hanchon who’s the pastor of St. Ambrose Parish in Grosse Pointe Park, says no one in the class could have dreamed where their ministries would take them. But Bishop Hanchon’s path as a priest had a distinct focus on the city.
“He’s always been very passionately involved in the city,” Fr. Pelc says, recalling Bishop Hanchon’s involvement in seminary days with urban summer camps, and his assignments at St. Bernard and Blessed Sacrament Cathedral parishes.
In fact, Fr. Pelc is the artist who devised the coats of arms for the bishops, and the centerpiece of Bishop Hanchon’s coat is a phoenix – in reference to Fr. Gabriel Richard’s quote that Detroit would “rise from the ashes” like a phoenix. He adds that Bishop Hanchon has plenty of personal qualities to bring to the episcopacy, too.
“Don brings creativity to whatever he does,” Fr. Pelc says. “He has a freshness. He has an attention to detail which I’ve always found to be rather remarkable. And a keen eye for people.
“He’s got a real sensitivity to people. Not that other bishops don’t – but I would say he has those gifts in abundance, and that’s what he would bring to the ministry.”
As much of an honor – and hefty responsibility – being named bishop was for Bishop Hanchon, few would argue that it was a little more unexpected that Bishop Byrnes was named a bishop.
But it makes perfect sense if you ask the men he’s overseen during his time as vice rector at Sacred Heart Major Seminary.
“He has that perfect balance of, ‘I’m a leader. I’m here to form you to be a priest,’ as well as, ‘I’m here as a father figure to love you,’” says seminarian Deacon Pierre Konja, who will be ordained this year for the Chaldean Eparchy of St. Thomas the Apostle.
Deacon Konja admits he was disappointed that Bishop Byrnes would no longer be serving as vice rector of the seminary.
Others in his class, too, agreed that Fr. Byrnes has been a prime example of leadership to them throughout their education and formation.
“He’s just a great leader,” says seminarian Deacon Stephen Pullis, who will be ordained a priest in June and who had Bishop Byrnes as a formation director for a couple of years. “Fr. Byrnes is very direct and a loving and kind man. He showed me how to be a leader and I learned a lot from him on how to be a priest and how to be a man of integrity and a man of honesty and a man of charity and truth at the same time.”
Deacon Pullis says he was excited for the local Church when he heard Fr. Byrnes was selected to be a bishop.
“What a great example of priesthood he’ll be for all of us,” he adds.
