Bishop Delaney, leader of Fort Worth diocese, dies

AP via Houston Chronicle ^ | 7/12/05 | --

[PAR35]

FORT WORTH — Bishop Joseph Delaney, leader of more than 400,000 Catholics in the Fort Worth Roman Catholic Diocese, has died at age 70.

Delaney, who has been bishop of the north central Texas diocese since 1981, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2003, but had said the cancer was in remission.

***

Delaney's housekeeper discovered his body this morning, Wilson said.

Monsignor Kevin Vann, named by the Vatican in May as coadjutor bishop to succeed Delaney upon his death or retirement, had been scheduled to be installed Wednesday. The ordination will be held as planned, but Vann will now be ordained as bishop, Wilson said.

***

[PAR35]

Didn't see this posted yet.

[Salvation]

Who do you think will replace him?

[Salvation]

Diocese of Fort Worth
Most Reverend Joseph P. Delaney
800 West Loop 820 South
Fort Worth, TX 76108

Most Reverend Kevin W. Vann
1725 S. Walnut Avenue
Springfield, IL 62704

Looks like there was an auxiliary bishop.

[Salvation]

**Who do you think will replace him?**

Oops, guess I should have read the whole thing. My mistake.

[sinkspur]

Kevin Vann will replace him. The mood for the ordination of Bishop Vann tomorrow could have been somber, but Bishop Vann said he wanted the ceremony to be a celebration of the life of Bishop Delaney.

[NYer]

Fort Worth Bishop dies; priest scheduled to be installed as Coadjutor will now become ordinary

Fort Worth, Jul. 13, 2005 (CNA) - In an very unusual turn of events, Most Reverend Kevin William Vann, scheduled to be installed as Coadjutor Bishop of Fort Worth, Texas today, will now be installed as ordinary of that diocese following the surprise death of Bishop William Delaney, who Bishop-elect Vann was assigned to assist.

Archbishop Jose Gomez, metropolitan Archbishop of San Antonio will install Bishop-elect Vann at 6pm tonight –Central time- as scheduled with some adaptations at the Daniel-Meyer Coliseum on the campus of Texas Christian University in southwest Fort Worth.

Although a Coadjutor bishop holds the right of succession upon the death of the ordinary of their diocese, today’s unusual transition puts Vann’s succession into effect before his installation as bishop.

Upon learning of Bishop Delaney’s death, which follows a lengthy struggle with pancreatic cancer, Archbishop Gomez said that, “Bishop Delaney was a dedicated and faithful servant to the Diocese of Fort Worth and the Church of Texas for many years.“

“I am saddened”, he said, “at his passing at this important moment in the life of Church of Texas. My sadness is tempered by the faith that we share as believers in the risen Christ, that God has awarded him the gift of perfect happiness with Him forever.”

Bishop-elect Vann, who comes from Springfield, Ill, will become the third Bishop of Fort Worth, succeeding 70-year old Delaney.

Bishop Delaney’s funeral has been postponed until Monday at 2pm at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Bishop Vann will preside.

[Trajan88]

I was confirmed by Bishop Delaney at Immaculate Conception (Denton, TX) in 1983... he'll be missed.

Trajan88

[BlackElk]

May God have mercy upon his soul. May his successor do a better job.