DETROIT — As Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron celebrates his 25th episcopal jubilee on July 9, Detroit Catholic asked friends, co-workers and fellow clergy to share a few words of gratitude and congratulations.
Archbishop Vigneron reflects on 25 years as a bishop: ‘I’m always learning’
25 years in photos: A look back at Archbishop Vigneron’s ministry (PHOTOS)
So many responses followed that we can’t print them all here.
The Archdiocese of Detroit is blessed beyond words to enjoy the archbishop’s leadership and pastoral care, and the tributes below reflect a small sample of that. Congratulations, Archbishop Vigneron, and may God continue to bestow his grace upon your ministry.
Here are some of the many responses we received:
Congratulations and best wishes for being a faithful servant of God and a wise shepherd as you care for His people in the Archdiocese of Detroit. May you be blessed with the Lord’s peace and love as you continue your Episcopal ministry in the years to come.
Cardinal Adam J. Maida, archbishop emeritus of Detroit
Over the past 25 years of Archbishop Vigneron’s episcopal ministry, while his specific assignment may have changed (from Rector of the seminary, to Bishop of Oakland, and finally as Archbishop of Detroit) what has remained the same is his identity as a prayerful and dutiful disciple of Jesus, assisted by the constant intercession of the Blessed Mother. It is an honor to live and work alongside of the Archbishop, and I can attest that he is as committed as ever to doing what the Holy Spirit is calling him to do. While some leaders may have been tempted to “coast” at this stage in their ministry, he instead continues to responded to the challenges we are facing today. When the history of our Archdiocese is written, he will be known as the instrument by which the Holy Spirit transformed our local Church into a band of joyful, missionary disciples.
Fr. Jeffrey Day, vicar general and moderator of the curia for the Archdiocese of Detroit
I am immensely grateful to have had the opportunity to work with Archbishop Vigneron. It was an honor to serve as Delegate for Consecrated Life under his leadership. The Holy Spirit always seemed to speak through his respectful guidance during his 25 years of service as bishop. May he be graced with many more years of health and holiness.
Sr. Rose Marie Kujawa, CSSF, former delegate for consecrated life for the Archdiocese of Detroit and former president of Madonna University
“There goes an Apostle” is often a thought that comes to mind when I see Archbishop Vigneron, whose heart longs to model that of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Being a successor of the Apostles is no easy task; yet, through keeping his eyes fixed on Jesus, the Archbishop has remained steadfast in his love for the Lord, the Church’s faithful, and the Church in the Archdiocese of Detroit. No matter what demands may be made, supporting the Archbishop’s ministry has been a tremendous source of grace for me, my family, and my coworkers.
Michael Trueman, chancellor for the Archdiocese of Detroit
While my memories and life experiences with Archbishop Vigneron go back to our days in high school, and evoke laughter and appreciation for our teachers and professors, I want to say a few words about my experience of him as an Auxiliary Bishop and as our Archbishop.
Contemporary with his ordination as a Bishop and service as one of our Auxiliaries was his assignment as Rector of Sacred Heart Major Seminary. He not only handled multi-tasking, but made Sacred Heart distinguished for its aspirations as a model seminary — one that could attract other young men from neighboring dioceses, making for a strengthened program. At a cost to his own convenience, he made his service as a Bishop available to more Detroiters.
When God’s Spirit drew him west to Oakland, Calif. … and drew him back as our chief shepherd, he arrived, as some of the Oakland priests quipped, “value added.” His administrative skills had expanded and he found a comfort in applying his insightful listening to a wider field. I have been impressed at his way of chairing a meeting — making sure to invoke, and to listen to, every participant. His gift of synthesizing different viewpoints and being able to achieve consensus on a path forward is remarkable … and has done so much to strengthen our local Church. He has done this both in extraordinary financial circumstances, as he helped us repay our debts, and in offering us a way to remain connected during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Finally, I am most grateful for his encouragement of me as a co-worker with him. He chose the Central Region as the place for my ministry, and has been always trusting of my suggestions and supportive of my decisions. He’s not only polite and generous — he is a true Brother!
Detroit Auxiliary Bishop Donald F. Hanchon
You are an inspiration to me in my ministry in a very special way. Your docility to the Holy Spirit is incredibly admirable, but combined with your natural leadership abilities it is even that much more special. You are a gift to this Archdiocese, but in a very personal way you are a gift to me as I strive to be more like you. May the Lord continue to bless you in the years ahead!
Deacon Michael Houghton, director of missionary strategic planning for the Archdiocese of Detroit
Congratulations, Your Excellency, on your 25th episcopal jubilee! Thank you for your docility to the Holy Spirit and your leadership in Synod 16 and the Unleash the Gospel movement. I am privileged to be a member of the Curia and to work for the Kingdom under your direction. May the Lord continue to bless you in all you do and may he give you another 25 years!
Anita Houghton, associate director of the Archdiocese of Detroit’s Office of Evangelization
It has been a deep privilege and honor to know and work so closely with Archbishop Vigneron these many years. As a newly ordained bishop, he was tasked with helping to educate about the evils of assisted suicide. For the last 12 years, as chairman of the Michigan Catholic Conference’s Board of Directors, he has led the conference in a great period of success to advance the common good by protecting religious freedom, cultivating efforts to secure funding for Catholic schools, and furthering efforts to protect human life and dignity in all its stages. His time in the episcopate has been one of calm and steady leadership and his pastoral instincts have served our Church well.
Paul A. Long, president and CEO of the Michigan Catholic Conference
His Eminence Archbishop Vigneron has consistently been a man of truth and courageous leadership, through his words that clarify and inspire, and through his actions of humble resolve to seek first the Kingdom for the locality of Detroit. Congratulations Archbishop Vigneron on your 25th episcopal jubilee! It has truly been a privilege to serve under your leadership.
David Grobbel, marriage support team leader
Dear +Allen, congratulations on your 25th anniversary of ordination to the episcopacy. I am endlessly grateful for your theological instruction and priestly example when I was a seminarian. Just a few weeks ago, I was reminded by the people in Guam that I have been a priest for 25 years. You are a big part of that. I’ve also greatly admired your boldness in the Holy Spirit, especially with regard to Unleash the Gospel. I hope I have the opportunity to serve as a bishop with you in the years ahead. Sincerely,
Archbishop Mike Byrnes, Archdiocese of Hagatna, Guam
The leadership of Archbishop Vigneron has been a great blessing to the Archdiocese of Detroit. He has set us on a trajectory to be a national leader in implementing the call of all the recent popes to become a missionary archdiocese. He is a true shepherd who keeps his eyes fixed on Jesus and helps us, his priests, to know Jesus, to follow Jesus, and to make Jesus known and loved in the faithful through southeast Michigan. I am grateful to God for giving us such a loving, caring, and faithful shepherd. Ad multos annos, Excellency!
Fr. Stephen Pullis, former director of evangelization and missionary discipleship
I met Archbishop Vigneron shortly after I returned to the Catholic Church in the early 1990s. One night I was part of a small group of seminary students who, for reasons I don’t recall, met for dinner at the seminary. Msgr. Vigneron joined us and Cardinal Szoka dropped by for a few minutes. The conversation was wide-ranging and, in time, my work in radio and my personal interest in Christian scholarship came up. When I learned that he had a doctorate in philosophy and had specialized in the thought of an intriguing and consequential figure of modern philosophy, I asked him for a book recommendation. Could he suggest a single volume Catholic approach to the history of modern Western philosophy? He thought about it for a moment. In the pause, someone else took the conversation in another direction. Msgr. Vigneron disappeared. But in a few minutes he returned and gifted me with a Catholic history of philosophy that he had used in graduate school. He had just run back to his room, pulled it off the shelf and now presented it to me, pretty much a stranger, in a completely unexpected act of kindness. His heart was as generous and quick to give as his mind was keen and quick to teach. I am heartened when those who attend to small opportunities rise, in the providence of God, to positions of considerable influence. It confirms our Lord’s words in Luke 16:10: “He who is faithful in little I will make master of much.”
Al Kresta, president of Ave Maria Radio and host of ‘Kresta in the Afternoon’
Congratulations, Archbishop Vigneron, on this most blessed occasion. Thank you for your “yes” to Jesus and His Church. Thank you for your clear and constant teaching, and thank you for helping and encouraging me and so many others, to make the most of our God given platforms in order to boldly unleash the Gospel. I have learned so much from your peaceful example of strength, dignity, and love our Catholic faith and the faithful. Know of my prayers for many more years of dedicated service.
Teresa Tomeo, host of ‘Catholic Connection’ on Ave Maria Radio and EWTN
I want to thank God for the Archbishop’s service, particularly for his years at the seminary and during the years he has led us as Archbishop. Archbishop Vigneron was one of the key figures in the re-founding of Sacred Heart. His clear thinking, his humility and humor, particularly expressed in his homilies, were very much appreciated by me as I began teaching at Sacred Heart in 1989. I, along with so many others, was very grateful for the Lord sending us Archbishop Vigneron back to Detroit, as he put it at the time, “with value added.” It was clear that the Lord had worked strongly in the Archbishop’s life in Oakland and that the Archbishop was very much ready to lead us as our new Ordinary. Twenty five years? It can’t be that long!
Msgr. Daniel Trapp, pastor of St. Augustine and St. Monica Parish in Detroit and professor of theology at Sacred Heart Major Seminary
Congratulations and prayerful good wishes to Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron as he celebrates 25 years of faithful and generous ministry as a bishop. May the Triune God sustain you and guide you as you evangelize, form missionary disciples and shepherd God’s Holy People. With much gratitude, ad multos annos!
Bishop John M. Quinn, Diocese of Winona-Rochester, Minn.
The Capuchin friars of the Province of St. Joseph are grateful to Archbishop Vigneron for his ongoing support of our ministries within the Archdiocese of Detroit. In a spirit of thanksgiving for Archbishop’s devotion to our Capuchin brother Blessed Solanus Casey, we offer him our congratulations on the occasion of his 25th episcopal jubilee, and we thank God ahead of time for his continued service to the faithful in the years to come.
Fr. Mark Joseph Costello, OFM Cap., provincial minister of the Capuchin Franciscan Province of St. Joseph
Congratulations, Archbishop! It has truly been a blessing having you as our shepherd to guide our Archdiocese these past years acting through the action of the Holy Spirit. Your leadership is an essential presence in setting our path, keeping our faith.
Patti Maldonado, director of mission advancement operations for the Archdiocese of Detroit
I am very pleased to congratulate Archbishop Vigneron on the occasion of his silver jubilee of episcopal consecration. I have known him for nearly thirty years, since we first worked together in the Secretariat of State for Pope St. John Paul II, and I have always found him to be as good and wise as he is thoughtful and modest. He is a gifted intellectual as well as a deeply caring man. Detroit is very blessed to have such a leader in these difficult times, and I send him my prayerful good wishes for today and for the future. May God bless him and all the good people of Detroit entrusted to his care.”
Archbishop Leo Cushley, Archdiocese of St. Andrews & Edinburgh, Scotland
Archbishop Vigneron, you have had a major impact on my priesthood. As Fr. Vigneron, you became a mentor/professor for me when I entered the seminary as a teenager. Sitting in your winged-backed chairs, you helped me to understand philosophy and grow in confidence. You encouraged me through my younger years as a priest and pastor. Now 35 years later, you have became a mentor/shepherd for me. Sitting in your winged-back chairs, you help me understand and grow in confidence as rector. Thank you for being open to the Holy Spirit. Congratulations and blessings on your episcopal jubilee! God bless.
Fr. J.J. Mech, rector of the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Detroit
Archbishop Vigneron has been and remains a close friend as well as someone who is admirable as a person, a priest, a teacher, and a bishop. As a person, he is humble and seeks holiness; as a priest, his aim is to serve as Christ serves: as a teacher, he promotes the truth in love in most excellent ways; and as a bishop, he gives his all to care for the flock. As one who stands in the place of the apostles both for the Archdiocese of Detroit and for the Province of the State of Michigan, he is a blessing to all of us. Ad multos annos!
Bishop Earl Boyea, Diocese of Lansing
It has been a blessing to work so closely with the Archbishop during my years as the rector of the seminary. He has been supportive and encouraging in a way that reveals his deep faith and confidence in God’s providence. I also give thanks for his witness of humility and permitting the Holy Spirit to use his gifts for the glory of God.
Msgr. Todd Lajiness, administrator of Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in Plymouth and former rector of Sacred Heart Major Seminary
Every day I am reminded of the great legacy of Bishop Vigneron for the Diocese of Oakland. I live next door to the beautiful and award-wining Cathedral of Christ the Light, which is a magnificent presence in downtown Oakland. Spiritually and visually it is an anchor for the citizens of Oakland and the faithful of our Diocese. Because of Bishop Vigneron’s vision, we are located in the physical heart of the city and the spiritual heart of the faithful. I am grateful for his ministry and service to the Church, and I pray God blesses him on this anniversary.
Bishop Michael C. Barber, SJ, Diocese of Oakland, Calif.
Blessings to you, Archbishop Vigneron! Your connection with our Sisters of Divine Providence began years ago at Queen of Peace School with Sr. Roberta Bradley, CDP, as principal. Then, and now, you affirm the commitment of our community to make God’s Providence visible in our world. Your dedication to Jesus Christ and the Gospel, as well as your leadership in the Archdiocese of Detroit, summons us to be joyful missionary disciples. I am grateful for your humble presence and service. Blessings to you as you celebrate your 25th Episcopal Jubilee! Peace and joy,
Sr. Kathleen Matz, CDP, associate director of discipleship formation for the Archdiocese of Detroit
Congratulations and God’s blessings to Archbishop Allen Vigneron on the occasion of the Silver Jubilee of his Episcopal Ministry. We give thanks to God for the Archbishop’s untiring generosity and deep resolve in his shepherd’s care of souls.
Furthermore, evident in recent years with the archdiocesan pastoral plan of “Unleash the Gospel,” the Archbishop lives the witness of the first bishops as communion certainly leads to mission. His ministry underscores the fact that as his eyes are fixed on the face of Jesus, his complete reliance is in the power of the Cross. Ad multos annos!
Bishop Jeffrey M. Monforton, Diocese of Steubenville, Ohio (former rector of Sacred Heart Major Seminary)
Having known Archbishop Vigneron since seminary high school, I can attest to many things about him — his deep Catholic Faith and love for the Church, his affable nature, keen intellect and unwavering commitment to do what is right and just even in the face of great challenges. Detroit is blessed to have him as Archbishop, and I wish him abundant blessings, many more happy years, and the joy and peace that are Christ’s gift to faithful shepherds of the flock.
Archbishop Leonard P. Blair, Archdiocese of Hartford
Congratulations Archbishop Vigneron! Thank you for serving as Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan’s president and for inspiring our team to unleash the Gospel through the works of mercy in the Archdiocese of Detroit.
Paul Propson, president and CEO of Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan
Having served as an Auxiliary Bishop with Archbishop Vigneron has given me a unique opportunity to experience the gift that he has been to the Archdiocese of Detroit and southeast Michigan. His leadership has been truly priestly. His focus has been on the holiness of the People of God based on the Gospel of Jesus and the Life of the Holy Spirit. His life as a bishop has been fulfillment of his priesthood as a priest of the Archdiocese. His leadership as Rector of Sacred Heart Major Seminary has made it a leading seminary in the country. He has been a great gift from God to his flock. Ad Multos Annos.
Bishop Francis R. Reiss, retired auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Detroit
1. I am grateful to the Lord the leadership of Archbishop Vigneron. I admire his practice of making significant pastoral decisions in good and challenging times, such as during Changing Lives Together, Synod 16, the Unleash the Gospel process, the pandemic and Families of Parishes. He stays faithful to the task at hand, without caving into those forces at odds with his vision. It gives me courage to stay on mission as well.
2. I am grateful for Archbishop Vigneron’s support of and prayers for Cultural Ministries. Without creating a positive environment for our served ethnic communities — African-American, Hispanic and Native American — the spiritual, cultural growth and leadership development of the people would be difficult. Thank you, Archbishop, for your support.
3. I am glad for Archbishop’s support of Catholic schools and the goal to make Catholic school education widely available, regardless of the ability of families to pay. Black and Latino children who attend Catholic schools are more likely to go to and complete college than their public school peers. I attended Catholic schools and believe it helped my personal and professional achievements. Thank you, Archbishop, for your support and wish for a Catholic school education for the families of southeast Michigan.
Vickie Figueroa, manager of the Archdiocese of Detroit’s Office of Cultural Ministries
Having had the privilege of knowing Archbishop Vigneron for more than 35 years now, first as my professor in the seminary, then as rector of the seminary when I was an assistant professor there and now for the last several years as his Judicial Vicar, I have seen both his serious side and his humorous side. (For those who have not experienced it, he has a great wit.) Over these 35 years, I have appreciated the ability of the Archbishop to be a very gifted teacher. He can take a highly complicated subject and make it interesting and understandable. His ability to be such a good teacher, to so willing share his knowledge in a humble and thoughtful manner, is something I have always admired in him.
Msgr. Ronald Browne, judicial vicar for the Archdiocese of Detroit
Congratulations and blessings to you on the joyous occasion of your 25th anniversary to the episcopacy. Your fatherly heart, scholarly wisdom, and quiet humor are among the many attributes that contribute to the care of the flock that has been entrusted to you. May Jesus, the High Priest, continue to grant you many graces as you serve the people of the Archdiocese of Detroit and beyond.
Fr. Craig Giera, director of priestly vocations for the Archdiocese of Detroit
Congratulations, Archbishop Vigneron, as you celebrate 25 years as a bishop. In your pastoral letter, Unleash the Gospel, I wanted to thank you for writing about the “young church,” saying that “they have a unique ability to reach the people of their own generation, and they can help us think in new ways.” During your time as Archbishop, we have had numerous young people represent the Archdiocese at the National Catholic Youth Conference, Holy Fire, international World Youth Days and other special events, providing ways for teens to grow in faith. Parishes have nurtured and lifted up young people as disciples and leaders, helping them share their gifts to serve not only their parishes but their larger communities as well. Blessings to you as you celebrate this special occasion!
Laura Piccone-Hanchon, associate director of youth ministry for the Archdiocese of Detroit
Archbishop Vigneron has been my seminary rector, archbishop, mentor and friend, and now my brother bishop. He is a man of remarkable integrity, intellect, and faithfulness. He is a truly transformative chief shepherd of the Archdiocese of Detroit, unafraid to make difficult decisions and keeping his eyes fixed on Jesus. His pastoral letter Unleash the Gospel is an outstanding, prophetic vision for the New Evangelization. He is a man of great kindness and compassion. His impact will be felt for generations to come.
Bishop Robert J. McClory, Diocese of Gary (former vicar general and moderator of the curia for the Archdiocese of Detroit)
Congratulations, Archbishop Vigneron. We give thanks to God for the many graces that he has given you during these 25 years of service to the Church as Bishop. Thank you for your response to grace as you lead us in unleashing the Gospel to this Archdiocese and beyond. Your prayerfulness, courage and steadfast openness to the guidance of the Holy Spirit is a light for all as we together we follow Jesus and bring his love to many.
Sr. Esther Mary Nickel, RSM, director of worship for the Archdiocese of Detroit
From the beginning of the partnership between Catholic Funeral and Cemetery Services with the six Archdiocese of Detroit cemeteries in 2012, Archbishop Vigneron has been unwavering in his support of everything we do.
As an organization, we are fully committed to making certain the corporal work of mercy of burying our dead is handled in the most honorable fashion. We follow His Excellency’s leadership and Unleash the Gospel each day through every encounter with those we have the privilege to serve.
On behalf of the entire staff of Catholic Funeral and Cemetery Services, I would like to congratulate Archbishop Allen Vigneron on the wondrous occasion of his 25th Jubilee celebration. We ask that St. John Vianney, the patron saint of priests, bless you, Archbishop, today and every day. In Christ,
Bob Hojnacki, director of cemeteries for Catholic Funeral and Cemetery Services in the Archdiocese of Detroit
I worked with Archbishop Vigneron in a variety if capacities when he was rector the seminary. He has the rare combination of being a very intelligent person with a pastoral heart.
Msgr. Charles Kosanke, rector and pastor of the Basilica of Ste. Anne and Most Holy Trinity Parish, Detroit
The consecratory prayer extended in the Rite of Ordination over a bishop so beautifully expresses the gift that Archbishop Vigneron has been as a bishop for the last 25 years and for our Archdiocese. The prayer in the Rite says: “To you, O Father, fill, we pray, the heart of this your servant whom you have chosen to be a bishop in your Church, with such love of you and of all the people, that he may feed and tend the flock of Christ … wisely overseeing the life and work of the Church.” I can attest to how the outpouring of episcopal grace which Archbishop Vigneron has relied upon for the flock has blessed my own life.
In 2017, I, along with two other women, were consecrated as virgins living in the world. This was a first for our archdiocese. Given the unusual nature of the vocation, the individual diocesan bishop has the discretion to receive this vocation and/or any woman seeking consecration. We don’t make vows to a specific community as professed religious do; instead, we make a promise to our bishop, resolving to live in perfect chastity for the sake of the Church. By doing so, we strive to reflect the love of Jesus while remaining hidden in the world. Archbishop Vigneron, upon knowing of our petition and resolve to live this life, helped pave the way for our formation, consecration, and this vocation.
Since 2017, he has consecrated another woman to this vocation and there are others in the archdiocese now in formation for it. Blessed be God! Without the Archbishop’s spiritual fatherhood and willingness to shepherd us, this vocation quite simply would not exist within the treasury of consecrated life for this Archdiocese. In my own journey, pioneering and pursuing this vocation was daunting, but the Archbishop’s willingness to discern it alongside me as well as making a way for formation dissipated my fears. Under his guidance, the Archbishop has helped my consecrated sisters and I witness to the all-encompassing, spousal love of Jesus as His consecrated brides. We praise God for that reality!
I don’t imagine the life of a bishop to be an easy one. As successors to the Apostles, they have to shepherd us as “little Christs” constantly surrendered to discern and act upon the movement of the Spirit in the midst of this increasingly complicated world. The radical overhaul in this Archdiocese to unleash the Gospel, is the only way of discipleship and requires a wise and diligent shepherd to pastor the sheep. My consecrated sisters and I are most grateful for such diligence and pastoring as Archbishop Vigneron has made our vocation possible and consecrated us as brides of Christ for all eternity. While we will never earn the graces we received through him on our consecration days, we will strive to live them in their fullness as joyful disciples wedded to the Bridegroom.
Karen Ervin, consecrated virgin
One of my favorite memories was when I was attending Sacred Heart Major Seminary during the advent of the clergy sex abuse crisis. When I went home for spring break, I witnessed my pastor being removed. The night I returned to the seminary, you came to my door and offered your support in such a trying time.
In addition, when you were named Bishop of Oakland, my sister had given birth to her son 2.5 months premature, and we almost lost both of them. Upon your return, I ran into you in the hallway and you asked how they were doing.
If anybody thinks the archbishop is aloof to the needs of the people, they don’t know this side of you, Your Excellency. You very much present to us the merciful heart of Jesus, and seeing the great things the Lord is doing through your leadership in turning us into a band of joyful missionary disciples, I thank God every day that you accepted the call to be our shepherd.
Congratulations on 25 years of episcopal ordination! May the Lord continue to bless you, and may Our Lady protect you in her mantle of love!
Christopher Gawel, Old St. Mary’s Parish (Greektown), Detroit
When I was the principal of Holy Cross Catholic School, Marine City, Archbishop Vigneron joined the Cardinal Mooney high school students for Mass. On the way back to Cardinal Mooney, Sr. Karen Lietz, OP, principal of Cardinal Mooney, introduced Archbishop Vigneron to me. Following the introductions, Sr. Karen hurried Archbishop Vigneron along to the high school for an assembly. As he was walking out the front door of Holy Cross Catholic School, Archbishop Vigneron turned around, took my hand and said that it was very important that Holy Cross Catholic School stay open. Ignoring Sr. Karen’s insistent pleas for him to hurry up, he once more reiterated to me the importance of the school staying open. I knew then that our Archbishop valued Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Detroit. Although I was already sold on the importance of Catholic Schools, his words assured me that we had leadership at the highest level of the Archdiocese who valued them as well.
Marilynn Pavlov, St. Christopher Parish, Marysville
I recently had the opportunity to meet with Archbishop one on one at his home. I was so grateful for the kindness he showed me from the minute I walked in the door. He offered me something to drink, and proceeded to give me a brief tour of his residence with some history behind it. I felt at ease and welcomed, thankful for the “unusually gracious hospitality” he had given me! Congratulations, Your Excellency, on your 25th anniversary!
Deacon Chris Beltowski, associate director of the permanent diaconate for the Archdiocese of Detroit
Thank you for your ministry in Detroit and for being an example of what it means to be docile to the Holy Spirit.
Mary Fortunate, St. Joan of Arc Parish, St. Clair Shores
Congratulations, Your Excellency, on your 25th anniversary of your ordination as bishop. I pray the Lord will bless you as you follow in His way. May you find joy and peace as you continue your ministry. May the good Lord inspire you each and every day. God bless.
Chantale Stevenson, director of human resources for the Archdiocese of Detroit
Congratulations Archbishop! You inspire me and the young adults of our Archdiocese with your gentle, wise, courageous, and compassionate leadership. Thank you for your openness to the Holy Spirit as you lead us through the transformation of the Archdiocese. Thank you for your “yes” to Jesus.
Patrick Howard, young adult and campus ministry coordinator for the Archdiocese of Detroit
God bless you for your divine teaching and shepherding these 25 years. My husband and I find great meaning in your homilies.
Donna Frentrup, Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Detroit
In short, Archbishop Vigneron is, in the words of Cardinal Henri de Lubac, a “Vir Ecclesiaticus.” That is to say, a man of the Church. He is an example of those who have been called to place themselves “at the service of the Church.” There is no greater love than than this.
Fr. John McKenzie, associate pastor of the National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica, Royal Oak
Dear Archbishop Vigneron,
Within the space available, I want to highlight your parresia, that is, your “boldness,” with respect to Unleash the Gospel and Families of Parishes. Parresia is a favorite word of Luke in Acts. I believe that you have made reference to it now and again.
Unleash the Gospel has its origins in the Synod, itself an endeavor of boldness. Families of Parishes may have its origins in a decline in priesthood ordinations coupled with a significant number of retirements by established pastors. In both cases, your response has been proactive rather than passive. With noteworthy energy, you have striven and are striving to strengthen the Church of Detroit for decades to come.
Fr. Richard J. Cassidy, professor of Sacred Scripture, Sacred Heart Major Seminary
Congratulations, Your Grace. As you look back with gratitude, happiness and pride upon the 25 years of your committed life on your episcopal ordination, may God take care of all your needs; touch your life with joy and contentment; bless your heart with love and faith; comfort your soul with inner peace, and grant you good health now and always. I will be offering a special Mass and prayers for your intentions on July 6. Happy Silver Anniversary, Your Grace! In Christ,
Fr. Anthony Fernandes, SAC, St. Ignatius Catholic Church, Cayman Islands
Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron’s episcopal ministry, his living the gift of faith, has channeled for me, through the years, blessing, peace and gratitude. He is a faithful messenger of the life-giving Presence of Christ, dedicated to serving God and His people faithfully, giving glory and praise to God, the only true source of authentic spiritual life. I offer to him sincere thanks, congratulations, prayer, and God’s continued blessings.
Sr. Mary Ann Ankoviak, CSJ, Our Lady on the River Parish, Marine City
From the young age of 18 when I first entered the seminary, you have been a model of priestly virtue, duty and holiness for me. I have learned from your keen mind and pastoral soul. You are a shepherd who teaches, governs and sanctifies according to heart of Christ. This has been evident as Priest, Bishop and Archbishop. The Church universal is blessed to have you as one of her priests. The Archdiocese of Detroit is blessed by your ministry as Archbishop. Congratulations and know of my prayers and support! Well done, good and faithful servant.
Fr. Tim Birney, pastor of St. Frances Cabrini Parish, Allen Park
Congratulations on the 25th anniversary of being ordained a bishop. Thank you for the countless hours you spend doing God’s work and spreading His message of love.
Christine Silvenis, Sacred Heart Parish, Dearborn
