September 30, 2011

A message from Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein

Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein on September 21, 2011(Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein issued the following statement on Sept. 21.)

After much prayer and consultation, I recently requested that His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, give me permission to retire early due to my health issues.

Today, the Holy Father has granted my request and appointed the archdiocese’s auxiliary bishop, Bishop Christopher J. Coyne, as the Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis until a new archbishop is named. My retirement is effective immediately.

It has been a joy for me to serve as Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis the past 20 years. I want to thank all of the clergy, religious, archdiocesan staff and lay people for the support you have given me over the years. You truly have been a blessing to me.

With your help and the help of God, we have been able to accomplish much. I am aware more than ever that God gives each of us the grace to do what he asks.

As you know, I’ve had some health issues in recent years.

In 2008, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and underwent several months of chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

In March of this year, I suffered a stroke. I went through several months of intensive physical therapy in the hope that I would regain enough strength to return to work at the Catholic Center.

I have completed my physical therapy, but it still remains a challenge for me to get around without assistance. This decline in my health led me to ask Pope Benedict for an early retirement.

In my retirement, I plan to return to southern Indiana to Saint Meinrad Archabbey to live in the Benedictine community where I took my solemn profession as a Benedictine monk nearly 50 years ago.

In my remaining years, I hope to continue to serve the Church and to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to people in whatever way God sees fit.

I am most grateful to all of the people of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis for the fulfilling years of ministry as your Archbishop. May God bless you, and may all of the faithful departed of the archdiocese live forever in Christ.

I ask that you continue to pray for me, and know that you will always be in my prayers.

— Most Rev. Daniel M. Buechlein, O.S.B.

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