NEW RESPONSIBILITIES
The Archdiocese of Chicago includes 2.3 million Catholics who live in Cook and Lake Counties. The archdiocese is organized into six different regions and each region has an Episcopal Vicar who assists the Archbishop, Cardinal Cupich, by providing leadership in each respective region. The regions are referred to as Vi­cariates; St. Raphael is located in Vicariate 1 which includes 51 parishes in Lake and northwest Cook counties.

I mention all of this because Bishop Alberto Rojas, who was the Episcopal Vicar of Vicariate 1 for the past 18 months, has been appointed by Pope Francis to San Bernardino in California. With the depar­ture of Bishop Rojas, Cardinal Cupich has begun the process of the appointment of a successor. In the meantime, Cardinal Cupich has appointed me the interim Episcopal Vicar for Vicariate One. I remain your pastor, but for now have additional responsibilities in the Vicariate. As I said, this appointment is "interim"; I am willing to be of service to the priests and people of our area as is needed. Please know that my hope is that with the help of our staff and terrific volunteers, the life of St. Raphael will con­tinue growing stronger and that good pastoral care will continue. Please pray for me and know that I pray for you each day.