His Excellency, The Most Reverend

William Patrick Callahan

O.F.M. Conv.
Bishop of La Crosse
ChurchRoman Catholic
DioceseLa Crosse
AppointedJune 11, 2010
InstalledAugust 11, 2010
PredecessorJerome Edward Listecki
Orders
OrdinationApril 30, 1977
by William Edward Cousins
ConsecrationDecember 21, 2007
by Timothy M. Dolan, Richard J. Sklba, and John J. Myers
Personal details
Born (1950-06-17) June 17, 1950
Chicago, Illinois
Previous post(s)
MottoADORAMUS TE CHRISTE
(We adore you Christ)
Styles of
William Patrick Callahan
Reference style
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleBishop

William Patrick Callahan (born June 17, 1950) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who has served as bishop of the Diocese of La Crosse in Wisconsin since 2010.

Callahan previously served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee in Wisconsin. After the archbishop of Milwaukee, Timothy Dolan, was named Archbishop of New York, Callahan was elected the apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, serving until November 14, 2009.

Biography

Early life and education

Callahan was born in Chicago, Illinois, to William and Ellen Callahan.[1] The youngest of four children, he has two sisters, Roberta and JoAnn, and one brother, Jerry.[2] William Callahan attended St. Mary of Perpetual Help Church as a child.[1] Callahan intended to enter Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago after his graduation from grade school, but was denied admission.[1] He instead studied at the Franciscan-run St. Mary Minor Seminary in Crystal Lake, Illinois, from 1964 to 1968, and then at junior college in Chicago until 1969.[3]

In 1969, Callahan entered the novitiate of the Conventual Franciscans in Lake Forest, Illinois.[2] He made his profession as a member of the Franciscans on August 11, 1970.[4] From 1970 to 1973, Callahan attended Loyola University Chicago, obtaining a bachelor's degree in radio and television communications.[2] He earned a Master of Divinity degree from St. Michael's College at the University of Toronto in 1976.[2]

Ordination and ministry

Callahan was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop William Cousins on April 30, 1977.[4] He was then assigned to the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, where he served as curate at the Basilica of St. Josaphat from 1977 to 1978.[2]

Returning to Illinois, Callahan served as director of vocations for the Conventual Franciscans from 1978 to 1984.[3] He was associate pastor (1984–1987) and later pastor (1987–1994) at Holy Family Parish in Peoria, Illinois.[3] He was named rector and pastor of the Basilica of St. Josaphat in 1994, and oversaw the basilica's $7.5 million restoration, which earned him a reputation as an able fundraiser.[5] In 2005, Callahan was named spiritual director of the Pontifical North American College in Rome.[3]

Ordination history of
William P. Callahan
History
Episcopal consecration
Consecrated byTimothy Michael Dolan (Milwaukee)
DateDecember 21, 2007

Auxiliary Bishop of Milwaukee

Coat of arms as Auxiliary Bishop of Milwaukee

On October 30, 2007, Callahan was appointed as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and titular bishop of Lares by Pope Benedict XVI. Callahan received his episcopal consecration on December 21, 2007, from Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan. His co-consecrators were Bishop Richard J. Sklba and Archbishop John Myers.[4]

Callahan is the first Conventual Franciscan ever to become a bishop in the United States, and the first auxiliary bishop to be named to the Archdiocese of Milwaukee since 1979.[6] Following Dolan's appointment as archbishop of the Archdiocese of New York in February 2009, Callahan was elected as the diocesan administrator of Milwaukee on April 20, 2009.[7] He oversaw the daily administration of the archdiocese until Pope Benedict XVI named Bishop Listecki as the new archbishop of Milwaukee in November 2009.[8]

Bishop of La Crosse

On June 11, 2010, Callahan was appointed Bishop of La Crosse by Pope Benedict XVI, succeeding Bishop Listecki.[9][10] On August 11, 2010, Callahan was installed as bishop.[4]

In July 2021, Callahan issued a decree for the removal of Father James Altman as pastor of St. James the Less Parish.[11]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Roman, Maryangela Layman (December 20, 2007). "Living the Gospel as a Franciscan". The Catholic Herald.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Bishop Callahan". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Conventual Franciscan Father William Patrick Callahan Named Auxiliary Bishop of Milwaukee". United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. October 20, 2007.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Bishop William Patrick Callahan, O.F.M. Conv". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
  5. ↑ Heinen, Tom (October 31, 2007). "Archdiocese gets a second auxiliary bishop". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
  6. ↑ Palmo, Rocco (October 30, 2007). "B16 Makes "Black" History; Conv. Franciscan Named Milwaukee Aux". Whispers in the Loggia.
  7. ↑ "Auxiliary Bishop William Callahan elected diocesan administrator of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee. April 20, 2009.
  8. ↑ Sorgi, Jay (April 21, 2009). "Callahan Hopes for 6–8 Month Tenure as Archdiocese Interim Administrator". 620 WTMJ.
  9. ↑ "Archived copy". www.archmil.org. Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved January 13, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. ↑ Catholic News Agency: "Bishop William Callahan to be installed in La Crosse on Wednesday" August 9, 2011
  11. ↑ CNA Staff (July 9, 2021). "La Crosse bishop removes Father Altman from ministry". Catholic News Agency.
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