Vatican City, 29 January 2013 (VIS) – Today, the Holy Father appointed Bishop Alexander King Sample as archbishop of the archdiocese of Portland (area 76,937, population 3,296,705, Catholics 412,725, priests 300, permanent deacons 72, religious 653), Oregon, USA. Bishop Sample, previously bishop of Marquette, Michigan, USA, was born in Kalispell, Montana, USA, in 1960, was ordained to the priesthood in 1990, and received episcopal ordination in 2006. In the national bishops’ conference he currently serves on the Subcommittees on Native American Catholics and on the Catechism. He is also vice-postulator for the cause for canonisation of Venerable Frederic Baraga, first bishop of the Diocese of Marquette. He succeeds Archbishop John George Vlazny, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same archdiocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.
We are so excited to welcome our new Archbishop and couldn’t be happier to hear this wonderful news today! We were even more pleased to see that he is supportive of the Extraordinary Form and is known to celebrate it regularly! What an incredible blessing for our diocese!
New Archbishop of Portland in Oregon! (Unam Ecclesiam)
Oh what wonderful news! Your prayers have been answered. I hope it is not long before you have a full time parish dedicated to the Extraordinary form of Mass! Prayers of thanksgiving here, also. – Genevieve
Sigh…I am one of his current flock. There is much wailing and lamenting in my smaller corner of the country! But it is good he will be in a more populated area. You will love as we all do I am sure!
Jessica, I am so happy for you. I used to live in Michigan and I have to say I have a bias for those good ole Michigan bishops 😉 I am just so happy for you and hope this means you'll be able to attend an extraordinary form Mass closer to home!
It is a wonderful blessing Jessica! We are very excited to have him as our new shepherd!
Deo Gratias! I thought of you right away when I heard the news! What a wonderful blessing! I'm so happy for your family!
Isn't this the most amazing news? I know I feel a whole lot of love for our Holy Father and his wonderful choices in Bishops/Archbishops! (I adored his choice for San Francisco as well!) I'm looking forward to more Latin Masses here in the Beaverton/Tigard area. 🙂
You were the first person I thought of when I heard this wonderful news!!!!! What a big gift from the Holy Father and hence, a big wink from the Holy Ghost! 🙂 Can't wait to hear about his presence in OR. Extraordinary Form… HOORAY!!!!!! I embroidered linens for Bishop Sample with his coat of arms this year as a gift from a religious order and thought, "wow, I've never heard of that name before". Ha! This is only the beginning… 🙂
He's awesome. All of us here in Michigan will miss him.
Wonderful news! He is so young looking!!
What a great blessing for you, to have such a traditional minded archbishop! I know you are all thrilled! He had some great points too.
I always thought you lived in Texas! 🙂
Such a blessing, I'm very happy for all of you and for him – he is gaining a great community as well!
I wanted to call you when I saw, but it was like 5:30 AM, yesterday, lol. We are so thrilled! Especially after the last few years.
Congratulations!!! Since your pryers were so efficacious, please consider praying for the Bishop who will be appointed to El Paso Texas.
I'm so happy for you….and jealous:) I've been to one of his masses when he was visiting our parish – he's excellent!
I did think of all of you in Michigan, and how sad you will most likely be to lose him! We are very grateful! The Archdiocese of Portland (and Oregon in general) is extremely liberal and he will be such a blessing to our State! Prayers that you will receive a holy bishop to replace him!
Nope, we don't live in TX! (However, if they had more forests, my (forester/firefighter) husband would love to move there!) I am pretty secretive about where we live, but this news was too good not to share! 😉
Are you in California? I glanced through a little of your blog and noticed you mentioned San Jose. I was actually born in Alameda and then lived in Stockton until I was a teenager.
With news like this, Amy, you could have called at any time! lol
I was born in Glendale Calif. and grew up there til I was 14!
Wonderful news!!! Our bishop here in VT is only one of TWO priests that are trained/able to celebrate the Old Rite Mass – he will celebrate it on occasion around the state. I don't understand why he doesn't "push" it more in these parts, especially as we are also an extremely liberal state in general.
Blessings!
I am very happy for you Jessica! Will you be going to the Installation Mass? God Bless!
WoW! Very happy for You.
No, I don't think we will be going to the Installation Mass, though I'd love to figure out a way to! We'll see! 🙂