Lansing Diocese gets new bishop

Bishop Carl Mengeling hands keys to Bishop Earl Boyea

  By Bill Harris

LANSING (WJRT) -- (02/27/08)--There will soon be a new spiritual leader of 200,000 Roman Catholics in the area. The Diocese of Lansing not only announced the retirement of the current Bishop Wednesday, but also the appointment of his successor.

A press conference was held in Lansing Wednesday morning.

For at least one person at St. Mary's Cathedral in Lansing, it was a day that was long anticipated. Bishop Carl Mengeling notified his superiors at the Vatican over two years ago of his hope to retire.

Mengeling was appointed to his position in 1996 as the fourth Bishop of the Diocese of Lansing.

Twelve years later, in announcing his retirement, Mengeling proudly proclaimed that Michigan will remain his home.

"The TV station in Flint asked me if I'm going to stay here," he said. "Yes! I'm staying here. I like it here. I love it here. Yes, I do. I'm not a Hoosier anymore."

Mengeling also took time to share his thoughts on the man named today to succeed him, Michigan native Bishop Earl Boyea.

"He is a people person," Mengeling  said. "He's friendly, relational and engaging, and always available, willing and a generous servant. He's got a sharp mind and a good sense of humor."

It's a sense of humor shared by both during a spontaneous "exchanging of the keys" to the cathedral and Diocesan offices. And for Boyea, it's the official start of a new chapter in his life.

"The reputation of this Diocese, for its devotion to Christ Jesus, is widespread. So being asked to be the presence of the Holy Apostles in this local church does me great honor," Boyea said.

"The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI's decision to entrust to me the leadership of and the care for the Church of Lansing moves me not only to giving thanks to God and His Holiness but also brings me great joy," Boyea said.

Boyea comes to the Diocese of Lansing from Detroit, where he is currently an auxiliary Bishop. No stranger to the area, Boyea was born in Pontiac.

"I do view myself as a happy person, an engaging person," he said. "I'm trying my best to follow the way of Christ as best I can, knowing that I am a sinner and I need salvation just as much as anybody else.

"If we can all walk together as sinners, trying to encourage one another, then I think we'll get to heaven and that's really what I want."

"It's a great joy for me to be here today after waiting for two years and four months," Mengeling said. "But anyway, I'm always open and have been and still am to whatever the Lord wants."

For Mengeling, it was an Papal announcement two years in the making when he first notified the Vatican of his intentions to retire. He vividly recalls the day he got the phone call.

"Archbishop Pietro Sambi informed me by telephone. Of course, I passed out. That's not in the notes here," he said.

For both Bishops it marks a new beginning -- retirement life for Mengeling, and for Boyea, moving to Detroit -- where he is currently an auxiliary Bishop -- to Lansing.

It's a geographic move that prompted this response to a reporter's question about Boyea's college sports allegience:

"I know that OSU is going down to defeat this year by both of these teams," he said, speaking about the University of Michigan Wolverines and Michigan State University Spartans.

Boyea does not officially assume the role of Bishop of the Lansing Diocese until April 29, when he will be installed during ceremonies and a Mass at St. Mary's Cathedral in Lansing.

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Bill Harris

Bill is co-anchor (with Angie Hendershot) of ABC12 News at 5, 6 and 11....

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