Detroit auxiliary bishop will head Diocese of Lansing

LANSING (WJRT) -- (02/27/08)-- The Diocese of Lansing has a new bishop to replace retiring Bishop Carl F. Mengeling.

Detroit Auxiliary Bishop Earl Boyea has been named the fifth bishop of the diocese by Pope Benedict XVI.

Bishop Boyea was born April 10, 1951. His home parish was Our Lady of the Lakes in Waterford where he attended the parish school. After eighth grade, he entered Sacred Heart Seminary High School and then attended its college, where he earned a B.A. in history. From there, he went to the North American College in Rome and studied at the Gregorian University, where he received an S.T.B in 1976 and an S.T.L. in biblical theology in 1980.

He was ordained a priest on May 20, 1978. After ordination, he served as associate pastor at St. Michael Parish, Monroe, and then at St. Timothy Parish, Trenton. After a brief stint as the temporary administrator at St. Christine Parish, Detroit, he returned to Sacred Heart Seminary as professor of church history and scripture. In addition to assisting with Masses on weekends, Father Boyea earned an M.A. in American history from Wayne State University in 1984. In 1987, he received his Ph.D. in church history from the Catholic University of America. From 1990 through 2000, he served as dean of studies at Sacred Heart Seminary and in 2000, was named a prelate of honor.

In February 2000, Msgr. Boyea became rector/president of the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio. He served there until he was named auxiliary bishop of Detroit and titular bishop of Siccenna. He was ordained a bishop Sept. 13, 2002. His motto, in manus tuas (into your hands), is taken from the final words of Jesus on the cross, according to the Gospel of Luke.

As auxiliary bishop of Detroit, Bishop Boyea was given responsibility for the northeast region of the Archdiocese of Detroit, which includes the following vicariates: Blue Water, Central Macomb, Genesis, North Macomb and SERF.

Bishop Boyea succeeds Bishop Carl F. Mengeling, who is now 77. As is customary, Bishop Mengeling submitted his letter of resignation upon his 75th birthday.
Pope Benedict XVI accepted Bishop Mengeling's resignation Feb. 27, 2008. Until Bishop Boyea's installation, governance of the diocese rests with its college of consultors or with an administrator appointed by them or the Vatican.

Carl F. Mengeling was born Oct. 22, 1930 in Hammond Ind., the second son of Carl H. and Augusta Huke Mengeling. He was ordained a priest on May 25, 1957 in Gary, Ind.

Father Mengeling earned a doctorate in sacred theology in Rome. Father Mengeling became a monsignor in June 1984 and on Nov. 7, 1995, was named the fourth bishop of Lansing, succeeding Bishop Kenneth Povish. He was ordained a bishop Jan. 25, 1996 at St. Mary Cathedral, Lansing. He has served the Diocese of Lansing as its bishop for 12 years.

Bishop Boyea will become the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Lansing, which was created out of the Archdiocese of Detroit and the Diocese of Grand Rapids in 1937. It comprises Clinton, Eaton, Genesee, Hillsdale, Ingham, Jackson, Lenawee, Livingston, Shiawassee and Washtenaw Counties. The Diocese of Lansing's 97 parishes and pastoral centers serve 222,519 Catholics.
 

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