Michael J. Byrnes

Michael Jude Byrnes (born August 23, 1958) is an American Roman Catholic bishop who serves as Metropolitan Archbishop of Agaña.

His Excellency, The Most Reverend Michael Jude Byrnes
Metropolitan Archbishop of Agaña
Bishop Byrnes at the 2016 Steubenville Conference
Archdiocese	Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Agaña
Predecessor	Anthony Sablan Apuron, OFM Cap., D.D.
Orders
Ordination	May 25, 1996 by Adam Maida
Consecration	May 5, 2011 by Allen Henry Vigneron, John Clayton Nienstedt, and John M. Quinn
Personal details
Born	August 23, 1958 Detroit, Michigan
Previous post	Archbishop Coadjutor of Agaña Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit Titular Bishop of Eguga
Motto	CARITAS CHRISTI URGET NOS "The love of Christ compels us"

Styles of Michael Jude Byrnes
Reference style	His Excellency The Most Reverend
Spoken style	Your Excellency
Religious style	Archbishop

Biography

Born in Detroit, Michigan, on August 23, 1958. He graduated from Detroit Catholic Central High School. Byrnes was ordained to the priesthood on May 25, 1996, for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit. Beginning in 2004, he served as vice rector of Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit as well as a parish pastor.[1]

Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit

Coat of Arms as Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit

On March 22, 2011, he was appointed titular bishop of Eguga and auxiliary bishop of the Detroit Archdiocese.[2] He was consecrated on May 5, 2011.[3]

Archbishop of Agaña

On October 31, 2016, Byrnes was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop with special faculties of the Archdiocese of Agaña, located on the Pacific Island Territory of Guam.[4] He was installed as Archbishop Coadjutor on November 30.[5] Though the Archbishop of Agaña, Anthony Apuron, was found guilty on charges of the sexual abuse of minors by an Apostolic Tribunal of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith on March 16, 2018, he was only suspended from the exercise of his authority over the archdiocese and retained his title pending the outcome of his appeals. Byrnes succeeded to the position of archbishop in everything except title at that time.[6]

Byrnes became Archbishop of Agaña on April 4, 2019,[7] when Apuron lost his title, having exhausted his appeals.[8][9] On April 6, the Holy See Press Office confirmed that Byrnes had succeeded to the office of archbishop at the conclusion of judicial proceedings against Apuron.[10][11]

References

1. Kohn, Joe (March 24, 2011). "Abp. Vigneron: Detroit's two auxiliary bishops a 'great blessing'". The Michigan Catholic. Retrieved November 1, 2016.
2. "Rinunce e Nomine, 22.03.2011" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. March 22, 2011. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
3. "Archbishop Michael J. Byrnes, S.T.D." Archdiocese of Agaña. Archived from the original on April 6, 2019. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
4. Glatz, Carol (November 1, 2016). "Pope sends Detroit bishop to Guam archdiocese hit by abuse allegations". National Catholic Reporter. Catholic News Service. Retrieved November 1, 2016.
5. Eugenio, Haidee V. (November 30, 2016). "Archbishop Byrnes to Guam: 'I belong to you, I'm one of yours'". Pacific Daily News. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
6. "Apostolic Tribunal of CDF Finds Guam Archbishop Guilty". Zenit. March 16, 2018. Retrieved April 8, 2019. Archbishop Anthony S. Apuron, while continuing to hold the title of Archbishop of Agaña, no longer holds the faculties, rights or obligations pertaining to the Archbishop of Agaña. Without exception these have been granted to the Coadjutor Archbishop of Agaña, Most Reverend Michael J. Byrnes, S.T.D.
7. Glatz, Carol (April 4, 2019). "Rejecting appeal, Vatican hands down final ruling against Guam bishop". Crux. Catholic News Service. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
8. "Comunicato della Congregazione per la Dottrina della Fede, 04.04.2019" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. April 4, 2019. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
9. "After Guam archbishop removed for 'horrible' sex abuse, Catholics pledge reform". Catholic News Agency. April 6, 2019. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
10. "Resignations and Appointments, 06.04.2019" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
11. "New Guam archbishop after predecessor's sex abuse verdict". Washington Post. Associated Press. April 6, 2019. Retrieved April 6, 2019.

External links

• Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Agaña Official Site