By:Tom Jordan
The Most Rev. William Francis Murphy was introduced Tuesday as the Pope's choice to be the fourth bishop of Rockville Centre. Murphy, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Boston since 1995, in September will begin serving as spiritual leader of Long Island's 1.5 million Catholics.
"I will cease being diocesan administrator very happily on Sept. 5," said John Alesandro, who was named to that position after Bishop James T. McHugh died of cancer Dec. 10, at the age of 68. As administrator, Alesandro ran the diocese on an interim basis. "I just found out how long my term was," he joked.
"My gratitude extends to our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, who entrusts me with the leadership of this wonderful diocese," Bishop Murphy said at a news conference at the diocese's main office. "Last Wednesday, I met briefly with him after the General Audience and asked his blessing, which he gladly imparted on me and all of us who are the Church of Rockville Centre."
Joining in the announcement with Alesandro were John R. McGann, the second bishop of Rockville Centre, now retired, and Emil Wcela and John Dunne, auxiliary bishops of the diocese.
"In time we will come to know one another well," Murphy said. "I have every hope that, as you know me, you will find in me that deep desire to serve you all with whatever gifts God has granted to me. For now, I will simply say that my life as a priest has been a tale of two cities. Boston is my birthplace, where I was educated and where I have happily served three archbishops, including Cardinal Law, to whom I owe so much because of his example and his friendship. Rome is the home of my heart, because there I studied and was ordained a priest."
Cardinal Bernard Law, in a written statement, said: "Bishop Murphy is, both by nature and by the grace of office, an effective teacher of the faith. In his ministry, he has reached out to the ecumenical and interreligious communities, as well as the wider community, in an effort to strengthen mutual understanding and to serve the cause of justice. The clergy, religious and laity of Rockville Centre are blessed in his appointment as their bishop."
Walter P. Kellenberg was the first bishop of the Rockville Centre diocese, founding it in 1957. McGann followed and served from 1976 until his retirement last year, when he was succeeded by McHugh, briefly.
"During these months, we have prayed that the Holy Spirit would care for us in our time of loss and send us a new shepherd according to the Lord's own heart. Our prayers have been answered with God's abundance and generosity," Alesandro said.
Murphy, 61, has served as vicar general and moderator for the Archdiocese of Boston since 1993. He was ordained a priest at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome in 1964 and, for the first five years of his priesthood, served as an assistant pastor in Boston and taught theology at Emmanuel College. In 1972, he was assigned to doctoral studies in systematic theology in Rome, which he completed in two years.
Upon his return home to Boston, Murphy taught theology at Pope John XXIII National Seminary in Weston. Within a few months, he was appointed to the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace in Rome. He served the Holy See from 1975 to 1987, during which time he participated in Vatican delegations in Asia, Latin America and Europe. He also taught theology at the two pontifical universities in Rome, the Gregorian and the Angelicum.
Named an honorary prelate, Murphy returned to Boston in 1987, where he held a variety of positions, including administrator of Sacred Heart Parish in Lexington, director of the Office of Social Justice and the secretary for community relations. In 1993, Cardinal Law appointed him vicar general and moderator of the curia for the Archdiocese of Boston.
"As you can see, Bishop Murphy will bring to our diocese much pastoral expertise and a long history of service to the local and universal Church," Alesandro said. "His presence among us is truly a blessing."
