Richard Garth Henning (born October 17, 1964) is an American Catholic prelate who is the current archbishop of the Archdiocese of Boston in Massachusetts. He previously served as bishop of the Diocese of Providence in Rhode Island from 2023 to 2024 and before that was an auxiliary bishop for the Diocese of Rockville Centre in New York from 2018 to 2022.
Richard Garth Henning | |
|---|---|
| Archbishop of Boston | |
| Archdiocese | Boston |
| Appointed | August 5, 2024 |
| Installed | October 31, 2024 |
| Predecessor | Seán Patrick O'Malley |
| Previous post(s) |
|
| Orders | |
| Ordination | May 30, 1992 by John R. McGann |
| Consecration | July 24, 2018 by John Barres, William Murphy, and Robert J. Brennan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 17, 1964 |
| Parents | Richard and Maureen Henning |
| Alma mater | Saint John's University Seminary of the Immaculate Conception The Catholic University of America Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas |
| Motto | Put out into the deep |
| Styles of Richard Garth Henning | |
|---|---|
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| Reference style | |
| Spoken style | Your Excellency |
| Religious style | Archbishop |
Henning's installation as archbishop of Boston occurred on October 31, 2024.
Biography
editEarly life
editRichard Henning was born on October 17, 1964, to Richard and Maureen Henning in Rockville Centre, New York, growing up at Holy Name of Mary Parish and grade school. His father was a firefighter and his mother was a nurse. Henning credits their examples of service with inspiring his own vocation.[1] He graduated from Chaminade High School in Mineola, New York in 1982.[2]
Henning was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in history in 1986 and a Master of Arts degree in history from St. John's University in New York City in 1988. After graduation, he entered the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Lloyd Harbor, New York, for priestly formation.[3][4]
Priesthood
editOn May 30, 1992, Henning was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Rockville Centre by Bishop John R. McGann at St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre.[5] After his 1992 ordination, the diocese assigned Henning as an assistant pastor at served in a parish in Port Washington, New York.
In 1997, the diocese sent Henning to the Catholic University of America School of Theology in Washington, D.C., where he earned his Licentiate of Sacred Theology in biblical theology in 2000. He then spent the next two years in Rome working towards a Doctor of Theology degree in biblical theology at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, which he completed in 2007.[6]
In 2002, Henning was appointed a professor of sacred scripture at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception. Henning in 2008 co-authored the book, Christ Our Hope: Benedict XVI’s Apostolic Journey to the United States and Visit to the United Nations.[7]
In 2012, Henning was named rector of Immaculate Conception.[8] He oversaw the transition of Immaculate Conception from a seminary to hosting retreats and a formation program for the laity.[9] He also served as the inaugural director of the Sacred Heart Institute for the Ongoing Formation of Clergy, located in the Immaculate Conception facility.[10] [11]
Bishop John O. Barres appointed Henning as vicar for pastoral planning in 2018 and vicar for clergy in Rockville Centre in 2021.[12]
Auxiliary bishop of Rockville Centre
edit
Pope Francis appointed Henning as auxiliary bishop of Rockville Centre on June 8, 2018.[3][13] He was consecrated by Barres at St. Agnes Cathedral on July 24, 2018, with Bishops William Murphy and Robert J. Brennan serving as co-consecrators.[5]
Coadjutor bishop and bishop of Providence
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On November 23, 2022, Francis appointed Henning as coadjutor bishop of Providence to assist Bishop Thomas J. Tobin. He was installed on January 26, 2023.[14][15] Henning succeeded as bishop of Providence on May 1, 2023, when Tobin retired.[16]
Archbishop of Boston
editOn August 5, 2024, Francis named Henning to succeed Seán Patrick O'Malley as archbishop of Boston.[17] When asked in August 2024 about the sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic Church, Henning replied;
“If there are Catholics who are scandalized, I understand why they’re scandalized. It’s scandalous and certainly painful for me over the course of my life. But it has not made me lose my faith in God or my faith in the possibility of reconciliation and new life, even in the midst of what may feel devastating. So I would say to them that if I have failed you, if a leader in their Church has failed you, I’m so sorry, but God has not failed you."[7]
Henning was installed as archbishop in Boston on October 31, 2024.[18] He is fluent in Spanish and Italian and literate in French, Greek, and Hebrew.[19]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Who is Bishop Richard Henning, the new coadjutor bishop of Providence?". The Providence Journal. Retrieved 2022-12-06.
- ^ "Graduate Appointed as Auxiliary Bishop". Chaminade High School. June 8, 2018. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
- ^ a b "Pope Francis Names New Auxiliary Bishops of Rockville Centre and Washington". US Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
- ^ "Rinunce e nomine". press.vatican.va. Retrieved 2022-12-06.
- ^ a b "Bishop Richard Garth Henning [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2024-02-08.
- ^ "Rinunce e nomine". press.vatican.va. Retrieved 2024-08-25.
- ^ a b "11 Things to Know About Boston's New Archbishop-Elect Richard Henning". NCR. 2024-08-06. Retrieved 2024-12-31.
- ^ "Msgr. Henning Named Rector of Immaculate Conception Seminary, Director of New Institute". Catholic New York. Retrieved 2024-08-25.
- ^ "Who We Are". SEMINARY OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION. Retrieved 2024-08-25.
- ^ "Rinunce e nomine". press.vatican.va. Retrieved 2024-08-25.
- ^ "New Single Program of Priestly Formation Announced by Archdiocese of New York, Diocese of Brooklyn". Archdiocese of New York. 2011-11-11. Retrieved 2024-12-31.
- ^ "Rinunce e nomine". press.vatican.va. Retrieved 2024-08-25.
- ^ "Pope Francis Names Rev. Msgr. Richard G. Henning as Auxiliary Bishop of Diocese of Rockville Centre". Retrieved June 8, 2018.
- ^ "Rinunce e nomine". press.vatican.va. Retrieved 2022-11-23.
- ^ "POPE FRANCIS NAMES MOST REVEREND RICHARD G. HENNING COADJUTOR BISHOP OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND" (PDF). Retrieved November 23, 2022.
- ^ "Rinunce e nomine, 01.05.2023" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. May 1, 2023. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
- ^ "Resignations and Appointments, 05.08.2024" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
- ^ "Boston installs new Archbishop Richard Henning to succeed Cardinal Sean O'Malley". CBS News. October 31, 2024. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
- ^ "Most Reverend Richard G. Henning". The Diocese of Rockville Centre. Retrieved 2022-12-06.
