PROSPECT HEIGHTS — Bishop Richard Henning, a Rockville Centre native who until last year spent the entirety of his priesthood career in New York, has been tapped by Pope Francis to take over one of America’s largest archdioceses.
The Vatican announced on August 5 that now-Archbishop-elect Henning will succeed Cardinal Seán O’Malley in the Archdiocese of Boston. Cardinal O’Malley, 80, has led the Archdiocese of Boston for 20 years, and is a global leader on clergy sex abuse issues.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York said he got to know Bishop Henning when he was an auxiliary bishop in the Diocese of Rockville Centre, and commended Pope Francis’ decision to have him take over the Archdiocese of Boston.
“The Holy Father has chosen well in appointing Long Island native, Bishop Richard Henning, an outstanding priest and bishop, as the next Archbishop of Boston!,” Cardinal Dolan said in a statement. “I got to know Bishop Henning well during his years as an auxiliary bishop in the Diocese of Rockville Centre, where the bishops of New York State relied on his wise counsel and pastoral insights. I am sure that the faithful people of Providence will miss him deeply.”
“Congratulations to Bishop Richard Henning on his appointment by Pope Francis to serve as the next Archbishop of Boston. Bishop Henning has been a good friend since our days as students at St. John’s University,” said Bishop Robert Brennan.
“He is also well known by priests here in Brooklyn and Queens having taught Sacred Scripture at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception and St. Joseph’s Seminary. Additionally, he was the founding director of the Sacred Heart Institute for the ongoing formation of priests from Brooklyn, New York, and Rockville Centre.
“While I am sure the Catholic community of Rhode Island will miss him, he will be a blessing to the Church in Boston, building on the great work of Cardinal O’Malley. At the same time, he will be an important voice for the Church in the United States,” Bishop Brennan added.
Bishop Henning, 59, was born and raised in Rockville Centre. He holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree from St. John’s University in Queens, and received his training for the priesthood at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington.
After his ordination in 1992, he spent five years as an associate pastor at the Church of St. Peter Alcantara in Port Washington. Bishop Henning was then assigned to post-graduate studies in Washington, D.C., and Rome. Upon his return, he joined the faculty at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception, teaching scripture.
Then in 2012, Bishop Henning was chosen by the Dioceses of Rockville Centre and Brooklyn, and Archdiocese of New York, to lead the seminary through its transition to the largest retreat house in the Northeast. The Ordinaries of those dioceses also charged him to establish and lead the Sacred Heart Institute for the ongoing formation of Catholic priests and deacons.
Six years later, in 2018, Pope Francis appointed Bishop Henning as an auxiliary bishop in the Diocese of Rockville Centre, where he served as a regional Vicar and later as the Vicar for Clergy and Pastoral Planning. Then, last May, Bishop Henning took over as the Bishop of the Diocese of Providence, Rhode Island — his first appointment outside of New York.
The Diocese of Rockville Centre, in a statement, said Bishop Henning is “a creative and pastoral evangelizer, a biblical theologian and teacher, and a seminary formator with great pastoral experience and a deep love for the Hispanic community in the United States.”
“As a son of Long Island and the Diocese of Rockville Centre, we take a humble pride in Bishop Henning’s…mission spirit, love for the poor and all those who carry the Cross of Christ,” the diocese said. “Bishop Henning’s commitment to global evangelization illustrates how a care for the global mission of the Church makes us more effective evangelizers in our local parishes and dioceses. Bishop Henning is a fine pastor and biblical theologian.”
WIth the appointment to the Archdiocese of Boston, Bishop Henning also becomes a metropolitan archbishop of that region, with direct authority over Boston and an indirect supervisory role over six other dioceses in Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. The Archdiocese of Boston is America’s fourth largest diocese with approximately 1.8 million Catholics, according to figures from the archdiocese.
A Capuchin Franciscan, O’Malley has served as the Archbishop of Boston since 2003, and is a close ally of Pope Francis. He is well known for his work with and advocacy on behalf of migrants and the impoverished, as well as his efforts to advance child protection globally. Cardinal O’Malley has led the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors since 2014.
Cardinal O’Malley took over the Archdiocese of Boston following the fallout of the clergy sexual abuse scandals in the archdiocese, which garnered national coverage and led to significant reforms of the national church’s child protection policies.
In his statement congratulating Bishop Henning, Cardinal Dolan also thanked Cardinal O’Malley.
“I must share a word of gratitude to my brother, Cardinal Seán O’Malley, as he begins his well-earned retirement from his role as Archbishop of Boston,” Cardinal Dolan said. “For decades he has been a leader for the Church in the United States, and I know that we can look forward to his continued presence with us, as he continues his loving service to Jesus and His Church.”