Bishop John Noonan in front of St. James Cathedral | Credit: Ann Rodriguez-Soto/The Florida Catholic

It’s been a little less than a month since Bishop John Noonan officially became the bishop of the Diocese of Orlando. Over the last few weeks, Bishop Noonan has been getting acquainted with his new diocese and is beginning to make the changes he believes are necessary for the local church. In the last couple of weeks, Noonan has appointed new heads of deaneries and appointed some familiar faces to positions that have opened up since Archbishop Thomas Wenski was appointed as shepherd of his native Miami.

On Friday, January 7, 2011, Bishop Noonan made the following Deanery appointments:

• Dean of the Northern Deanery: Very Rev. John Giel — Marion, Lake and Sumter Counties
• Dean of the Central Deanery North: Very Rev. Stephen Parkes — Seminole and Orange Counties
• Dean of the Western Deanery: Very Rev. Peter Puntal — Polk County
• Dean of the Central Deanery South: Very Rev. Esaú Garcia — Orange and Osceola Counties
• Dean of the Eastern Deanery: Very Rev. Esaú Garcia — Volusia County
• Dean of the Southern Deanery: Very Rev. Sean Heslin — Brevard County

On Friday, January 14, 2011, Bishop Noonan made the following appointments to the Diocesan Administration:

When Archbishop Thomas Wenski took the reigns of the Archdiocese of Miami on June 1st of this year, all of us expected that some changes would be made in the administration. Well, we now have another piece that has been added to the puzzle of shifts. This morning, the Diocese of Orlando released the following statement:

Sr. Elizabeth Worley, SSJ | Source: Diocese of Orlando

Archbishop Thomas Wenski announced the appointment of Sr. Elizabeth Worley, SSJ as chancellor and chief operating officer for the Archdiocese of Miami. She has served as chancellor of administration and chief operating officer for the Diocese of Orlando since February 15, 2007. Very Reverend Richard Walsh, Diocese of Orlando Administrator, accepted Sr. Elizabeth Worley’s resignation, effective September 30.

In her position with the Diocese of Orlando, Sister Elizabeth served as the bishop’s chief administrative and business officer, assisting him on strategic business development and key planning issues, as well as offering recommendations on major business decisions.

“I am grateful to Sr. Elizabeth Worley for her service to our Diocese and its people during these last three and one-half years. Many have benefitted from her guidance and steadfast efforts,” said Father Richard Walsh. “I also appreciate her continued leadership role with the Sisters of St. Joseph.”

Sister Elizabeth Worley, S.S.J. holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Miami and a Master of Arts in Chemistry from Villanova University. She has a Bachelor of Science with a specialty in Chemistry from Barry University. She was awarded the Papal Cross by Pope John Paul II in recognition of a lifetime of faithful service to the Catholic Church. Sister Elizabeth Worley is a Sister of St. Joseph.

Archbishop Wenski processes out of the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe following the Farewell Mass

Earlier this evening, the people of the Diocese of Orlando bid farewell to their chief shepherd, Archbishop-Designate Thomas G. Wenski. As you may recall, Pope Benedict XVI appointed the Most Rev. Thomas Wenski as the fourth Archbishop of Miami on April 20, 2010. The Mass of Farewell was celebrated at the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe. Archbishop Wenski told those in attendance that the Mass was a “Last Supper” of sorts.

During the homily, the Archbishop-Designate spoke about the most memorable events of the Diocese in the seven years of his episcopacy. Included in that list were the first-ever diocesan synod (“Starting Afresh From Christ”), the celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the Diocese and the beginning of the first diocesan capital campaign (“Alive in Christ”). Remarking on these achievements for the Diocese, Wenski stated: “If this local church has grown stronger in its faith, more confident in its hope and more ardent in its charity — and I believe it has — it has done so only because we have done it together, in a collegial way and in a collaborative way.”