Pope Francis Names Three New Auxiliary Bishops for the Archdiocese of Chicago
Chicago, IL (July 3, 2018) – Today, the Vatican announced that Pope Francis accepted the resignations of Archdiocese of Chicago auxiliary bishops George J. Rassas and Francis J. Kane and has appointed three new auxiliary bishops for the Archdiocese of Chicago -- Fathers Mark A. Bartosic, Robert G. Casey and Ronald A. Hicks. The Episcopal Ordination of the bishops-elect will take place at Holy Name Cathedral on September 17, 2018.
“We are blessed to have had the service of Bishops Rassas and Kane for so many years. They have made significant contributions both as priests and as Episcopal Vicars, and I express my gratitude for their ministry,” said Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago. “The bishops-elect were seminary classmates and share a fluency and interest in Hispanic language and culture so vital in serving our parishioners. Each of them has distinguished himself through dedication, service and a life-long witness to the Gospel. We welcome their ideas and energy as we renew the Church.”
Bishops-elect Bartosic and Casey will serve as Episcopal Vicars once successors are named at their present parish assignments. Bishop-elect Hicks will remain in his role as Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Chicago.
Bishop-elect Mark A. Bartosic was born in Neenah, Wisc., on June 21, 1961 to Joan and the late F. Dean Bartosic. He was raised in Ashland, Ohio where he attended St. Edward School and public schools. In 1983, he received a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from Ashland University in Ashland, Ohio. He earned both a Master of Divinity degree in 1994 and a Licentiate in Sacred Theology in 2001 from the University of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, Ill.
He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Chicago by Cardinal Joseph Bernardin on May 21, 1994. His first assignment was as Associate Pastor of St. Agnes of Bohemia Parish in Chicago from 1994 to 2000. From 2001 to 2016, he served as pastor of St. Frances of Rome Parish in Cicero, Ill. and from 2009 to 2016, he served as Pastor of Our Lady of Charity Parish, also in Cicero, while maintaining his responsibilities as pastor at St. Frances of Rome Parish.
Since 2016, he has served as Pastor of Assumption BVM, in Chicago, and Director of the Kolbe House Jail Ministry.
Bishop-elect Robert Casey was born on September 23, 1967 in Evergreen Park, Ill., to Michael and the late Margaret Casey. He grew up in Alsip, Ill. where his family attended St. Terrence Parish. He attended Stony Creek Elementary School and Prairie Junior High School, both in Alsip, and graduated from Marist High School in Chicago in 1985. Fr. Casey received a Bachelor of Arts in English from Niles College of Loyola University Chicago in 1989. He received a Master of Divinity degree in 1994 from the University of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, Ill.
Father Casey was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Chicago by Cardinal Joseph Bernardin on May 21, 1994. He was first assigned in 1994 as Associate Pastor to St. Ita Parish in Chicago’s Edgewater neighborhood. In 1998, Cardinal George appointed Fr. Casey as the Associate Director of Casa Jesus while he was serving in his last year at St. Ita. In 1999, Fr. Casey began his work with Casa Jesus as its full-time Director.
In 2003, after completing a 40-day pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in Spain, Fr. Casey began his service as pastor of Our Lady of Tepeyac Parish in the Little Village neighborhood of Chicago. In 2008, Fr. Casey co-founded Taller de José, a sponsored ministry of the Congregation of St. Joseph that offers accompaniment to people in need.
In 2009, Fr. Casey became the pastor at St. Barbara Parish in Brookfield, Ill. and in 2016, Fr. Casey became the pastor of St. Bede the Venerable Parish in Chicago’s Scottsdale neighborhood.
Fr. Casey currently serves on the Placement Board of the Archdiocese of Chicago, assisting with the assignment process of priests to parishes. He has also been part of the Priest Steering Committee for Renew My Church.
Bishop-elect Ronald A. Hicks was born on August 4, 1967 to Ron and Roselee Hicks. A native of Harvey, Ill., he grew up South Holland, Ill. and attended St. Jude the Apostle Parish and Grade School there. He graduated from Quigley Seminary South in Chicago in 1985 and received his Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Niles College of Loyola University Chicago in 1989. He also received his Master of Divinity degree in 1994 and his Doctor of Ministry degree in 2003 both from the University of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, Ill.
He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Chicago by Cardinal Joseph Bernardin on May 21, 1994. He worked as an Associate Pastor at Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Chicago from 1994 to 1996 and at St. Elizabeth Seton Parish in Orland Hills, Ill. from 1996 to 1999. From 1999 to 2005, he lived and ministered at St. Joseph College Seminary in Chicago as the Dean of Formation.
In July 2005, with permission from Cardinal Francis George, Fr. Hicks moved to El Salvador to begin his five-year term as Regional Director of Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (NPH) in Central America. NPH is a ministry dedicated to caring for more 3,400 orphaned and abandoned children in nine countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.
From 2010 to 2014. Fr. Hicks served as the Dean of Formation at Mundelein Seminary. During that time, he also assisted with weekend Masses at St. Jerome Parish in Rogers Park.
Fr. Hicks was appointed Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Chicago by Cardinal Cupich on January 1, 2015. Since then, it has been his practice to celebrate Mass in a different parish in the Archdiocese each weekend.
For the Spanish version of the release, please click here.