Cardinal Blase J. Cupich Names Bishop Robert G. Casey New Vicar General of Archdiocese of Chicago
Chicago - (Aug. 28, 2020) – Cardinal Blase Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, today announced the appointment of Auxiliary Bishop Robert G. Casey, 52, as vicar general of the Archdiocese of Chicago, effective Sept. 12, 2020. Bishop Casey, episcopal vicar for Vicariate III will replace Bishop Ronald A. Hicks who was named the sixth bishop of Joliet by Pope Francis in July. Cardinal Cupich will name an interim vicar for Vicariate III in the near future.
“The Archdiocese of Chicago is blessed to have Bishop Casey succeed his classmate Bishop Hicks as vicar general,” said Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, archbishop of Chicago. “Bishop Casey has served the people of the archdiocese as a pastor and leader in diocesan renewal. His love for our Hispanic faithful is evident in his work of forming priests from Latin America and his co-founding of Taller de José.”
Bishop Casey currently serves as episcopal vicar for Vicariate III, a region serving South and Southwest side parishes. He is a native of Evergreen Park and grew up in Alsip where he attended public elementary schools. He graduated from Marist High School before entering Niles College Seminary, where he received a B.A. in English. Bishop Casey graduated from University of St. Mary of the Lake, Mundelein Seminary and was ordained to the priesthood May 21, 1994.
His first assignment was as associate pastor at St. Ita Parish, in Chicago, where he served until 1999. Bishop Casey, who is fluent in Spanish was named associate director of Casa Jesús, a house of discernment for men from Latin America in 1998. In 1999, he became its full-time director. In 2003, he completed a 40-day pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in Spain before becoming pastor of Our Lady of Tepeyac Parish in Chicago and in 2008, he co-founded Taller de José, a ministry sponsored by the Congregation of St. Joseph that offers accompaniment to people in need.
He served as pastor of St. Barbara Parish in Brookfield from 2009 to 2016, when he was appointed pastor of St. Bede the Venerable in Chicago. He also served on the priests’ placement board and the priest steering committee for Renew My Church. Bishop Casey was appointed auxiliary bishop by Pope Francis on July 3, 2018 and ordained on Sept 17, 2018
