Las Cruces, NM (9/28/2018) – Pope Francis announced today the appointment of Most Reverend Gerald Kicanas, Bishop Emeritus of Tucson, as the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Las Cruces effective Friday, September 28, 2018. As the diocese’s administrator, Bishop Kicanas will serve with the powers and responsibilities of the local ordinary until the Holy Father appoints and installs a new bishop for the diocese.
Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas was appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Tucson on October 30, 2001, installed as Bishop of Tucson on March 7, 2003, and became Bishop Emeritus on November 27, 2017. Before his assignment in Tucson, Bishop Kicanas was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago on January 24, 1995 and served as Episcopal Vicar of Vicariate I of the Archdiocese of Chicago. He was ordained a priest on April 27, 1967 and was ordained a bishop on March 20, 1995. Bishop Kicanas served on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Communications Committee, the Catholic Education Committee, the Subcommittee on Africa, the Subcommittee for Human Development, the Subcommittee for the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, and the Subcommittee on Hispanic Affairs. Bishop Kicanas currently serves as the Chair of the Board for the National Catholic Education Association and Vice Chancellor of the Catholic Extension Society which helps support the ministry of mission dioceses like Las Cruces and Tucson. Bishop Kicanas holds a Ph.D. in educational psychology, an M.Ed in guidance and counseling from Loyola University, and a licentiate in sacred theology from St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, Illinois.
“I have had the joy of visiting the Diocese of Las Cruces on a number of occasions,” Bishop Kicanas remarked. “I admire the clergy, religious and parishioners of the diocese and have been impressed by their commitment to the pastoral mission to this local church.” “I hope to do what I can to support the church until a new bishop is appointed,” he added, “please keep me in your prayers.”
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces was founded in 1982 and encompasses the counties of Dona Ana, Eddy, Grant, Hidalgo, Lea, Luna, Otero, Sierra, Lincoln, and Chavez counties in New Mexico. The diocese serves over 234,550 Catholics through 47 parishes, 44 missions, and 6 Catholic schools.