2 local priests named Catholic assistant bishops in Detroit

By Niraj Warikoo
Detroit Free Press
November 23, 2016

http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2016/11/23/local-priests-assistant-bishops-detroit/94329230/

Father Gerard W. Battersby has been named by Pope Francis to be an Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese of Detroit

Pope Francis has named two priests in metro Detroit to be auxiliary bishops, replacing a retiring bishop and an outgoing one.

The Archdiocese of Detroit, which has about 1.3 million Catholics in a six-country region in southeast Michigan, announced today that the Rev. Gerard Battersby, 56, and the Rev. Robert Fisher, 57, will be ordained on Jan. 25 as the archdiocese's 29th and 30th assistant bishops. Last year, Auxilary Bishop Francis Reiss retired and last month, Bishop Michael J. Byrnes was named to lead the archdiocese in Guam. 

"All of us in the Archdiocese of Detroit are deeply grateful that Pope Francis has named Father Battersby and Father Fisher, two well-loved and respected priests in our archdiocese, to be auxiliary bishops in our local church,” Archbishop of Detroit Allen Vigneron, said in a statement released today by the Archdiocese. "Both of these new bishops bring a rich set of gifts and talents to the roles they will play in leading our community in our mission to share the Good News of Jesus."

Auxiliary bishops are assistant bishops who serve under Vigneron in Detroit. The Archdiocese has two other auxiliary bishops, Donald Hanchon and Arturo Cepeda, as well as retired Auxiliary Bishops Francis Reiss and Thomas Gumbleton.

The announcement comes soon after the Archdiocese held a Detroit Synod, the first since 1969, aimed at increasing evangelization.

Since October 2015, Battersby has been pastor at St. Mary of Redford Parish in Detroit, according to a bio provided by the Archdiocese of Detroit. Since 2011, he's been vice-rector and dean of seminarian formation at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit.

He was born in Detroit, earning a bachelor’s degree in biology from Wayne State University and worked in the pharmaceutical and appraisal industries until entering Sacred Heart Major Seminary in 1993, receiving a Master of Divinity degree. He was ordained a priest in 1998, serving at St. Thecla Parish in Clinton Township and at St. Gerard, Immaculate Heart of Mary and Presentation-Our Lady of Victory parishes in Detroit. He became director of graduate seminarians at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in 2007 and then was assigned to graduate studies at the University of St. Thomas in Rome, according to the archdiocese.

“I would like to thank God and Pope Francis for this inestimable blessing,” Battersby said in a statement. “It is with joy and confidence in Jesus Christ that I accepted the Holy Father’s invitation to be a co-worker of his in the apostolic ministry. I would also like to thank Archbishop Allen Vigneron, who has been truly a good shepherd and a sterling exemplar to me.”

Fisher was born in Detroit, attending Epiphany and St. Bede elementary schools and University of Detroit Jesuit High School, said the Archdiocese. He earned his bachelor’s degree in management science from University of Detroit and after graduation oversaw camping services with the Catholic Youth Organization's camps in Michigan.

He entered Sacred Heart Major Seminary in 1986, earning his Masters of Divinity degree. Ordained a priest in 1992, he served at Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish in Grosse Pointe Woods, as director of priestly vocations for the archdiocese, at St. Angela Parish in Roseville and at St. Lawrence Parish in Utica. He has been rector of the National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica in Royal Oak since March 2014, said the Archdiocese.

“I am humbled by the Holy Father’s call to serve as an auxiliary bishop,” Fisher said in a statement. "I am grateful for Archbishop Vigneron’s guidance, direction and fraternal support. With the prayers of the community, I will direct all my energy toward sharing Christ in and through the Church.”