Mass welcomes Coadjutor Bishop of Providence Richard Henning
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WJAR) — An emotional day on Thursday as Bishop Richard Henning displayed a letter in church sent by the pope.
The letter names Henning as coadjutor bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Providence
Hundreds of people and priests were in attendance.
Henning said he heard the news of his new appointment while traveling.
“I came back into the hotel in Baltimore, and I was waiting at the elevator and I was waiting to go to my room and there was a very large poster an advertisement for a church architecture company and the picture was of this cathedral and the chair in which Bishop Tobin is now sitting so I thought 'Oh ok God. I’m listening," Henning said.
In his new role Henning will assist Bishop Thomas Tobin and actively share in the governance of the diocese.
Upon Tobin's retirement, Henning will immediately become bishop.
"The diocese of Providence welcomes you with open arms and a grateful heart. We pledge to you our friendship, support, and prayers as you begin your new ministry," Tobin said.
Henning will also give homilies at masses until he becomes bishop. He's fluent in Spanish and Italian.
Henning spoke about Rhode Island's motto, showing off the state's flag for visitors.
"In my prayer I thought, 'Ok God, I'm going to live in the state of hope. It will be okay. It was a great comfort to me at a time of a lot of emotions," Henning said.
Henning comes from New York where he served as an axillary bishop.
Tobin is sending his retirement papers to the Vatican in April. The pope will then decide when to accept them.