The Bishop Designate of the Belleville Diocese grew up in Salem and still has family and many friends in the area.
The announcement of the appointment of the Very Rev. Godfrey Mullen by Pope Leo XIV was made on Friday morning and was watched by a number of parishioners at St. Theresa Catholic Church, who clapped afterward. Mullen attended St. Theresa’s Grade School and later graduated from Salem Community High School.
Mullen was surprised by Cardinal Pierre’s call telling him of his appointment. Over the past 10 months, he has been the Diocesan Administrator of the Belleville Diocese. His appointment as Bishop becomes effective May 1st.
Mullen said during the announcement that, with his parents being intimately involved in the work of Saint Theresa Parish in Salem, he grew up knowing the Diocesan Priests, the Precious Blood, and the Felician Sisters.
“The 99 parishes in our Diocese have been tremendously blessed with gifts beyond all telling. Those gifts have been imparted by our Creator for that singular purpose: building the Kingdom. Instead of focusing on threats, let us seize courageously upon the myriad opportunities we have to welcome Christ in the stranger, to pray with and for one another, to be formed daily in the tradition of grace, to serve Christ in the least of His brothers and sisters, and to call young people to the beautiful service of ministry.”
Mullen noted that as a Benedictine monk since 1988, he greatly esteemed the church’s tradition of prayer and welcome, of education and peace. He says while some in the dioceses have commented that this was their plan, today, I accept this mission in the Church, this service to His people, as God’s plan.
Among those in attendance was Mike Morton, who not only knew Mullen from church but also hired him to work at the Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy in Salem.
“We have followed him all through his career, and he always answers everything. He keeps Salem in his heart all the time. So we’re very excited. This is like the kid making it to the World Series, that’s how exciting this is”.
Margie Doolen also watched Mullen grow up.
“It’s really wonderful that we have a local Bishop. We have all been praying for this for a long, long time. We were really gratified when he was appointed an administrator for the Belleville Diocese.”
The St. Theresa delegation will welcome home the Bishop Designate at a workshop already scheduled at the church on Saturday.
Friends of Father Godfrey Mullen gather at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Salem to watch the announcement of his appointment to Bishop Elect. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
