The parishes of St. Theresa of Avila and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Churches are planning a Saturday afternoon reception open to the public to welcome and congratulate the new Bishop of the Catholic Church for Southern Illinois Godfrey Mullen.
The reception will be in the Guth Room at the St. Theresa Parish Center in Salem from 2:30 to 4:30. Bishop Mullen will then celebrate Mass at five pm and attend a dinner for parishioners.
Bishop Mullen was born in Alton on January 22nd, 1966, the son of the late Michael and Connie Mullen. The family moved to Salem later that year. Bishop Mullen was raised in the St. Theresa Parish, and attended Salem public schools until St. Theresa Catholic School reopened in 1977 where he completed sixth, seventh, and eighth grades. He graduated Salem Community High School in 1984 and then attended college at a Seminary before entering the St. Meinrad Benedictine Monastery. He professed vows as a Benedictine monk in 1994. Mullen has since served in parish ministry, administration and teaching in the seminary, chaplaincy and retreat and mission work prior to appointment earlier this year as the new Bishop of the Belleville Diocese. The Diocese includes 99 parishes in the most southern part of Southern Illinois.
