May 27 was Bishop Lynch’s seventy-fifth birthday. On that day, he signed and sent a letter to the Holy Father asking to retire after having reached the mandatory “age limit” for bishops. Our diocese is now in a waiting period to hear from the Vatican who our new bishop will be.  Bishop Lynch will still be in office until we receive the official announcement from the Vatican.

Process of Selecting a New Bishop – Thoughts from Bishop Lynch (English / Spanish). This information was first posted as a blog from Bishop Lynch in June 2015.

During this time of transition, we invite everyone in the diocese to join us in praying for the new bishop. The prayers and intercessions are listed below.

Prayer for a New Bishop (Word / PDF / Social Media Graphic)

Almighty and all loving God,
Eternal Shepherd and Guide,
we are grateful for Bishop Lynch
and his twenty years of ministry in our diocese.

During this time of transition, we trust in Your love,
confident that You will once again give to the Diocese of St. Petersburg
a shepherd who will inspire us to be
Christ’s heart of mercy,
His voice of hope and hands of justice.

Guide our new bishop to enlighten
our hearts and minds with the truth of the Gospel,
the power of the sacraments,
and the desire to serve you in all things.

We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Oración por un nuevo obispo (Word / PDF / Social Media Graphic)

Dios todopoderoso y eterno,
Pastor que guías a tu pueblo.
Te damos gracias por habernos concedido a monseñor Lynch
como obispo nuestro durante los últimos veinte años.

Confiados en tu amor durante este tiempo de transición,
creemos que, una vez más, darás a la Diócesis de St. Petersburg
un pastor que nos inspire a ser
el corazón misericordioso de Cristo,
su voz de esperanza y sus manos de justicia.

Fortalece a nuestro nuevo obispo,
para que guíe nuestros pensamientos e ilumine nuestro corazón
con la verdad del Evangelio,
el poder de los sacramentos,
y el deseo de servirte en todas las cosas.

Te lo pedimos por Jesucristo, nuestro Señor.
Amén

Intercessions for a New Bishop (Word / PDF)

• For our Diocese, that as we wait and pray for a new bishop, we will be strengthened as God’s holy people to follow in the footsteps of Christ, we pray to the Lord.
• For those who are entrusted with the leadership of our Diocese during this time of transition, that they will manifest the Lord Jesus by their example, we pray to the Lord.
• For Pope Francis and those in the church who prayerfully select our new bishop, that guided by the Spirit will be given the gifts of wisdom and counsel so that they may discern the will of God, we pray to the Lord.
• For our new bishop, that he will be blessed with the gifts he needs to carry on the ministry of Jesus in our diocese, we pray to the Lord.

Intercesiones para un nuevo obispo (Word / PDF)

• Por nuestra diócesis, para que mientras esperamos y oramos por un nuevo obispo, seamos fortalecidos como pueblo santo de Dios, que sigue los pasos de Cristo. Roguemos al Señor.
• Por las personas a las cuales se les ha confiado el liderazgo de nuestra diócesis, para que durante este tiempo de espera y oración por un nuevo obispo manifiesten con su ejemplo al Señor Jesús. Roguemos al Señor.
• Por el Papa Francisco y por aquellos en la Iglesia que, guiados por el Espíritu, tienen la encomienda de elegir a nuestro nuevo obispo, para que les sean concedidos los dones de la sabiduría y del consejo a fin de que puedan discernir la voluntad de Dios. Roguemos al Señor.
• Por nuestro futuro obispo, para que sea bendecido con los dones que necesita a fin de continuar el ministerio de Jesús en nuestra diócesis. Roguemos al Señor.