During a press conference last week, Bishop John McGann, head of the Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre, announced that his resignation had been accepted by the Vatican and that Bishop James McHugh, who had been serving as coadjutor for the past year, would assume the position.

McGann, who had served as the bishop of the diocese for the past 23 years, stated that he intends to remain in the diocese and assist the new bishop as he steps into the position.

"I am happy to be stepping aside and handing it on to someone else. I believe it is the right time," said McGann, who turned 75 last month. "You do not have the energies that you had earlier and it is good to have someone else with a new vision. I was happy here but I am not unhappy at stepping aside and being able to continue to live as a priest and bishop and assist in whatever way I can."

In preparation of McGann's expected retirement, McHugh was installed in February of last year to serve as the diocese's coadjutor. Since then he has been working to familiarize himself with the responsibilities and services of the diocese.

"It has been a smooth time of transition for me in the sense that both Bishop McGann, the vicars, the priests and people have done everything possible to make me feel welcome here in Rockville Centre and at the same time also to give me an initial impression of the challenges that lie ahead as I succeed him as the third bishop of Rockville Centre," said McHugh.

The Diocese of Rockville Centre is one of the largest in the country. It encompasses Nassau and Suffolk counties, serving over 1.3 million Catholics in 134 parishes.

The state of Bishop McHugh's health became an issue this past summer when he underwent surgery to remove a cancerous tumor. He underwent chemotherapy and radiation treatment after the tumor was partially removed. According to McHugh, his prognosis is good and he has been given a clean bill of health to resume his everyday activities, which he stated he has done since September.

"Like a lot of people in the United States I have a health problem that I will have to live with but I fully intend to live with it and to live with the responsibilities that come to me as the bishop of Rockville Centre," said McHugh.

McHugh, who was first ordained in 1957, comes to the Rockville Centre Diocese after serving as the bishop of Camden for ten years. During the press conference, McHugh stated his desire to proceed with the current direction of the diocese, noting that there will not be "any major changes." He also stated that he will create a deeper dialogue with the priests, parish leaders, those in special ministries, and ordinary Catholics.

"I think it would be a mistake for me or anyone else to barge in thinking that they were going to solve all the problems in the first 100 days," said McHugh. "The diocese is really in a process of continuity. . . in a sense there is a foundation that we must build on."

When asked about his thoughts on the shortage of priests in the diocese, McHugh lauded the abilities of the diocese's clergy and remarked that the shortage has forced the diocese, and the church in general, to reprioritize the mission of the priest, making the priest's role more responsive to the "sacramental and spiritual needs" of his congregation. He further stated that it has not "forestalled the work of the church."

"I think it is certainly a challenge to the diocese,but I do not think that it is an obstacle," said McHugh of the shortage." The priests that we have, while certainly fewer in number than we would like to have, are priests who are dedicated to their work, experienced in what they do, and tremendously sensitive to the needs of their parishioners."

He additionally stated that the diocese will be challenged to bring its followers a "deeper sense of their own spiritual belonging and their own spriritual potential for growth and holiness...in what is an increasingly almost totally secularized world."

A liturgy and reception of Bishop McHugh into his cathedral will be held at St. Agnes Cathedral on the feast of St. Agnes, Friday, Jan. 21 at 7:30 p.m. St. Agnes Cathedral is located on Quealy Place in Rockville Centre.