Chancellor looks forward to assisting archbishop and new auxiliary bishop

Msgr. Joseph F. Schaedel, left, and Annette “Mickey” Lentz, the archdiocesan chancellor, applaud as Bishop-designate Christopher J. Coyne is introduced during a Jan. 14 press conference at St. John the Evangelist Church in Indianapolis. Msgr. Schaedel will begin a three-month sabbatical in Rome in February. He has served as the vicar general of the archdiocese for 17 years, and also ministered as the pastor of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish in Indianapolis. (Photo by Mary Ann Wyand)

By Mary Ann Wyand

As chancellor of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, Annette “Mickey” Lentz is required by canon law to certify the authenticity of the apostolic letter of appointment from the Holy See that officially designates Father Christopher J. Coyne, a priest of the Archdiocese of Boston, as the new auxiliary bishop who will assist Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein.

“I’m looking forward to doing that,” Lentz said after the Jan. 14 press conference at St. John the Evangelist Church in Indianapolis.

After Bishop-designate Coyne is ordained on March 2, he will help Archbishop Buechlein with the sacramental, spiritual and pastoral needs of the Church in central and southern Indiana.

“I’ve experienced two other installations—of Bishop [Paul] Etienne and Bishop [Timothy] Doherty—so I’ve seen the role that chancellors played,” she explained, “and I thought, ‘I wonder if I’ll ever have the opportunity to do that?’ Now here we are.”

Earlier, as Lentz waited for the press conference to begin, she reflected on the historic announcement.

“I’m very pleased to be a part of it,” she said. “It’s an exciting time for the archdiocese. We haven’t had an auxiliary bishop since back in the days of Cardinal [Joseph E.] Ritter, and I think the time is right. … It’s a historic day, a wonderful day, in the Church.”

“Bishops are very busy,” Lentz said, “and the Chancery itself is very busy. There are many demands, and having another person to help us carry out our mission, both inside [the archdiocese of] Indianapolis and outside, will be an asset to all of us, especially to Archbishop Buechlein, who needs to do a little less. He will be a wonderful mentor for Father Coyne.”

Lentz said she met Bishop-designate Coyne on Jan. 13.

“I had an opportunity to visit with him and welcome him,” she said. “I look forward to working with him. … [He has] much spirit, much enthusiasm and an excitement about being here.”

Before her appointment as chancellor, Lentz served the archdiocese as the executive director of Catholic Education and Faith Formation.

“When we met yesterday, I told him that my former role was as the executive director of education,” Lentz explained. “I said that I am learning a lot as chancellor, and we’ll learn more together. I said that there is much of which we can be proud—historically, academically and spiritually—with our schools, our parishes and our faith formation programs. I look forward to assisting him in any way with them, and [helping him] learn more about them. … He will have a wonderful experience visiting [the parishes and schools in] central and southern Indiana. He’s real excited to learn about us.”

(Reporter Sean Gallagher assisted with this story.) †

 

(Click here for more coverage and photos of the appointment of Bishop-designate Christopher J. Coyne)