August 5, 2024 - Holy Father Names Bishop Henning the Next Archbishop of Boston

Holy Father Names the Most Reverend Richard G. Henning, S.T.D. as the 
tenth bishop and seventh archbishop of the Archdiocese of Boston.  
 
Cardinal O’Malley and Archbishop-designate Henning Hold Joint Press Conference 
 
Earlier this morning, the Holy Father announced that he has named the Most Reverend Richard G. Henning, S.T.D. as the tenth bishop and seventh archbishop of the Archdiocese of Boston.  Archbishop-designate Henning is currently the Bishop of the Diocese of Providence.   Following morning Mass in the Bethany Chapel, Cardinal Seán and Archbishop-designate Henning held a joint press conference at the Pastoral Center for the Archdiocese of Boston.   

Cardinal Seán said, “On behalf of the entire Archdiocese of Boston, including our priests, religious, deacons, and laity we welcome Archbishop-designate Richard Henning. We extend our deep gratitude to the Holy Father for this appointment demonstrating his ongoing pastoral care for the people of the Archdiocese.  I look forward to our people and the wider community getting to know our new Archbishop-designate in the days, weeks, months and years ahead.  He ministers with the heart of a pastor with a sincere commitment to serving Christ and the Church.” 
 
Archbishop-designate Henning will be installed as Archbishop of Boston on Thursday, October 31, 2024, at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston, MA. Additional details to follow. 
 
Archbishop-designate Henning said, “I am grateful to His Holiness Pope Francis for his confidence in me and for his conferral of this new mission as Archbishop of Boston. I receive this appointment relying upon divine Providence, aware that this is the Lord’s Church and that I am no more than an unworthy servant.  I would also like to express my gratitude to His Eminence Cardinal Sean O’Malley who has served the Church of Boston for many faithful and joyful years. Greetings to the clergy and faithful of Boston. I ask you prayers that I may cling to the Lord’s Holy Cross, honor His mother, imitate His saints, and love you as His people and His ministers.”  We adore You and praise You O Christ, for by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world. (Spanish and Portuguese versions of his statement follow this message).
 
Archbishop-designate Richard G. Henning, S.T.D. was born in Rockville Centre, New York in 1964 to Richard and Maureen Henning, the first of five siblings.  He grew up in Valley Stream receiving the sacraments of Baptism, first Holy Communion, and Confirmation at Holy Name of Mary Parish, where he also attended the parish grammar school.  In the summers, Archbishop-designate Henning spent a good deal of time on a small island in the Great South Bay where his family has gone for generations.  There, he developed a lifelong passion for the water, sailing, boating, and kayaking on the bay.
 
He attended Chaminade High School in Mineola, New York and counts the Marianists as a major influence in his faith life and commitment to learning.  He received a BA and MA in History from St. John’s University, Queens New York and received his training for the priesthood at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington, New York.  
 
Fluent in Spanish, he was ordained to the priesthood in 1992.   He earned a Licentiate in Biblical Theology at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. and a Doctorate in the same from the University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome, Italy.   After his studies, Archbishop-designate Henning joined the faculty of the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington, where he taught scripture for more than ten years.  In 2012, as part of the partnership for seminary formation among the Dioceses of Rockville Centre, Brooklyn, and the Archdiocese of New York, then Rev. Msgr. Henning was appointed to lead the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception through its transition to the largest retreat house in the Northeast.

In 2018, Pope Francis appointed Archbishop-designate Henning as an auxiliary bishop in the Diocese of Rockville Centre, where he served as a regional Vicar and later as the Vicar for Clergy and Pastoral Planning. 

In November 2022, the Holy Father appointed Archbishop-designate Henning as the Coadjutor Bishop of Providence. He succeeded Bishop Tobin as the Bishop of Providence on May 1, 2023.

On Monday, August 5, 2024, Archbishop-designate Henning was appointed the tenth bishop and seventh archbishop of the Archdiocese of Boston.

The Cardinal added, “Today is a day of celebration and prayer as we welcome the Holy Father’s assignment of Archbishop-designate Henning to the Archdiocese.  I ask that you pray for him as he begins to plan for this transition. 
 
His full biography is available here.
 
Archbishop-designate statement in Spanish:
“Agradezco a Su Santidad el Papa Francisco por su confianza en mí y por haberme confiado esta nueva misión como Arzobispo de Boston. Recibo este nombramiento confiando en la divina Providencia, consciente de que ésta es la Iglesia pertenece al Señor y que no soy más que un servidor indigno. 

También me gustaría expresar mi gratitud a Su Eminencia el Cardenal Sean O'Malley, quien ha servido a la Iglesia de Boston durante muchos años fieles y alegres. 

Saludos al clero y fieles de Boston. Les pido oraciones para poder aferrarme a la Santa Cruz del Señor, honrar a su madre, imitar a sus santos y amarles como su pueblo y sus ministros.” 

Te adoramos y te alabamos, oh Cristo, porque por tu Santa Cruz redimiste al mundo.
 
Archbishop-designate statement in Portuguese
“Estou grato a Sua Santidade o Papa Francisco pela confiança que depositou em mim e por lhe ter confiado esta missão como Arcebispo de Boston. Recebo esta nomeação confiando na Providência divina, consciente de que esta é a Igreja do Senhor e que não sou mais do que um servo indigno. 

Gostaria também de expressar a minha gratidão a Sua Eminência o Cardeal Sean O’Malley, que serviu a Igreja de Boston durante muitos anos fiéis e alegres. 

Saudações ao clero e aos fiéis de Boston. Peço-vos orações para que me possa agarrar à Santa Cruz do Senhor, honrar a Sua mãe, imitar o Seus santos e amar-vos como Seu povo e Seus ministros.” 

Nós Te adoramos e Te louvamos, ó Cristo, pois pela tua Santa Cruz remistes o mundo.