By Barb Arland-Fye
The Catholic Messenger
Press Release: Bishop-elect Hennen announcement
DAVENPORT, Iowa – On a recent Saturday, Bishop-elect Thomas Hennen presided at a morning funeral Mass, an afternoon wedding, anointed a parishioner awaiting surgery, heard confessions and presided at the 4 p.m. Mass that included a baptism. That is not necessarily a typical Saturday and while it was hectic, he considers his ministry life giving.
“Five sacraments! I celebrated pretty much all of the sacraments I can celebrate. The only ones that were missing were holy orders and confirmation. I can do confirmation, but not normally,” then-Father Hennen said during a Catholic Messenger Conversations Podcast recorded June 25. “That is a good day in the Church,” he added.
Soon, the sacrament of holy orders won’t be an exception to the sacraments he has the authority to celebrate. On July 10, Pope Leo XIV appointed Bishop-elect Hennen, 47, as the next Bishop of the Baker, Oregon Diocese.
Ordained to the priesthood 21 years ago – the same date as his appointment to the episcopacy – Bishop-elect Hennen has served for the past five years as the Davenport Diocese’s vicar general and a consultor, and for the past four years as pastor of Sacred Heart Cathedral.
“He has been a most generous and dedicated shepherd in his pastoral ministry with the faithful at Sacred Heart Cathedral, and his invaluable service as Vicar General of our diocese has been a true blessing,” said Bishop Dennis Walsh.
Bishop-elect Hennen has experienced a variety of roles since his priesthood ordination at the cathedral on July 10, 2004. Among his assignments: parochial vicar, campus minister, diocesan vocations director, chaplain and teacher of a diocesan high school and chaplain/director of campus ministry at the diocesan university, St. Ambrose University, his alma mater. He is also a graduate of the North American College in Rome, where he studied as a seminarian for the Davenport Diocese and had the privilege of meeting Pope John Paul II in person.
In an interview with The Catholic Messenger after his ordination to the priesthood, Father Hennen said he was anxious but excited to begin his priestly ministry. “This is one of those things where you have prepared for years and years and years, and it’s finally here,” he said.
He expressed gratitude to his parents, John and Jo’An Hennen (now deceased), his family and his friends for all their support, along with Bishop William Franklin, who ordained him, and the many priests who served as his mentor. “I thank God for the gift of ministry he’s given me, and I hope and pray that I can share that gift with others,” Father Hennen said.
His joy for pastoral ministry remains steadfast, as he shared during last month’s podcast. While he appreciates his role as vicar general, the parish ministry is life giving. He described the role of vicar general as being a sounding board for the bishop and handling some of the challenges in parishes that the bishop delegates to him. As vicar general, he also has opportunities to be engaged in visioning for major diocesan initiatives, such as the diocesan Synod.
However, “the parish stuff, that’s my bread and butter,” he said. “I half-joke that if being vicar general is the price I have to pay to be pastor of Sacred Heart, it’s worth it.” He loves his interaction with the people and celebrating the sacraments with them. “Every parish I’ve (served in), I feel has been great.”
In addition to all of his diocesan commitments, he also serves as the Question Box columnist for The Catholic Messenger. “I like doing this kind of thing. I enjoy writing. I enjoy being able to exercise a little bit of teaching,” he said. “In some ways, it’s easier to write than my weekly parish bulletin!”
