Statement of Bishop Muench, Bishop of Baton Rouge,
on the
Appointment of Father Shelton Fabre
as an Auxiliary Bishop of New Orleans
Pope Benedict XVI has named Father Shelton J. Fabre, priest of the
Diocese of Baton Rouge and current pastor of Sacred Heart Church, Baton
Rouge, to be an Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese of
New Orleans. By this appointment our beloved Holy Father brings
great honor to Father Fabre and to the entire Diocese of Baton Rouge.
Bishop-designate Fabre is a devoted, gifted, exemplary and highly respected
priest, who comes from a faith-filled family. He exhibits strong
intellect, genuine piety and true fidelity to Christ and the Church. He is
especially noted for his humble demeanor, perceptive judgment, zealous
ministry and articulate preaching. Bishop-designate Fabre has excelled in his
extensive parochial and diocesan assignments following priestly ordination
in 1989. He has been particularly effective as pastor and associate in
various Church parishes, Dean of the Northwest Deanery, Diocesan Director
for the Office of Black Catholics, Chair of the Pastoral Planning
Committee, Chaplain at St. Joseph’s Academy, Baton Rouge, and a member of
the Diocesan College of Consultors, Presbyteral Council, Clergy Personnel
Board and Diocesan School Board.
Once again the Holy See has recognized the vibrancy of the Catholic
faith in the African-American community in the Diocese of Baton Rouge. In
1983, Pope John Paul II named Father J. Terry Steib, SVD (currently the
Bishop of Memphis) whose family was from Our Lady of Peace Church in
Vacherie, Louisiana, to be a bishop. In 1984 the same Holy Father
appointed Father John Ricard, SSJ (currently Bishop of
Pensacola-Tallahassee), whose family was from St. Francis Xavier Church,
Baton Rouge, to be a bishop. Now Pope Benedict has selected Father Fabre,
whose family lives in St. Augustine Parish, New Roads, to be a bishop.
We heartily congratulate Bishop-designate Fabre on his selection, as we also
congratulate Archbishop Hughes and the Archdiocese of New Orleans, who
will greatly benefit from this assignment.
Those of us in the Diocese of Baton Rouge rejoice with the call to
episcopacy of Father Fabre. While we will deeply miss his presence in our
local Church, we take comfort that he will be serving nearby and will
continue to be in the same ecclesiastical province to which we belong.
We thank Bishop-designate Fabre for his significant contributions to the Church of Baton Rouge and extend to him our support, affirmation and prayers. We
also pray for our beloved Mother Church of New Orleans in the continuing
efforts for recovery after Hurricane Katrina.