U.S. Bishops Announce Fall Assembly Election Nominees; Secretary and Six Committee Chairs to Be Chosen November 16–19 in Baltimore
WASHINGTON — In an October 17 press release, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) announced the nominees for conference secretary and for the chairs of six standing committees. The U.S. bishops will gather for their fall 2026 plenary assembly November 16–19 in Baltimore, with a portion of the agenda dedicated to elections.
The USCCB explained that the secretary's office is open following the fall 2025 election of its incumbent, Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Indiana, to finish out the term of Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City; the office was left vacant when Coakley was voted in as USCCB president at last fall's meeting. The two nominees for secretary are Bishop Rhoades and Bishop Earl K. Fernandes of Columbus, Ohio. The USCCB secretary also serves as chair of the conference's Committee on Priorities and Plans.
Nominees for committee chairs are: Catholic Education — Bishop James D. Conley of Lincoln, Nebraska, and Auxiliary Bishop Edmund J. Whalen of New York; Communications — Bishop Daniel J. Felton of Duluth, Minnesota, and Bishop Louis Tylka of Peoria, Illinois; Cultural Diversity in the Church — Bishop Steven J. Maekawa of Fairbanks, Alaska, and Bishop Michael M. Pham of San Diego; Doctrine — Bishop William M. Joensen of Des Moines, Iowa, and Bishop Steven J. Lopes of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter; National Collections — Bishop Mark A. Eckman of Pittsburgh and Bishop Gerald L. Vincke of Salina, Kansas; and Pro-Life Activities — Bishop John T. Folda of Fargo, North Dakota, and Bishop Donald J. Hying of Madison, Wisconsin.
Each bishop elected will serve for one year as chairman-elect before beginning a three-year term at the conclusion of the bishops' 2027 fall plenary assembly.
Source: Compiled from the USCCB press release (October 17) and OSV News reporting.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：Baltimore 主教座堂（资料图），主教团秋季大会将于11月在 Baltimore 举行。图片来源：Baltimore Heritage。Photo: The Baltimore Basilica (file photo). Image: Baltimore Heritage.
