The Most Reverend George V. Murry, SJ Bishop ofthe Diocese of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands

In preparation for the launch of the Bishop 's Appeal 2007 on February 24, Bishop George Murry, SJ, posed for promotional photographs with students from the four Catholic Schools of the Virgin Islands.

THE CATHOLIC ISLANDER     *FEBRUARY 2007 * 2

POPE REASSIGNS BISHOP MURRY

Archbishop Pietro Sambi, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, announced on January 30 that Pope Benedict XVI has appointed Bishop George Murry, SJ, as the bishop of the Diocese of Youngstown, Ohio. He will be installed in Youngstown on March 28.

Bishop Murry was in Youngstown on January 30 for the announcement, then celebrated the afternoon Mass at St. Columba Cathedral.

"I am honored to accept the Holy Father's appointment to serve as bishop of Youngstown, and I look forward to meeting and working with the priests, deacons, religious and laity of the diocese," said Bishop Murry. "At the same time I am very grateful to the people of the Virgin Islands for their love and support, and I will hold them in my heart with affection."

Bishop Murry served as Coadjutor Bishop of the Diocese ofSt. Thomas in the Virgin Islands on May 5, 1998, and was installed as bishop of the diocese on June 30, 1999.

Bishop Murry will be the fifth bishop in the diocese's history, succeeding Bishop Thomas Tobin, who was appointed Bishop of Providence, Rhode Island, on March 31, 2005. Established May 15,1943, the Diocese of Youngstown comprises six counties in Northeast Ohio. It has a Catholic population of 239,960 out of a total population of 1,223,313. Bishop Murry's jurisdiction will include 173 priests, 66 permanent deacons and 242 religious. The diocese has 115 parishes, 40 elementary schools, six high schools and three hospitals.

PREPARING FOR THE BISHOP'S APPEAL 2007

BISHOP MURRY'S FEBRUARY 2007 PUBLIC SCHEDULE

Friday, February 2, 7:00 a.m., First Friday Mass, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, St. John.

Friday, February 2, 7:30 a.m., Breakfast with the Bishop, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, St. John.

Saturday, February 3, 6:00 p.m., St. Mary School Auction, Divi Carina Bay Resort, St. Croix.

Saturday, February 10, 7:00 p.m., Dinner for the St. Mary School auction winners, St. Croix.

Sunday, February 11, 9:00 a.m., Mass, Sacred Heart Chapel, St. Croix.

Tuesday, February 13, 10:00 a.m., St. Thomas/St. John Deanery Meeting, Catholic Charities of the Virgin Islands, St. Thomas.

Wednesday, February 14, 10:00 a.m., St. Croix Deanery Meeting, St. Joseph High School, St. Croix.

Sunday, February 18, 6:30 p.m., Mass, Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral, St. Thomas.

Sunday, February 25, 9:30 a.m., Mass, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, St. John.

BREAKFAST WITH THE BISHOP

Bishop George Murry, SJ, will host the pot-luck Breakfast with the Bishop at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church on St. John on Friday, February 2. Normally, Breakfast with the Pastor follows the First Friday Mass at 7:00 a.m., but on this date Bishop Murry will substitute for Fr. Charles Crespo, who will be off-island.