Catholics will miss Bishop J. Peter Sartain’s presence in Arkansas, but the work pastors and diocesan employees perform will not be affected while the Diocese of Little Rock waits for his replacement.
“The daily business will continue,” Bishop Sartain said in early June. “The Church always has structures in place to make sure things continue.”
Bishop Sartain speaks from experience. During a nine-month period in 1992-1993, the Diocese of Memphis where Bishop Sartain first served was without a bishop.
When Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein was transferred from the Diocese of Memphis to Indianapolis, then-Father Sartain was the vicar general and was elected administrator of the diocese until Bishop J. Terry Steib was installed in 1993.
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The transition period between Bishop Sartain and a new bishop is a new experience however for the Diocese of Little Rock. In the past, all five bishops in Little Rock retired or died in office.
The first step in the transition is the election of a diocesan administrator. On Thursday, June 29, the diocesan College of Consultors was scheduled to meet to elect a temporary leader for the diocese. The election was required to take place within eight days of the installation of Bishop Sartain in Joliet June 27.
Msgr. Francis I. Malone, who served as a vicar general under Bishop Sartain, said those eligible to be elected are “any priest of the diocese” who is at least 35 years old.
“Basically he has the power of the vicar general,” Msgr. Malone said of the new administrator. “He is equal in law to the bishop.”
The senior member of the college is Msgr. Bernard Malone of Hot Springs Village. In addition to Msgr. Francis I. Malone, the other members are Msgr. Scott Friend and Msgr. Scott Marczuk of Little Rock, Msgr. John O’Donnell, formerly of Fort Smith, Msgr. J. Gaston Hebert of Hot Springs and Msgr. Jack Harris of Pine Bluff. Bishop Sartain selected these men from the membership of the Presbyteral Council.
Msgr. Malone, pastor of Christ the King Church in Little Rock, said the administrator could handle many of the functions a bishop does except ordain a priest or preside over the Chrism Mass during Holy Week.
The Vatican requires that during the transition “no major innovations” occur, Msgr. Malone said. This means no new programs or projects will be created, but any decision made by Bishop Sartain could be followed through and any existing programs on the diocesan level could be held. Major financial decisions would have to be delayed though.
“The diocese continues to function with its budget, with the finance officer and with the finance council,” Msgr. Malone said. “We just continue to keep the ship afloat until that time.”
Because the Presbyteral Council doesn’t exist without a bishop, the administrator would meet as needed with the College of Consultors.
In the times when a bishop is needed, including ordinations and the Chrism Mass, the administrator would invite a bishop to Little Rock for the events. Most activities normally handled by Bishop Sartain, such as confirmations, will be handled by the administrator, Msg. Malone said.
“The administrator would in all likelihood do the confirmations so the new bishop coming in isn’t doubled up his first year in office,” he said.
The administrator can transfer priests to different assignments. The administrator could only assign a pastor to serve as an administrator of a parish. A final approval and title of pastor would wait until the new bishop arrives, Msgr. Malone said.
“The diocesan administrator can freely move the associate pastors and administrators,” he said.
On the parish level, parishioners will see little, if any, changes. Many might have already noticed the omission of “our bishop Peter” during the eucharistic prayers at Mass. That change occurred immediately after the announcement of Bishop Sartain to Joliet May 16.
“There shouldn’t be (any changes) if their pastors are doing what they do so well. Parish life should continue as normal,” Msgr. Malone said.
Msgr. Malone said he hopes all parishes and religious houses are praying the Prayer to the Shepherd (Click here to see the prayer) or similar prayers and adding general intercessions at Mass during the transition.
Anyone needing to contact the administrator should call the Chancery Office at (501) 664-0340.
Vacant U.S. Sees
Six other dioceses in the United States are also without a bishop at this time. Currently, one diocese has been vacant for 18 months.
1. Sioux Falls, S.D., Dec. 29, 2004
2. Lake Charles, La., March 15, 2005
3. Youngstown, Ohio, March 31, 2005
4. Birmingham, Ala., May 10, 2005
5. Salt Lake City, Utah, Dec. 15, 2005
6. Pittsburgh, May 16, 2006
