Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint Petersburg - Bishop Lynch

Bishop Lynch

After nearly a year of vacancy in which Monsignor Brendan Muldoon administered the diocese, Pope John Paul II appointed Monsignor Robert N. Lynch the Fourth Bishop of St. Petersburg on December 5, 1995. A priest of the Archdiocese of Miami, former rector of the St. John Vianney College Seminary in Miami, and former General Secretary to the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, Lynch was already well known in the diocese. He was consecrated bishop in his own Cathedral, only the fourth time in Florida history and the first time in seventy-four years, on January 26, 1996, by Archbishop John C. Favalora. Bishop Lynch's consecration brought the largest number of bishops to the diocese at one time. Cardinal Joseph Bernardin delivered the homily.

Lynch continued the reorganization and management of the diocese begun under Favalora. Lynch commissioned the building of a new Pastoral Center, and on March 31, 2000, the newly erected Bishop W. Thomas Larkin Pastoral Center was formally dedicated. The purpose of this new edifice was rededication to service in one space, one place," and it brought together under one roof ministries from several locations throughout the diocese. Like Favalora, Lynch made Catholic education, in the Catholic schools as well as in the religious education programs of the parishes, a top priority in the diocese. He also took an active role in planning for the future construction of new Catholic high schools, and improvements to the existing schools.

From the beginning of his episcopacy, Lynch expressed the belief that a bishop's responsibilities are primarily to the diocese where he serves. This belief was soon made visible in the way he made himself present to the priests, deacons, religious, and faithful of the Diocese of St. Petersburg. He recognized the talents and abilities of priests, religious, and laity alike. That recognition crossed the boundaries of gender, age, and ethnicity. It was apparent in the appointments he made to positions within the diocesan structure.

In the summer of 1998, as preparation for the Jubilee Year 2000, Lynch began the program, Renew 2000, in the diocese. At the heart of this program is the development of small Christian faith-sharing communities. This program, as well as other programs of spiritual renewal already present in the diocese, was intended to create an active and informed Catholic laity in the diocese. In addition, in the Fall of 1998, Lynch lent his earnest support to the Lay Pastoral Ministry Institute, a program of training for the laity which included studies and formation in the areas of theology, spirituality, and pastoral ministry.

In further preparation for the great Jubilee Year, Lynch focused on the Jubilee concepts of forgiveness, freedom, and release from burden. To do this, he presided at communal celebrations for the sacrament of penance throughout the diocese. He also instituted a "debt-forgiveness" program by which he released parishes in need from the burden of millions of dollars of construction debt, its payment and its longevity.

In establishing the first Capital Campaign of the diocese, Lynch focused on his responsibilities on the people of the diocese. He put in effect a plan to increase the priests' retirement fund; started plans for the building of a Family Life/Spirituality Center for the spiritual growth of the people; established an endowment fund for Catholic Charities with special emphasis on support for senior citizens; and established two endowment funds for youth ministry: one for the youth ministers themselves, and the other for leadership development and scholarships for the youth under their care.

On April 3, 2001, at the diocesan Chrism Mass, Lynch announced the first Diocesan Synod to convene on the Second Sunday of Easter, 2002, and to end with a first-ever diocesan Eucharistic Congress in the Fall of 2003. At this same Mass, Lynch also announced the establishment of a diocesan Pastoral Council. This would ensure further collaboration among the people of the diocese.