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New bishop has plans

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Getting to know the people of the Green Bay Diocese and promoting spirituality and evangelization are among the plans of Bp. David Zubik after he is installed on Dec. 12 as 11th Bishop of the Green Bay Diocese.

Bp. Zubik, who has served as an auxiliary bishop in Pittsburgh since 1997, was named by Pope John Paul on Oct. 10 to lead the Green Bay Diocese. He was in Green Bay that day to meet with diocesan employees, priests and the press. He also visited Holy Family School and Paul's Pantry and St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, all in Green Bay.

Biography Who: Bp. David Zubik Born: Sept. 4, 1949, in Sewickley, Pa., to Stanley and Susan (Raskosky) Zubik. Schooling: St. Stanislaus Elementary School and St. Veronica High School, both in Ambridge, Pa.; St. Paul Seminary and Duquesne University, Pittsburgh; St. Mary Seminary and University in Baltimore. Ordained: May 3, 1975, in Pittsburgh to priesthood; April 6, 1997, in Pittsburgh as a bishop. Assignments: Parochial vicar at Sacred Heart Parish, Shadyside; vice principal at Quigley Catholic High School, Baden; administrative secretary to the bishop; director of clergy personnel; chancellor; vicar general and general secretary of the Pittsburgh Diocese.

Bp. Zubik succeeds Bp. Robert Banks, who has served nearly 13 years in Green Bay. Bp. Banks had submitted his resignation last Feb. 26 when he turned 75, the mandatory retirement age for bishops. The diocesan consultors, meeting the afternoon of Oct. 10, elected Bp. Banks as diocesan administrator until Bp. Zubik's installation.

Bp. Zubik said that, in his first 6-12 months in Green Bay, he plans to be "all over the place, visiting lots of people, getting to know lots of people. One of the gifts I have is being a really good listener and I really want to be able to listen to what people have to say, what they have to tell me, so I can be a good shepherd to the people here."

Although he has worked mainly in diocesan administration since his ordination, Bp. Zubik said he could not do those things "unless I had the freedom on weekends to go to parishes. And I believe that going to parishes on weekends to help out has helped me to become a better administrator.... You need to know that the heart of my life is Christ the Good Shepherd. I approach things in a very pastoral way."

He identified four particular areas he would pursue in the diocese:

• Spirituality, prayer and the importance of the Eucharist.

• Evangelization, particularly in teaching what we believe to people of all ages.

• Respecting all people - priests and laity - involved in church ministries.

• Protecting all people in the church, including, but not only children.

He promised that the U.S. bishops' charters and norms on sexual abuse would be enforced.

He said he looks forward to working with Bp. Robert Morneau, whom he has long admired, and with Bp. Banks and retired Bp. Aloysius Wycislo.

Pittsburgh Bp. Donald Wuerl called Bp. Zubik's appointment "a cause of joy for all of us who recognize in him wonderful priestly qualities, pastoral skills and a spirituality focused on the good shepherd. He has always been a loyal co-worker and an effective administrator in carrying out many arduous responsibilities. At the same time he has been a good friend and one whose collaboration I will miss as he moves on to his new duties."

(Catholic News Service contributed to this story)