• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Elizabeth Scalia
          • Michael R. Heinlein
          • Effie Caldarola
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Mark Viviano
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
        • CR Radio
        • Protagonistas de Fe
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
Bishop Denis J. Madden

Bishop Madden: Retired now … sort of

March 31, 2017
By Christopher Gunty
Filed Under: Bishops, Local News, News

As all bishops in the Roman Catholic Church are required, Bishop Denis J. Madden submitted his resignation to the pope when he turned 75 March 8, 2015.
A few months later, the Vatican responded that his resignation had been accepted “nunc pro tunc,” a Latin phrase meaning “now for then” – an indication that his resignation was accepted conditionally while the Archdiocese of Baltimore awaited the appointment of new auxiliary bishops.
It would be almost 20 months before Pope Francis appointed new bishops for the archdiocese and Bishop Madden could formally “retire” Dec. 5, 2016. Even so, the ever-smiling Bishop Madden is not really retired.
Archbishop William E. Lori asked him to remain a vicar general of the archdiocese and to serve as urban vicar, acting as the archbishop’s representative for parishes in Baltimore City.
“Each of the vicars will be working closely with the parishes on the pastorate plan,” Bishop Madden said.
He will continue to lead prayer walks in the city to help communities pray at places where violence has occurred.
The bishop keeps his office on the northwest corner of the seventh floor of the Catholic Center, looking out over the city he has served so well.
He will also continue to celebrate the sacrament of confirmation in many parishes. Last fall, without other auxiliary bishops, Bishop Madden conducted most of the confirmations in the archdiocese. This year, with two additional auxiliaries, the load will be spread out among them.
Bishop Madden left behind one job: he stepped down as interim rector of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary when Father James Boric began ministry as the Baltimore Basilica’s new rector.
“It was a privilege to be at the basilica, but I felt – and the archbishop did too – that the basilica needed someone fully devoted to that,” he said.
He added that he had the feeling that he was stretched thin as Neumann Vicar, covering the city and Baltimore and Harford counties, in addition to serving the basilica parish.
“You need to spend time with each one of those things,” he said. “At least now I have a fighting chance.”
Karen Mesaris, Bishop Madden’s administrative assistant, said he is as busy as ever, adding, “People believe he has more free time, so they keep asking him to do more things.”
She noted that in his role as co-chairman of the U.S. Lutheran-Catholic Dialogue, he is receiving many requests to speak at events commemorating the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, precipitated by the distribution of the “95 Theses” by Martin Luther in October 1517.
He also remains involved on the U.S. bishops’ committee on interreligious affairs and works with the Vatican on the Anglican-Catholic Dialogue.

Also see:

In his own words: A conversation with Bishop Denis J. Madden

Print Print

Primary Sidebar

Christopher Gunty

Click here to view all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

| MOST POPULAR |

  • Prodigal son to priest

  • Deacon Alex Mwebaze is happy to call Maryland home

  • Deacon O’Donnell’s ‘normal’ faith life led to priestly vocation

  • Thank you to a one-of-a-kind teacher

  • Need for more Catholic Army chaplains to serve military flock as great as ever, say two priests

| Latest Local News |

ordination 2025 baltimore

Excitement and pride abound at ordination of five priests for Archdiocese of Baltimore

Pilgrims walk in the footsteps of America’s first saint

Juneteenth

Juneteenth seen as day to reflect on freedom, ending racism and Black Catholics’ contributions

Deacon O’Donnell’s ‘normal’ faith life led to priestly vocation

St. Joseph Church in Fullerton

Fullerton church begins renovations

| Latest World News |

corpus christi

Pope leads Corpus Christi procession through streets of Rome

suicide bombing Damascus church

‘Slaughter of innocents’ in suicide bombing at Syrian church called ‘unspeakable evil’

Bomb Iran

Trump orders US attack on Iran nuclear sites, as Pope Leo, bishops plead for peace

Visiting Upstate New York’s National Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs

Catholic Relief Services worker in Ipwizi, Tanzania

Washington Roundup: Trump weighs options in Israel-Iran conflict, CLINIC condemns expanded ICE raids

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Pope leads Corpus Christi procession through streets of Rome
  • Excitement and pride abound at ordination of five priests for Archdiocese of Baltimore
  • ‘Slaughter of innocents’ in suicide bombing at Syrian church called ‘unspeakable evil’
  • Pilgrims walk in the footsteps of America’s first saint
  • Trump orders US attack on Iran nuclear sites, as Pope Leo, bishops plead for peace
  • We are part of the miracle
  • Visiting Upstate New York’s National Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs
  • Washington Roundup: Trump weighs options in Israel-Iran conflict, CLINIC condemns expanded ICE raids
  • Malta in the Jubilee Year: A quieter pilgrimage of hope

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2025 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED