Larchmont native named bishop of Allentown
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- May
- 28
A Westchester native has been chosen the next Roman Catholic bishop of Allentown, Penn.
Monsignor John O. Barres, currently chancellor of the Diocese of Wilmington, Del., will be ordained a bishop and installed as Allentown’s fourth boss on July 30.
Barres grew up in Larchmont.
In our digital library, I found this note from Oct. 21, 1989:
“ORDINATION: The Rev. John Barres, son of Oliver and Marjorie Barres, parishioners of St. Augustine’s Church, 18 Cherry Ave., is to be ordained today in Wilmington, Delaware. He is to celebrate his first Mass at St. Augustine’s tomorrow at 12 noon. A reception will follow in the school auditorium.”
That’s St. Augustine’s in Larchmont.
According to Catholic-Hierarchy.org, he was born in Port Chester, probably at the now closed United Hospital.
According to Delaware Online, Barres’ parents were both Protestant ministers who met at Yale Divinity School and became Catholics in 1955. His parents later worked for the famous Bishop Fulton Sheen—who baptized young John.
What a story.
By all accounts, Barres is a cerebral fellow—a theologian with a master’s in business administration—who will be missed in Delaware.
It sounds like Barres, 48, will have to re-energize a diocese that has been dealing with parish closings.
‘’I have no blueprint,’’ he said. ‘’I am opening myself to the Holy Spirit.’’
Photo: AP/Joe Gill
This entry was posted
on Thursday, May 28th, 2009 at 10:40 am by Gary Stern.
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The world of religion, we don't have to tell you, is vast. The purpose of this blog is for Stern to note, flag and comment on some of the more interesting religious developments on the scene – weighty and quirky, somber and laughable, far away and just down the road. He won't interpret Scripture, take sides in conflicts or judge anyone. But he will take advantage of the journalist's license to observe.
