Last Updated on October 3, 2023, 9:34 am
Kevin Birmingham, an auxiliary bishop under Cardinal Blasé Cupich, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, October 2, 2023. He was 51 years old.
Pope Francis appointed Kevin Birmingham as an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Chicago and Titular bishop of Dolia on September 11, 2020. He was also consecrated at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago on November 13, 2020.
Fr. Manuel Dorantes, a pastor at St. Mary of Lake Parish in Chicago, shared the news of his departure from the world. He shared the grievous news in a post on X (Twitter)
“Shocked and saddened by the sudden death of Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago Kevin Birmingham during his sleep last night. Please join me in praying for his soul and for his dear mother during this very difficult moment for her. He was about to turn 52 this week.”
Birmingham served as administrative secretary to Cardinal Cupich from 2014-2020. Cardinal Cupich expressed his grief over the loss of his dear friend and colleague on X and said,
“The Church has lost a wonderful priest and bishop today. I have lost a dear friend and valued colleague. Please keep Bishop Kevin Birmingham in your prayers as the Lord receives our brother priest into his Kingdom.”
He also said about Bishop Kevin Birmingham that he was a ‘devoted and joyful’ priest. He learnt Spanish to serve Latino Catholics, as he felt a calling. He was detail-oriented and dedicated, whose kindness and compassion only grew with time.
He was only 25 when he was ordained a priest by Archbishop Francis George in 1997. He grew up in a big family in Chicago Ridge. He was 7th of 10 children in his family. He graduated from Niles College Seminary and attended the University of St. Mary of the Lake.
Birmingham was appointed director of the Department of Parish Vitality and Mission in July 2020 for a year. He was appointed auxiliary bishop of Chicago and titular bishop of Dolia on September 11, 2020. Birmingham was ordained a bishop on November 13, 2020, by Cupich at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago and became episcopal vicar of Vicariate IV. He was assigned to oversee Vicariate VI last month following the retirement of Bishop Joseph Perry.
Prior to that, he had held positions including the Dean of Deanery III-A from 2013 through 2014 and pastor of Maternity Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Chicago from 2011 until 2014. He was part of the Presbyteral Council from 2006 through 2014 and was pastor of St. Anne Parish in Hazel Crest from 2005 through 2011.
The Archdiocese released Birmingham’s obituary on Monday. His decorated life was celebrated with nothing but praise by all those who had the privilege to know him. The details of his funeral will be provided later.
Source: uptospeedjournalism.com
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