Pope Francis Appoints Chaminade Alum as Archbishop of Boston

Pope Francis has named Bishop Richard G. Henning '82 as the next Archbishop of Boston. 

After graduating from Chaminade High School in 1982, Henning went on to study at St. John's University, where he received a bachelor's degree in history in 1986 and a master's degree in history in 1988. After graduation, he entered the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception. He was ordained in 1992.

Henning served as an associate pastor at St. Peter of Alcantara Roman Catholic Church in Port Washington for five years. He then became a professor of Sacred Scripture at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington, where he served from 2002-2012. In 2012, he became the rector of the seminary and the first director of the Sacred Heart Institute for the Ongoing Formation of Clergy.

Pope Francis appointed Henning as auxiliary bishop of Rockville Centre in 2018. In 2022, Pope Francis appointed Henning as coadjutor bishop of Providence to work alongside Bishop Thomas Tobin. Henning later succeeded as bishop of Providence in 2023 when Tobin retired. He is serving as the ninth bishop of the Diocese of Providence.

Bishop Henning has visited Chaminade many times in his career. He celebrated the student-body Mass for Chaminade Day in January 2019 and the Gold Star Mass in October 2021. He also has assisted with our days of reconciliation. On Monday, August 5, Pope Francis announced the appointment of Henning to the Archbishop of Boston. He will officially be installed on October 31 at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston.

Congratulations from your Chaminade Family, Bishop Henning! May God bless you in your new ministry.