A D VA NCI NG T HE MI SSION
Sacred Heart Alumnus Appointed Bishop of Gary
Katherine Tibai
A
SACRED
HEART
MAJOR
SEMINARY
ALUMNUS HAS BEEN APPOINTED AS THE
DIOCESE
OF
GARY,
INDIANA’S
NEWEST
BISHOP. MONSIGNOR ROBERT J. MCCLORY
WAS
APPOINTED
THE
DIOCESE’S
FIFTH
BISHOP ON NOVEMBER 26, 2019.
“The people in the Diocese of Gary
are blessed to have a good shepherd and
spiritual father in Bishop-elect McClo-
ry,” said Msgr. Todd Lajiness, rector and
president of Sacred Heart. “He has been
a great blessing to the Archdiocese of De-
troit and certainly to Sacred Heart Ma-
jor Seminary, not only in his service as a
member of the Board of Trustees, but also
as a part-time faculty member and facili-
tator of Good Leaders Good Shepherds
for our seminarians. We offer prayers for
him as he begins this new appointment.”
Upon his ordination and installa-
tion on February 11, 2020, Bishop-
elect McClory will join over 30 other
alumni of Sacred Heart who have
been elevated to the role of bishop.
“I am honored and humbled that the
Holy Father has appointed me as the
bishop of Gary,” Bishop-elect Robert
McClory said in a statement announc-
ing his appointment. “…My heart is full
of gratitude that he has entrusted me to
serve the people of northwest Indiana.
I look forward to getting to know the
needs of our local church and, together,
sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ.”
A native of the city of Detroit, Bishop-
elect McClory was born on October 10,
1963. Before answering the call to the
priesthood, he pursued a career in civil law,
which he practiced from 1991-1994. From
1994-1995, he studied philosophy at Sacred
Heart Major Seminary before completing a
Bachelor of Sacred Theology at the Grego-
rian University in Rome (1998), and a Li-
centiate of Canon Law from the Pontifical
University of St. Thomas in Rome (2000).
Bishop-elect McClory has filled several
roles for the Archdiocese of Detroit since
his ordination on May 22, 1999. He served
at St. Therese of Lisieux Parish, Shelby
Township (2000-2001), St. Isidore Par-
ish, Macomb Township (2001-2002), Our
Lady of the Lakes Parish, Waterford (2002-
2004), St. Blase Parish, Sterling Heights
(2004-2011), and Presentation/Our Lady
of Victory Parish, Detroit (2011-2017).
Most recently, he has served as the rec-
tor of the National Shrine of the Little
Flower Basilica in Royal Oak (2018-pres-
ent). In addition to parish assignments,
he served as the Administrative Secretary
to Cardinal Adam Maida (2002-2003),
Chancellor (2003-2009), and Moderator
of the Curia and Vicar General for the
Archdiocese of Detroit (2009-2018).
…My heart is full of gratitude that he
has entrusted me to serve the people
of northwest Indiana. I look forward
to getting to know the needs of our
local church and, together, sharing
the Good News of Jesus Christ.”
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