Woburn Native Installed as Vermont's New Bishop

A Woburn native - and former clergy member in Milton, Boston, Newton and Westwood - was installed as Vermont’s new bishop on Thursday, Jan. 29.

Pope Francis appointed the Most Reverend Christopher Coyne to Vermont’s diocese as the state’s new bishop on Dec. 22., 2014. But while Coyne has been acting in that role since his appointment, he wasn’t officially installed into the Vermont church until his installation mass in January.

Coyne, 56, is the 10th bishop of Vermont’s Roman Catholic Diocese.

Born to Rita and William Coyne of Woburn in 1958, Coyne is a Woburn High School graduate. Two years after his graduation from the University of Lowell, Coyne enrolled in St. John’s Seminary in Brighton in 1981.

He was ordained five years later and served as the Parochial Vicar at St. Mary of the Hills Parish in Milton from 1986 to 1989. Coyne later returned to the Archdiocese of Boston, where he joined the staff of his alma mater, St. John’s Seminary, as a professor from 1994 to 2006.

Coyne was later appointed Pastor of Our Lady of Help of Christians in Newton in 2005 and served as Pastor of St. Margaret Mary Parish in Westwood from 2006-2011.

Before he was appointed to Vermont’s diocese, Coyne served as the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.

But Coyne isn’t only Vermont’s new bishop, he is also the Roman Catholic Church’s first blogging priest to be given the role. Coyne runs a blog called “Thoughts of a Catholic Bishop” about his work in the clergy, hosts a religion-themed podcast, is active on social media and frequently answers questions via the CatholicTV Network, which posts videos on YouTube.

And it is perhaps his use of the Internet and social networks that influences his future plans for the church.

Big on his agenda is an effort to get people back in the pews. Approximately 120,000 Vermont residents are Catholic, according to Vermont Public Radio, but many do not attend church regularly.

Coyne said to change this, the church needs to take a more offensive role and actively engage the community instead of only the worshipers who come to church, according to the Burlington Free Press.

Coyne also plans to focus on the joy of church through uplifting services and fostering a welcoming atmosphere.

Also on Coyne’s agenda is making amends after a string of child abuse cases and settlements has left the diocese hurting both financially and in reputation, Vermont Public Radio reports.

Despite his plans for the future, Coyne will take his time making changes to the church.

“As a wise pastor once said to me, don’t change anything but your socks for the first year,” Coynes said, according to Vermont Public Radio. “Build on what’s good there, and if there’s something that needs to be corrected, take your time and use a lot of wisdom.”

Image via Bishop Coyne on Facebook