Walter Allison Hurley (born May 30, 1937) is a Canadian-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church.


Walter Allison Hurley
Bishop Emeritus of Grand Rapids
SeeDiocese of Grand Rapids
AppointedJune 21, 2005
InstalledAugust 4, 2005
RetiredApril 18, 2013
PredecessorKevin Michael Britt
SuccessorDavid John Walkowiak
Orders
OrdinationJune 5, 1965
by John Francis Dearden
ConsecrationAugust 12, 2003
by Adam Maida, Edmund Szoka, and Walter Joseph Schoenherr
Personal details
Born (1937-05-30) 30 May 1937 (age 86)
NationalityCanadian
DenominationRoman Catholic
Previous post(s)Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit
2003 - 2005
Apostolic Administrator of Gaylord (2020)
EducationSt. John's Provincial Seminary
Catholic University of America
Motto"Serve with gladness"
(Psalm 100:2)
Styles of
Walter Allison Hurley
Reference style
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleBishop

Hurley served as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Detroit in Michigan from 2003 to 2005 and as bishop of the Diocese of Grand Rapids in Michigan from 2005 to 2018. Hurley served as apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Gaylord and the Diocese of Saginaw, both in Michigan.

Biography edit

Early life and education edit

Walter Hurley was born on May 30, 1937, in Fredericton, New Brunswick, to Charles and Anne (née Ball) Hurley.[1] One of six children, he has four sisters, Elizabeth, Eileen, Charlene, and Annette; and one brother, Gerald. He attended St. Dunstan Grade School in Fredericton, and St. Anne High School in Church Point, Nova Scotia.

In 1955, Hurley immigrated to the United States, settling in Detroit.[1] He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit in 1961, and a Master of Divinity degree from St. John's Provincial Seminary in Plymouth, Michigan, in 1965.[1]

Priesthood edit

Hurley was ordained to the priesthood of the Archdiocese of Detroit by then Archbishop John Dearden on June 5, 1965,[2] serving the following parish appointments in the archdiocese:

Cardinal Edmund Szoka then sent Hurley to further his studies at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., where he obtained a Licentiate of Canon Law in 1984.[1] Upon returning to Detroit, Hurley served in three more appointments:

In 1994, Pope John Paul II named Hurley an honorary prelate, giving him the title of monsignor. That year, he also became a member of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.[1]

Hurley served as Cardinal Adam Maida's delegate for clergy misconduct from 1988 to 1995 and again from 2002 to 2005. Hurley also served as the cardinal's delegate and project manager for the construction of the Saint John Paul II National Shrine in Washington, D.C., from 1995 to 2001.[1]

Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit edit

On July 7, 2003, Pope John Paul II appointed Hurley as the 22nd auxiliary bishop of Detroit and titular bishop of Chunavia.[2] Cardinal Maida performed his episcopal consecration on August 12, 2003, with Cardinal Szoka and Bishop Walter Schoenherr serving as co-consecrators.[2] At that time, Hurley selected "Serve With Gladness" (from Psalm 100:2) as his episcopal motto.[3] As an auxiliary bishop, he was responsible for the Northwest Region of the archdiocese, which encompasses Oakland and Lapeer Counties.[1]

Bishop of Grand Rapids edit

On June 21, 2005, Pope Benedict XVI named Hurley as the 11th bishop of Grand Rapids. He was installed on August 4, 2005.[2]

Resignation edit

As required, Hurley submitted his resignation to Pope Benedict XVI on his 75th birthday, May 30, 2012. However, Pope Francis only accepted the resignation on April 18, 2013, when he appointed Reverend David Walkowiak as the new bishop of Grand Rapids. During the period between his resignation and Walkowiak's installation, Hurley served as apostolic administrator of the diocese

Apostolic administrator edit

On October 17, 2018, following the sudden death of Bishop Joseph Cistone on October 16, Pope Francis named Hurley as the apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Saginaw. Hurley served in Saginaw until July 2019.[4] On June 23, 2020, Pope Francis chose Hurley as the apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Gaylord. Hurley held this position until the consecration of Reverend Jeffrey Walsh as bishop on March 4, 2022.[4]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Bishop Walter A. Hurley Biography". Roman Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d "Bishop Walter Allison Hurley". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.
  3. ^ "Bishop Walter A. Hurley Coat of Arms". Roman Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids.
  4. ^ a b "Pope names Bishop Hurley temporary administrator of Diocese of Gaylord". Detroit Catholic.

External links edit

Episcopal succession edit

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Bishop of Grand Rapids
2005–2013
Succeeded by
Preceded by
-
Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit
2003–2005
Succeeded by
-