Priest named acting administrator
By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer
The pastor of St. John Vianney parish in Kailua yesterday was elected acting administrator of the Catholic Diocese of Honolulu until a replacement can be named for Bishop Francis DiLorenzo.
Father Thomas Gross, 57, was selected by the 10 priests who make up the College of the Consultors of the diocese. Under the church's canon law, the group is responsible for selecting a temporary administrator in the absence of a bishop.
A new bishop, the fifth since the diocese was established in 1941, will be named by Pope John Paul II. This is the first time the
Honolulu diocese, which encompasses the state, will be administered by a priest rather than a bishop.
DiLorenzo served as diocesan bishop here since 1994 and on Monday was installed as the bishop of Richmond, Va.
Gross was one of two vicar generals to serve under DiLorenzo and will oversee the state's nearly 233,000 Catholics and 66 parishes. But as the administrator, he will be under limitations.
Gross cannot assign pastors to parishes or allow priests to join or leave the diocese. Because he is not a bishop, he also cannot ordain priests.
Still, the native of Minnesota said he is looking forward to the challenge.
"It's an honor and I'll try to live up to the task," Gross said. "It's new to me to be thinking about it, although I've been in the administration of the diocese so I have familiarity with it. But there are many things that I have to adjust to and one of those is adjusting how the ministry of my parish is going to work out."
Gross was ordained in 1975 and has served in Hawai'i since 1985. He said he hopes to continue as pastor at St. John Vianney.
Vicar general of Honolulu Father Joseph Grimaldi applauded the selection of Gross.
"The election went very smoothly and we're very, very happy to have Father Tom Gross as the administrator of the diocese," Grimaldi said. "I've known Tom for many years and he's a very concerned person. He's someone who's concerned about his brother priests."
Patrick Downes, spokesman for the Honolulu diocese, said it could take anywhere from a few weeks to months for a new bishop to be named.
Reach Curtis Lum at 525-8025 or culum@honoluluadvertiser.com.
