Deo gratias! A month ago I was having a bagel with him at Corner Bakery. Little did I know that he would soon be the next bishop of my hometown Fort Worth!

Today His Holiness Pope Francis announced that Monsignor Michael Olson will be the the fourth bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth, Texas.

Msgr Olson is the Rector of Holy Trinity Seminary in Irving where I have had the honor of teaching some of the seminarians in Metaphysics (Philosophy of Being).

He’ll be a perfect bishop for Fort Worth. I couldn’t be happier. I gave him a call this morning and to my surprised he answered. He was very quiet and humble about the new announcement. I love waking up to great news like this!

“I am very humbled and deeply moved by Pope Francis’ appointment of me to serve as the Bishop of Fort Worth,” Bishop-elect Olson said. “In a very special way, I am delighted to return home to the Diocese of Fort Worth to serve the priests, deacons, religious, and all of the faithful as their bishop.”

And Msgr Olson is young at 47 years old. He will become the second youngest bishop to lead a diocese in the United States.

Please offer your Rosary and today’s Mass intention for His Excellency-to-be.