Archbishop Charles Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.
Archbishop Charles Chaput issued the following statement Tuesday, June 27.
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Msgr. Alfred A. Schlert’s appointment as the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Allentown is a moment of joy for the Church in Pennsylvania and I’m confident he will carry on the work of his predecessors with compassion, zeal and fidelity.
As a native Pennsylvanian and an alumnus of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Bishop-elect Schlert has an intuitive sense of life in our commonwealth, the challenges facing the Church here, and the importance of the people and institutions of Northeastern Pennsylvania.
His wide ranging pastoral and administrative experience as a parish priest, Catholic educator, and vicar general in the Diocese of Allentown will serve him well in the office of bishop. The Holy Father has given a true gift to all those Bishop-elect Schlert will shepherd.
As he prepares to begin his episcopal ministry, I offer Bishop-elect Schlert heartfelt congratulations on behalf of the priests, deacons, religious and lay faithful of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. I ask that people of good will across the state welcome him as a brother and pray that the Holy Spirit will strengthen him as a successor to the Apostles.
+Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.
Archbishop of Philadelphia
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Congratulations to Bishop elect Schlert he is so loved by The people of this diocese that we feel blessed he’s going to be our next Bishop the Allentown diocese and I’m proud to say that he’s been a good friend and a wonderful, phenomenal priest God bless you Bishop elect Schlert, you are in our prayers holy father made a very wise decision and choosing him for her bishop who knows the ins and outs of this diocese as he has been so involved with the last several bishops as a bishop he’s going to rock