New Archbishop of Portland

Bishop Alexander Sample has been appointed as the new Archbishop of Portland! We have written about him on this blog here and here.

This is great news for anyone who is interested in a return to reverent and correct liturgical music, and reverent liturgy in general. Bishop Sample is a supporter of the extraordinary form of the Mass, and celebrates it himself.

Here’s one report on Bishop Sample’s appointment:

(Vatican Radio) On Tuesday Pope Benedict XVI appointed 52-year-old bishop Alexander K. Sample, Metropolitan Archbishop of Portland Oregon, U.S.A.

He takes over the pastoral leadership of the Archdiocese of nearly 400,000 Catholics from Archbishop John G. Vlazny who has retired.

Bishop Sample was ordained a priest of the diocese on June 1, 1990, at St. Peter Cathedral in Marquette. He served in several parish assignments before moving to Rome, Italy, from 1994-96 to earn a degree in Canon Law. Upon returning to the diocese he held a number of duties in the chancery office. He served as a member of the Marriage Tribunal, as chancellor, as a member of the College of Consultors, as director of the Department of Ministry Personnel Services, as director of the Bishop Baraga Association, diocesan chaplain to the Knights of Columbus, and was involved in many major efforts of the diocese. On January 25, 2006, by the mandate of Pope Benedict XVI, he was ordained bishop of Marquette.

Jeffrey Tucker at the Chant Café wrote:

…Just to be clear, Bishop Sample is highly sophisticated on the topic of liturgical music. He regularly reads the Chant Cafe. He knows and understands this topic as well as anyone alive.

Do I need to spell out the significance of this?

Remember this day, people. Remember this day.

Yes, remember. And thank God!