The Holy Father has accepted the request of Cleveland Auxiliary Bishop Roger Gries to resign from his official duties as Auxiliary Bishop in the Diocese of Cleveland.
Bishop Gries, 76, had submitted the request as required by the Church at age 75.
Bishop Gries official resignation date is (Today) November 1, 2013. However, he plans to continue his activities as a bishop into the future and to support Bishop Richard Lennon and the Diocese by administering the Sacrament of Confirmation, celebrating Mass for school students, and other Liturgical activities.
For the past 50 years Bishop Roger, as he is known by many, has served the Church as a priest, bishop, and member of the Benedictine Order.
Regarding today's announcement, Bishop Gries commented, "A bishop never retires, but simply resigns from official duties. I plan to continue much of what I have being doing as a bishop for the past 13 years."
Born in Maple Heights, Bishop Roger attended St. Wenceslaus grade school and Benedictine High. He was voted "Mr. Benedictine" by the student body in 1954.
Following high school, he entered St. John's University in Minnesota where he graduated in 1959. The Bishop renewed his vows for life with the Benedictine Order in 1960; he was ordained to the priesthood in May of 1963.
After serving as Abbot of the St. Andrew Monastery in Cleveland, Abbot Roger was named Auxiliary Bishop of Cleveland in April of 2001. He has served many ministries in the Diocese as a Bishop, concentrating on the urban areas of Cleveland in his early years and expanding his duties to include all areas of the diocese during the past decade.