Formal installation of Archbishop Michael McGovern was carried live on Spirit Catholic Radio Wednesday, May 7, 2025.
Fr. Robert Matya of the Diocese of Lincoln and Spirit Catholic Radio’s Executive Director, Jim Carroll, provided real-time in-person detail of the event. You can listen to a broadcast of the installation on your favorite podcast platform or via the “Special Programming” links below:
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Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Archbishop George J. Lucas, 75, from the pastoral governance of the Archdiocese of Omaha, and appointed Bishop Michael G. McGovern of Belleville, as his successor and the sixth Archbishop of Omaha. Members of the Spirit Catholic Radio team were invited to the press conference announcing this appointment and streamed it live across the network. Scroll down to see photos of the event.
Click HERE to listen to the one-on-one interview with Archbishop-designate Michael McGovern and Damian Montez of Spirit Mornings.
Click HERE to hear a portion of the press conference.
Most Reverend Michael McGovern was born on July 1, 1964 in Evergreen Park, Illinois. He grew up in Chicago.
He attended Loyola University in Chicago (1982-86). He then studied at the Mundelein Seminary in the Archdiocese of Chicago.
On May 21, 1994, Cardinal Joseph Bernardin ordained Father Michael McGovern to the priesthood in Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago. As an Associate Pastor, he served at Queen of the Universe Parish, St. Mary in Lake Forest and St. Juliana in Chicago. As a pastor, he served at St. Mary in Lake Forest, St. Raphael the Archangel Parish in Old Mill Creek, Illinois (appointed by Cardinal Cupich).
On July 22, 2020, Cardinal Cupich ordained and installed Bishop McGovern as the Ninth Bishop of the Diocese of Belleville (Illinois) in the Cathedral of St. Peter.
In a statement, Archbishop-designate McGovern said he accepts the appointment “with gratitude and humility.” — “I am very grateful to the clergy and people of southern Illinois for their support and the many ways they have shared their faith with me over the past five years,” McGovern said. “I look forward to meeting the clergy and faithful in the Archdiocese of Omaha. The Church in Omaha has a great reputation for supporting Catholic education, including many parochial schools, high schools, and two Catholic universities. I look forward to learning more about the many ministries carried out and how I can support them.”
In a statement, Archbishop Lucas expressed gratitude for his time leading the archdiocese:
“It has been my privilege to serve as the Archbishop of Omaha for almost sixteen years,” Archbishop Lucas said. “It gives me great joy to know that such a good shepherd has been sent to guide us on our pilgrim way in the coming years. Please join me in praying for Archbishop-designate McGovern as he prepares to leave the people in the Diocese of Belleville whom he has served with such dedication and to make his home here in the Archdiocese of Omaha.”
The Archdiocese of Omaha is comprised of 14,051 square miles in the State of Nebraska and has a total population of 1,035,885, of which 241,011, are Catholic.
