Bishop-elect Douglas John Lucia, 56, of the Diocese of Ogdensburg, has been named by Pope Francis to be bishop of Syracuse diocese, succeeding Bishop Robert J. Cunningham. Lucia will be ordained and installed as Syracuse diocese bishop at a date to be determined at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.
Bishop Cunningham has served the Syracuse diocese since May 2009. He submitted his resignation to the Holy Father upon his 75th birthday, on June 18, 2018, as required by canon law. Cunninghamton presided over the diocese at a time when many parishes closed or merged due to declining membership and a shortage of priests. He will serve as Apostolic Administrator until Bishop-elect Lucia’s ordination.
As bishop of Syracuse, Lucia will be the shepherd of 220,000 Catholics in seven counties, including Broome, Chenango and Cortland counties in the Southern Tier. The diocese covers 5,479 square miles.
The diocese released this biography of Lucia:
Bishop-elect Lucia was born on March 17, 1963, the son of Leward and Betty (Pepin) Lucia in Plattsburgh. He and his twin brother, sister and younger brother grew up in Altona. He received a Bachelor of Arts from Wadhams Hall Seminary College in May 1985 and a Masters in Divinity from Christ the King Seminary in May 1989. He was ordained to the Ministerial Priesthood at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Ogdensburg on May 20, 1989.
In his first assignment, Lucia served as parochial vicar at St. Patrick’s in Watertown. In 1990, he was sent to the Diocese of Alexandria-Cornwall, Ontario, where he was parochial vicar at St. Columban’s in Cornwall. After returning to Ogdensburg, Lucia became parochial vicar at St. John the Baptist in Plattsburgh and later St. Mary’s Cathedral in Ogdensburg.
In 2000, Lucia was appointed secretary to the bishop and later served as diocesan director of vocations, chancellor and episcopal vicar for Diocesan Services.
In June 2006, Lucia was appointed pastor of St. John the Evangelist in Morristown and St. Peter’s in Hammond. He was also appointed diocesan director of the Office of Worship.
In August 2008, Lucia was appointed pastor of St. Mary’s in Canton where he served until June 2017. Then, he was appointed pastor of St. Mary’s in Waddington and St. John the Baptist in Madrid.
On Tuesday, June 4, Pope Francis appointed Lucia to be the 11th bishop of the Diocese of Syracuse.
