The Most Reverend
Anthony M. Milone, the sixth bishop of the Diocese of Great Falls-Billings,
submitted his resignation to the Vatican for reasons of health. After consultation,
Bishop Milone decided to take this step in the light of pressing diocesan needs
and the requirement that the bishop of eastern Montana be able to travel extensively.
The resignation was accepted by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, effective July
12, 2006.
Bishop Milone was
appointed to the Diocese of Great Falls-Billings on Dec. 14, 1987, and was installed
Feb. 23, 1988. For over 18 years he served as bishop.
He was ordained
a priest in Rome at the Pontifical North American College on Dec. 15, 1957,
for the Archdiocese of Omaha, Neb.
On Nov. 10, 1981,
he was appointed auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Omaha and was ordained
bishop on Jan. 6, 1982, by Pope John Paul II at St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican
City. He served as auxiliary bishop until his transfer to Montana in 1988.
As a bishop he
served as an Administrative Board member of the United States Conference of
Catholic Bishops, a member of the USCCB Ad Hoc Committee on Native American
Catholics, a member of the Board of Governors of the Pontifical North American
College, and as vice-president of the Catholic Mutual Insurance Group.
Father Jay Peterson was elected diocesan administrator by the Diocese of Great Falls-Billings College of Consultors on Monday, July 17. The administrator will serve during the vacancy until Pope Benedict XVI names a new bishop for the diocese. Father Peterson has served as vicar general and moderator of the curia for Bishop Milone.
Published in The Montana Catholic, Vol. 22, No. 7, July 21, 2006.