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The Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany has announced the appointment of Bishop Mark O’Connell as its new bishop. Pope Leo XIV named Bishop O’Connell, who currently serves as an auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of Boston, as the 11th bishop of Albany on Monday (October 20). The announcement follows the recent resignation of Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger, who stepped down at the age of 77. Bishop O’Connell will be officially introduced to the Albany Diocese at the Pastoral Center on Monday afternoon.
The Diocese is currently dealing with the aftermath of a significant legal settlement. Just days ago, the Diocese agreed to an $8 million settlement in a child sexual abuse lawsuit. In a statement, the Diocese acknowledged the abuse and expressed regret, emphasizing the importance of allowing survivors to share their stories on their terms.
Bishop O’Connell’s installation is scheduled for December 5. The Diocese plans to livestream the introduction of the new bishop on their Facebook page at 1 p.m.