June 26, 2023 
On June 26, the Vatican announced that at the request of Archbishop Leonard P. Blair, the Holy Father Pope Francis has appointed a Coadjutor Archbishop for the Archdiocese of Hartford. The Most Reverend Christopher J. Coyne, until now the Bishop of Burlington, Vermont, has been appointed and will succeed Archbishop Blair as Archbishop of Hartford when in 2024 the latter submits his resignation at the age of 75 in keeping with church law. Coadjutor Archbishop Coyne has served as Bishop of Burlington since January 2015. The Archbishop of Hartford is responsible for the spiritual shepherding of the half-million Catholics in Hartford, New Haven, and Litchfield counties; Archbishop Blair has served in this role since December 2013.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops defines a coadjutor as “a bishop appointed to a Catholic diocese or archdiocese to assist the diocesan bishop. Unlike an auxiliary bishop, the coadjutor (arch)bishop has the right of succession, meaning that he automatically becomes the new bishop when the diocesan bishop retires, resigns, or dies.”
Coadjutor Archbishop Coyne will take up residence in the Archdiocese with a Mass of Welcome to be celebrated at the Cathedral of Saint Joseph, Mother Church of the Archdiocese of Hartford, on Monday, October 9, 2023, at 2 p.m.
Curriculum Vitae: Archbishop Christopher Coyne
Personal
Bishop Coyne is an uncle to 11 nieces and nephews. Through the gift of his extended family, he’s additionally blessed with the love and goodness of many aunts, uncles, and cousins.
A product of public education in his hometown, Bishop Coyne graduated from Woburn High School in 1976 while working through both high school and college as a dishwasher, sporting goods salesman, lifeguard, and musician. After college, he worked full-time as a bartender for two years before entering the seminary.
Bishop Coyne is a lifelong Patriots, Celtics, and Bruins fan, a (Maine) beach bum, and an avid skier and golfer.
Ministry as Bishop
- Titular bishop of Mopta and auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis (January 2011-December 2014)
- Apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis (September 2011 – December 2012)
- Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis (March 2011 – December 2014)
- Bishop for the southern region of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis (October 2014 – December 2014)
National Offices (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops)
- Chairman of USCCB Communications (elected November 2014; term 2015-18)
- Member of USCCB Evangelization and Catechesis Committee (2012-2017)
- Member of USCCB Committee on Divine Worship (2017- )
Ministry as Priest
- Ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Boston (June 1986)
- Parochial vicar, St. Mary of the Hills, Milton, Massachusetts (1986-1989)
- Professor of Sacred Liturgy and Homiletics, St. John’s Seminary, Brighton (1994-2003); adjunct faculty (2003-2006)
- Director of the Office of Worship, Archdiocese of Boston (2000-2002)
- Secretary for communications/principal spokesman, Archdiocese of Boston (2002-2005)
- Pastor, Our Lady Help of Christians, Newton, Massachusetts (2005)
- Pastor, St. Margaret Mary Parish, Westwood, Massachusetts (2006-2011)
Education
- Attended Woburn public schools; graduated from Woburn High School, in 1976
- Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from the University of Lowell (1980)
- Master of Divinity, St. John’s Seminary, Boston (1986)
- Licentiate (1992) and Doctorate (1994) in Sacred Liturgy; Pontifical Athenaeum of Sant’Anselmo, Rome
Awards
- Nominated for a regional Emmy award (2002) for the 13-part television series, “Sacred Space” (aired on CatholicTV)
- Winner of both a judged Telly and People’s Telly Award for the internet series “Everything You Wanted to Know About Catholic Liturgy” (2014)
(source: Diocese of Burlington, VT)
