Pope Francis has selected Bishop Timothy Senior as the next bishop of the Diocese of Harrisburg, succeeding the retiring Bishop Ronald Gainer.

“Please join me in continuing to pray for Bishop Senior as he prepares to be installed as the bishop of the Harrisburg Diocese on Wednesday, June 21st!” Philadelphia Archbishop Nelson Perez posted on Twitter. 

Senior will be moving from his post as the Regional Bishop of Montgomery County and Philadelphia-South. He also served as the Chancellor of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary.

He will be officially installed as the 12th bishop of the Diocese of Harrisburg, where Gainer has served as bishop for nine years. Gainer will continue in the capacity of bishop emeritus, the diocese said in a press release.  

“I am profoundly grateful to Pope Francis for his confidence and trust in appointing me to serve the faithful of the Diocese of Harrisburg as their next bishop," Senior said in the release. "Trusting in God’s will and the gifts of the Holy Spirit, I pray that I may be a faithful, holy, and worthy shepherd for the people of central Pennsylvania in service of Jesus Christ and for the good of His Church.”

Senior will be installed during a special Mass of Installation at 2 p.m. June 21 at the Cathedral of Saint Patrick in Harrisburg. With a wealth of experience, Senior previously held significant positions such as Rector of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Moderator of the Curia of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, and Vicar for Clergy. 

He graduated from Lansdale Catholic High School in Pennsylvania and was ordained as a priest in 1985. Additionally, Bishop Senior holds a Master of Divinity and Master of Arts in Theology from Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, as well as Masters degrees in Social Work and Business Administration, according to the diocese’s release. 

“This is a joyous day for our clergy, staff, the people of the Diocese and for me personally," Gainer said in the statement. "I have known Bishop Senior for well over 25 years and have full confidence that he will be a caring, faithful shepherd who will speak the truth with love and conviction, leading the Diocese of Harrisburg with the truths of the Church as a witness of Jesus Christ. I am grateful to our Holy Father in sending the Diocese of Harrisburg a man devoted to answering the call of the Gospel, who also has numerous skills in business, education, and human service administration. The Diocese of Harrisburg will be well cared for in the hands of Bishop Senior.”