Auxiliary Bishop David Zubik, administrator in the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, has been named to head the Diocese of Green Bay, Wis.

	H. Marc Larson/Green Bay News-Chronicle via the Associated Press
	David Zubik, an auxiliary bishop from Pittsburgh, speaks yesterday after he was introduced as the new bishop of the Green Bay diocese.

After 15 years as an understudy to Bishop Donald Wuerl, Zubik is viewed as experienced in applying a zero-tolerance policy on sexual abuse of minors by clergy. Despite his routine administrative duties, Zubik is most often described as a man of prayer and a compelling preacher.

Zubik spent yesterday touring the Green Bay diocese, where he will be installed Dec. 12.

"Since [Wuerl's] installation as bishop of Pittsburgh nearly 16 years ago, he has trusted me much and taught me even more," Zubik said.

"My thanks go to the faithful of Pittsburgh. It is a wonderful church -- very much alive in Christ, very loyal to the Holy Father. While I will miss this church that has nurtured and nourished my faith throughout the 54 years of my life, the 28 years of my priesthood and the six years of my episcopacy, I now turn my heart to the faithful of Green Bay, whom I now embrace with the love of Jesus himself."

Wuerl called Zubik's appointment "a cause of joy for all who recognize in him wonderful priestly qualities, pastoral skills and a spirituality focused on the Good Shepherd."

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Zubik "has always been a loyal co-worker, and an effective administrator in carrying out many arduous responsibilities. At the same time he has been a good friend and one whose collaboration I will miss," Wuerl said.

Zubik's departure may bring major changes in the top echelon of Wuerl's advisers. Sister Margaret Hannan, Pittsburgh's chancellor and associate general secretary since 1989, resigned last month and is on sabbatical. Diocesan spokesman the Rev. Ron Lengwin said that Hannan simply felt it was time to move to another ministry.

"It's obvious that personnel need to be replaced. How that will happen is a decision that the bishop will make after he consults with his staff," Lengwin said.

Zubik had long been expected to receive his own diocese. Recent speculation had centered on Greensburg, where Bishop Anthony Bosco is past mandatory retirement. But others thought that Zubik might be sent to a diocese more badly scarred by the Catholic sexual abuse scandals.

In Green Bay he will replace Bishop Robert Banks, who reached retirement age of 75 in February. Banks' actions as Green Bay's bishop since 1990 were not especially controversial, but he attained notoriety because of his prior actions as auxiliary bishop of Boston under the now-disgraced Cardinal Bernard Law.

A Massachusetts grand jury report in July excoriated Banks for failing to investigate accusations against priests and hindering criminal investigations.

Zubik was born in Ambridge, where his parents, Stanley and Susan, still live. Ordained in 1973, he served seven years as parochial vicar at Sacred Heart parish in Shadyside.

From 1980 until 1987, he juggled part-time assignments in Baden as vice principal of Quigley Catholic High School, chaplain to the Sisters of St. Joseph Motherhouse and to Mount Gallitzin Academy, while earning his master's degree in education administration at Duquesne University.

He lived at the Sisters of St. Joseph Motherhouse then, said Sister Mary Parks.

"He felt like a member of our community. He was open and accessible to us," she said.

Now, as communications director of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, Parks has worked with Zubik through the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference, the public affairs group representing 10 Pennsylvania dioceses in Harrisburg. Zubik is executive secretary of the conference.

"He will be a magnificent bishop. He's just a tremendously good guy. Plus he's young and he's got energy," Parks said.

Zubik became secretary to then Pittsburgh Bishop Anthony Bevilacqua in 1987 and continued that role when Wuerl became bishop in 1988. By the time he was named auxiliary bishop in 1997, he was already Wuerl's right-hand man.

Zubik was involved in the 1992-1994 diocesan reorganization -- experience that may serve him well in Green Bay, which has begun to close and merge parishes.