The Archdiocese of Detroit recently welcomed Archbishop Paul Russell, the archdiocese’s 31st auxiliary bishop.

“Join us in praying for and welcoming Archbishop Paul F. Russell as the 31st Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Detroit!” the archdiocese posted on Facebook recently. As part of the celebration, Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron celebrated the Inauguration Mass.

Russell will work with Bishop Gerard Battersby to serve the South Region of the archdiocese. 

Russell’s episcopal motto is “Cor ad cor loquitur” (Heart speaks to heart), which describes the personal relationship between God and the human person that is achieved through prayer; the archdiocese said. 

In a follow-up social media post, the archdiocese said hundreds gathered at the Blessed Sacrament Cathedral for the Liturgy of Welcome for Russell.

Russell was born in Massachusetts, the Boston Pilot reported. He first felt the call to the priesthood when he was in first grade. He was inspired by his mother, who taught him to love God, and by his great-uncle, Father Robert Emmet Fitzpatrick, who served as a priest in the Diocese of Gaylord. 

Russell studied at St. John's Seminary and was ordained a priest in 1987, the Pilot said. He served at parishes in Massachusetts before becoming one of Cardinal Law's priest secretaries. He later studied Canon Law in Rome, and eventually he was appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Turkey and Turkmenistan. 

Russell runs an Instagram page on which he shares photos of churches and artwork with his more than 1,500 followers.