Francis J. Kane


Francis Joseph Kane is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as an Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Chicago.
Effective Monday, July 1, 2013, he replaced the retiring Monsignor John F. Canary, as the Vicar General of the Archdiocese.

Biography

Early life and education

Born in Chicago, Illinois, Francis Kane attended Our Lady of Peace Elementary School and graduated from Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary in 1961. He then earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Niles College in 1963, and a Bachelor of Sacred Theology from St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in 1969.

Ordination and ministry

Kane was ordained to the priesthood by John Cardinal Cody at St. Mary of the Lake Seminary on Wednesday, May 14, 1969. He then served as associate pastor at St. John Fisher Parish until 1975, and was also named associate director of the Center for Pastoral Ministry in 1973. He was associate pastor at from 1975 to 1979, and director of the and of the . He was director of Catholic Relief Services from 1982 to 1987.
From 1993 to his appointment as auxiliary bishop in 2003, Kane served as pastor of in Wilmette. He also became dean of Deanery A in 1999, serving until 2003.

Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago

On Friday, January 24, 2003, Kane was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago and Titular Bishop of Sault Sainte Marie by Pope John Paul II. He received his episcopal consecration on Wednesday, March 19, 2003, from Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I., with Bishops Raymond Goedert and Ricardo Watty Urquidi, M.Sp.S., serving as co-consecrators, at Holy Name Cathedral.
As an auxiliary bishop, Kane also served as Episcopal Vicar for Vicariate II and the Cardinal's liaison for the and for the . He was also a member of Aid for Women and the Parish Evaluation Project, and served on the Board of Directors of St. Joseph College Seminary.
Within the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, he was a member of the and the . He is a member of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre and Knights of Columbus.
On July 3, 2018, Pope Francis accepted his resignation, after he'd reached the retirement age of 75.