Bishop McDonnell to submit resignation this month

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - Springfield Bishop Timothy McDonnell is expected to submit a letter of resignation to the Vatican this month, but that does not necessarily mean he’s leaving his post anytime soon.

Mark Dupont, spokesperson for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield , says that under Vatican law, bishops must resign on their 75th birthday. In McDonnell’s case, that comes on December 23.

Once the papers are submitted, however, Dupont says it can take the Vatican a few months, or perhaps as long as two years before the resignation is accepted and enacted.

Dupont says that because the Bishop is in generally good health, there isn’t expected to be a rush decision.

McDonnell became Bishop of the Diocese of Springfield on April 1, 2004.