Folks looking to say farewell to Diocese of Allentown Bishop John O. Barres can do so Sunday at a special Mass in Allentown.

Barres, who is leaving Allentown to become bishop of Rockville Centre on Long Island, N.Y., will be the main celebrant at a Mass of Thanksgiving and Farewell at noon Sunday, Jan. 22, at the Cathedral of Saint Catherine of Siena, 1825 W. Turner St.

A reception with light refreshments will follow.

Barres: Allentown ‘taught me so much’

Pope Francis appointed the 56-year-old Barres to his new assignment on Dec. 9. The leader of Allentown-area Catholics for more than seven years, he becomes the first Allentown bishop ever to be transferred.

He goes from leader of a five-county region that administers to about 265,000 Catholics to one that shepherds 1.5 million faithful. He will succeed Bishop William Murphy, 76.

Barres will be installed as Rockville Centre bishop Jan. 31 at the Cathedral of Saint Agnes. 

At Sunday’s Mass in Allentown, a special second collection in honor of Barres will be taken up to benefit the Hispanic Scholarship Endowment Fund of the Catholic Foundation of Eastern Pennsylvania.

Jim Deegan may be reached at jdeegan@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @jim_deegan. Find lehighvalleylive on Facebook.

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