RIP Archbishop Michael J. Byrnes - Death of Former Detroit Auxiliary and Archbishop of Guam at Age 66

Archbishop Michael J. Byrnes, originally from the Archdiocese of Detroit and then appointed to Agaña, Guam, died May 30th at age 66.
He was a former Detroit auxiliary bishop. However, later, Archbishop Byrnes led the Catholic Church in the U.S. overseas territory of Guam for six years, beginning in 2016. In 2022, he returned to the Detroit area to be near his family when his health deteriorated during a struggle with Alzheimer’s disease. Pope Francis accepted his resignation in March 2023. He died peacefully in hospice.

---The Archdiocese of Agana released
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

With deep sadness, I share news that Archbishop Emeritus Michael J. Byrnes has passed away. Our dear friend and beloved former Archbishop of Agaña entered eternal life at about 9:41 this morning. The Most Rev. Edward J. Weisenburger, Archbishop of Detroit personally notified me.
Archbishop Emeritus Byrnes died peacefully in the care of close friends and medical staff while resting in hospice care in Detroit. He was contending with the progressively worsening illness of Alzheimer’s disease which prompted his resignation as Archbishop of Agaña in March of 2023.
Please join me, his brother clergy, religious and all faithful as we remember this courageous holy man with love and prayer. In a separate announcement, Father Paul Gofigan, our Vicar General and Chairman of the Archdiocesan Liturgical Commission (ALC) will announce specific information regarding the Requiem Mass and our liturgical remembrance of Archbishop Emeritus Byrnes.
In the meantime I ask pastors and parochial administrators to include Mass intentions for our dear Archbishop Emeritus during their Masses.
My predecessor as the shepherd of the Catholic faithful in Guam will always be remembered for the tremendous faith, dedication, and perseverance he showed as he led the archdiocese during some of the most difficult years in the history of our Church on Guam. He demonstrated great courage, faith and obedience on Oct. 31, 2016 when he answered the call from Pope Francis to travel many miles away to shepherd our people in a place he knew little about. The late pope appointed him first as coadjutor archbishop with special faculties of the Archdiocese of Agaña.
He was the archbishop entrusted with making the difficult decisions related to the Covid pandemic, bankruptcy and the hundreds of lawsuits filed against the church stemming from the grave sins of clergy sexual abuse by past clerics and laity.
Michael Jude Byrnes has a cherished place in the history of our Church on Guam as well in the hearts of our people. We grieve his death but also give thanks to our merciful God for the gift of this devout servant, leader, and friend whom he bestowed to us.
Thank you for your prayers now and throughout these last several years. I know many of you have continued to say prayers and express love and concern for the former archbishop, even while his health was beginning to decline on Guam.
Sincerely in Christ,
/s/Most Reverend Ryan P. Jimenez, D.D.
Archbishop of Archdiocese of Agana
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Photo: The late Archbishop Emeritus Michael Jude Byrnes delivers a homily during a Mass at the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral-Basilica in Hagatna in this file photo from 2017. Our dear former shepherd of the Catholic Church on Guam passed away peacefully at his home in Detroit this morning, May 31, Guam time. He was 66.