Thousands Attend Moving Episcopal Ordination Ceremony of the Washington DC Archdiocese's 2 New Auxiliary Bishops

Bishops Studniewski and Boxie Ordaine as Auxiliary Bishops for the Archdiocese of Washington

On July 7, 2026, Bishop Gary R. Studniewski and Bishop Robert P. Boxie III were ordained as auxiliary bishops for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington. The nearly three-hour bilingual Mass took place at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, drawing a crowd of 2,500 attendees.

Following the appointment of the new Auxiliary Bishops by His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, His Eminence Robert Cardinal McElroy, Archbishop of Washington, was the Principal Ordaining Bishop, Celebrant, and Homilist for the Mass, and was  joined by current Auxiliary Bishops, His Excellency Juan Esposito-Garcia, His Excellency Roy E. Campbell, and His Excellency Evelio Menjivar-Ayala, as Co-Consecrating Bishops, with many other Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops, Priests and Deacons from around our Archdiocese and other parts of the world attending and concelebrating the Mass. Bishop-Elect Esposito-Garcia and Bishop-Elect Menjivar-Ayala will also be celebrated by many friends, family, and other supporters!

The Ordination Mass

Promising to “guard the deposit of faith pure and entire” and to “encourage the holy people of God and to guide them in the way of salvation,” Bishop Gary R. Studniewski and Bishop Robert P. Boxie III were ordained to the Order of Bishops as auxiliary bishops of the Archdiocese of Washington.
“Today, the face of God smiles upon this archdiocese with intense love,” Cardinal McElroy said as he greeted those who packed the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception for the episcopal ordinations. “We have been blessed by our Holy Father, Pope Leo in appointing Bishop Boxie and Bishop Studniewski to the episcopate.”

• Leadership: Cardinal Robert W. McElroy served as the principal consecrator and main celebrant. Co-consecrators included Cardinal Wilton Gregory (archbishop emeritus of Washington) and Bishop Mark Brennan (bishop emeritus of Wheeling-Charleston).

• Papal Mandate: Archbishop Gabriele G. Caccia, the Vatican’s apostolic nuncio to the United States, read the apostolic letters from Pope Leo XIV officially appointing the new bishops.

• The Rite: The ordination featured traditional rites, including the invocation of the Holy Spirit, the laying on of hands, anointing with chrism, and the presentation of episcopal symbols (the Book of the Gospels, ring, miter, and crosier).

Meet the New Auxiliary Bishops

Bishop Gary R. Studniewski

• Background: A native of Toledo, Ohio, he was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Washington in 1995.

• Military Service: Served for 18 years as a U.S. Army chaplain, rising to the rank of colonel.

• Pastoral Work: Previously served as pastor of Saint Peter's Parish on Capitol Hill and the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Washington, D.C.

• Episcopal Motto: "My Grace is Sufficient for You"

Bishop Robert P. Boxie III

• Background: Born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, he graduated from Harvard Law School and worked as a federal clerk and lawyer before being ordained a priest in 2016.

• Pastoral Work: Served at Saint Francis of Assisi (Derwood, MD), Saint Joseph (Largo, MD), and most recently as the Catholic chaplain for Howard University, where he led the creation of a chapel for the Sister Thea Bowman Catholic Student Center.

• Significance: As an African American prelate, he noted that his appointment represents a message of hope and solidarity for Black Catholics in the archdiocese.

• Episcopal Motto: "O Lord, Give Me Wisdom"