Gerard William Battersby

Gerard William Battersby (born May 15, 1960) is an American Catholic prelate who served as an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Detroit in Michigan from 2016 to 2024. On March 19, 2024, he was appointed Bishop of La Crosse. He was installed during a ceremony on May 20, 2024 at the Cathedral of St Joseph the Workman.

Biography

Early life Gerard Battersby was born in Detroit, Michigan, on May 15, 1960, to Christopher and Helen (Buckley) Battersby. He attended St. Benedict Parish and Lamphere Public Schools in Madison Heights, Michigan. Battersby then entered Wayne State University in Detroit, obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree in biology. While on a college trip to the British Isles, Battersby said he first realized that he would eventually become a priest.“When I was in Ireland, I had an experience over the Easter week — actually I was at a youth hostel in Scotland — and I was musing about my life. One morning I woke up very early and I had what I guess I now would call an illumination: I knew I was going to be a priest. I had no previous desire or inkling — as a typical Catholic boy that was always somewhere in the background, but it was never in the forefront — but I really felt very strongly that that was the case. After his 1998 ordination, the archdiocese assigned Battersby as associate pastor to the following Michigan parishes:

St. Thecla in Clinton Township Presentation/Our Lady of Victory in Detroit Immaculate Heart of Mary in Detroit St. Gerard in Detroit In 2007, Cardinal Adam Maida named him as director of formation at Sacred Heart Major Seminary. Battersby was also transferred to St. Leo Parish in Detroit to serve as pastor there. He was awarded a Licentiate in the New Evangelization from Sacred Heart in 2008. On January 25, 2017, Battersby was consecrated at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament by Vigneron, with Bishop John M. Quinn and Paul Fitzpatrick Russell serving as co-consecrators. Battersby's episcopal lineage dates back through Popes Pius X (1884), Clement XIII (1743), Benedict XIV (1724), and Benedict XIII (1675).

Bishop of La Crosse

On March 19, 2024, Pope Francis named Battersby as the eleventh bishop of La Crosse, succeeding William Callahan. He was installed on May 20, 2024.