Michael J. Byrnes

Michael Jude Byrnes (August 23, 1958 – May 30, 2025) was an American prelate of the Catholic Church who served as Archbishop of Agaña from 2019 to 2023. He was an auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of Detroit from 2011 to 2016.

Biography

Early life Born in Detroit, Michigan, on August 23, 1958, Michael Ryan graduated from Detroit Catholic Central High School.

After graduation from University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, he got involved with a charismatic community on campus and began working full time in campus ministry for University Christian Outreach at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti and became a member of a lay religious brotherhood, the Servants of the Word.

Byrnes was ordained to the priesthood by Cardinal Adam Maida at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit on May 25, 1996, for the Archdiocese of Detroit. Beginning in 2004, he served as vice rector of Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit as well as a parish pastor.

Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit

On March 22, 2011, Byrnes was appointed titular bishop of Eguga and auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Detroit. He was consecrated by Archbishop Allen Henry Vigneron at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament on May 5, 2011. His co-consecrators were Archbishop John Nienstedt and Bishop John Quinn. He was installed as coadjutor archbishop on November 30.

Although Archbishop Anthony Apuron of Agaña was found guilty on charges of the sexual abuse of minors by an Apostolic Tribunal of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith on March 16, 2018, he was only suspended from the exercise of his authority over the archdiocese and retained his title pending the outcome of his appeals. Byrnes succeeded to the position of archbishop in everything except title at that time.

Byrnes became archbishop of Agaña on April 4, 2019, when Apuron lost his title, having exhausted his appeals. On April 6, the Holy See Press Office confirmed that Byrnes had succeeded to the office of archbishop at the conclusion of judicial proceedings against Apuron.

Retirement On March 28, 2023, Pope Francis accepted Byrnes' resignation as archbishop of Agaña after he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Byrnes had left Guam in June 2022 and been on medical leave for several months.

Death Byrnes died from complications of Alzheimer's disease under hospice care in Detroit, on May 30, 2025. He was 66.