[Diocese of New York] Bishop Mark S. Sisk of the Diocese of New York has announced that he will retire on Feb. 2, 2013. He informed clergy of the diocese at a Priests’ Conference on May 1 and issued a letter to the diocese on May 2 (full text is below).

Sisk will be succeeded by Bishop Coadjutor Andrew M. L. Dietsche, who was elected in November 2011 and consecrated March 10. He will be installed as 16th bishop of the diocese on the day of Sisk’s retirement.

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May 2, 2012

Dear People of the Diocese of New York,

Last evening at the Priests’ Conference I announced to those gathered my plan to retire early in 2013; February 2, 2013 to be exact. It will be on that date that my successor Bishop Dietsche will be installed the Sixteen Bishop of the Diocese of New York at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine.

I have made this decision with deeply mixed feelings. Karen and I have both enjoyed these years as I have served as Bishop of this wonderful Diocese. These have been years when I have felt myself called, and honored to be called, to serve our Lord as your Bishop. This has been an eventful time: a time of many transitions in our life as a Diocese, and indeed our life as a nation.

There is much in me that would like to continue working with you in the years to come, but the dictates of advancing age make that impossible. That being the case I can see no reason to cause this beloved community of faith to delay addressing the many pressing issues that will fall to the responsibility of the next generation of leadership.

In electing Bishop Dietsche as Bishop Coadjutor the Diocese selected a person who combines great ability with a deep knowledge of the Diocese. I see no reason to prolong the time before he assumes the duties that will be his. I look forward to working with him closely in the coming and closing months of my time as Fifteen Bishop of this great Diocese.

God Bless you and the work that you do in God’s service.

The Rt. Rev. Mark S. Sisk