Early life

Richard Henning was born on October 17, 1964, to Richard and Maureen Henning in Rockville Centre, New York, growing up at Holy Name of Mary Parish and grade school. His father was a firefighter and his mother was a nurse. Henning credits their examples of service with inspiring his own vocation.^[1] He graduated from Chaminade High School in Mineola, New York in 1982.^[2]

Henning was awarded a Bachelor of History degree and in 1988 a Masters of History degree from St. John's University in New York City. After graduation, he entered the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Lloyd Harbor, New York, for priestly formation.^[3][4]

Priesthood

On May 30, 1992, Henning was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Rockville Centre by Bishop John R. McGann at St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre.^[5]After his 1992 ordination, the diocese assigned Henning as an associate professor of sacred scripture and as a formator at Seminary of the Immaculate Conception, and as episcopal vicar for the diocese.^[3]

Henning left New York in 1997 to study at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. In 2000, he earned his licentiate degree in biblical theology from there. He provided pastoral support on weekends at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More Parish in Arlington, Virginia, and at St. Patrick Parish in Washington, DC. After finishing at Catholic University, Henning went to Rome to study at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas. He received in 2007 a Doctor of Biblical Theology degree Saint Thomas.^[4]

After ten years away from Rockville Centre, Henning returned there in 2007 to become a full professor at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception. He also served as a weekend pastor at three parishes in the diocese.In 2015, he was named as administrator of Our Lady of the Magnificat Parish in Ocean Beach, New York.^[3]

Auxiliary Bishop of Rockville Centre

Pope Francis appointed Henning as auxiliary bishop of Rockville Centre on June 8, 2018.^[3][6] Henning was consecrated by Bishop John Barres at St. Agnes Cathedral on July 24, 2018, with Bishops William Murphy, and Robert J. Brennan serving as co-consecrators.^[5]

Coadjutor Bishop and Bishop of Providence

On November 23, 2022, Francis appointed Henning as coadjutor bishop of Providence to assist Bishop Thomas J. Tobin. He was installed on January 26, 2023.^[7][8] Henning automatically became bishop of Providence on May 1, 2023, when Tobin retired.^[9]

Henning is fluent in Spanish and Italian and literate in French, Greek, and Hebrew.^[10]