for the next 18 years, he served on the staff under three successive cardinals, all now deceased, who were archbishops of washington: cardinals patrick o'boyle, william wakefield baum, and james aloysius hickey. from 1972 until 1983, he also filled the offices of chancellor and vicar general for that archdiocese; in 1984 he also became moderator of the archdiocesan curia, serving in that capacity until his episcopal consecration. he was consecrated and installed as a bishop on december 18, 1984, following his appointment by pope john paul ii, as the second bishop of the roman catholic diocese of charlotte.