Fr Robert at his Silver Jubilee in 2010
Congratulations to Fr Robert Byrne of the Oratory, who has been appointed as the new Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Birmingham. What a splendid appointment of a kind, pastoral and orthodox priest.
From the Archdiocesan website:
‘I am deeply honoured and humbled that the Holy Father, Pope Francis has appointed me as Auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham. His example will continue to inspire and shape my ministry in Birmingham, especially to serve the poor, the marginalised and those who may feel alienated from God and society. In the spirit of St Philip Neri – the founder of the Oratory and a saint with a great sense of humour – I am committed to helping share the joy of the Gospel message with others.
‘I began my priestly ministry in Birmingham twenty nine years ago and I look forward to renewing my friendships and to making my home once again in this great city. I have a great love for the Malvern Hills and the music of Elgar, so was particularly pleased when I learned that my ministry would include the pastoral care of the Worcestershire deaneries.
‘I have been richly blessed in these years by the people that I have met and the work that I’ve been asked to do – as a parish priest, in prison chaplaincy, and latterly as the Bishops’ Conference National Ecumenical Officer. I look forward to building upon this experience and to working closely with other Christians and people of all faiths and none.
‘I owe an enormous debt of gratitude to my Oratorian community for their priestly example, friendship and support. I shall miss them greatly and also the parishioners of St Aloysius parish in Oxford.
‘Blessed John Henry Newman, the founder of the English Oratory has inspired me as a priest. I hope in some way to be able to follow his example, particularly in the care and love that he showed for his priests and people.
‘I know I can count on the prayer, co-operation and support of the people, the religious and the priests of the diocese. I look forward to working with and learning from Archbishop Bernard and Bishops William and David.
‘I ask for the prayers of Mary Immaculate, Patroness of the Diocese, together with St Chad and Blessed John Henry Newman as I begin my new ministry as Auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham.’
Archbishop Bernard Longley said:
‘I am immensely grateful to Pope Francis for appointing Fr Robert Byrne Auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham. From his time at the Birmingham Oratory and as Provost of the Oxford Oratory, Fr Robert has come to know our Archdiocese well.
‘Having worked alongside him in recent years as the Bishops’ Conference Ecumenical Officer, I know that he will bring considerable pastoral, theological and administrative skills to his new responsibilities as a bishop. Above all I am grateful that he brings the spirituality of St Philip Neri, the founder of the Oratory, to enrich his ministry among us.
‘I know that everybody in the Archdiocese, and especially in his pastoral area of Birmingham and Worcestershire, will join me in asking for the prayers of Fr Robert’s fellow Oratorian, Blessed John Henry Newman, as he now prepares for his episcopal ordination in May.
‘I also wish to record my abiding gratitude to Bishop Philip Pargeter for continuing to serve the Archdiocese with great dedication in recent years and for the support and friendship he has so generously given me.’
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Fr Robert Byrne – Biography
22 September 1956 Born in Manchester, the youngest son of Sidney and Monica Byrne
Education
St Bede’s College, Manchester
King’s College, London (BD and BD AKC)
Pontifical College of St Thomas Aquinas, Rome
1980 Entered Birmingham Oratory
1985 Ordained priest
1984-1988 Chaplain, St Philip’s College, Edgbaston
1990 Founder, Oxford Oratory
1993-2011 Provost
1990-1999 Parish Priest, St Aloysius Parish, Oxford
2000-2011 Secretary of the Permanent Deputation of the International Federation of the Congregations of the Oratory
1996-date Trustee and Governor of Oratory School
1988-date Prison chaplain
Fr Robert Byrne will become the titular bishop of Cuncacestre
That photograph alone cheers me up no end! Congratulations Fr Byrne!
ReplyDeleteSorry for intruding on your blog Father, but I would like to bring something to the attention of Lancashire Catholics. A historic building of Catholic interest has come on the market. Tuebrook House in Liverpool, where St Ambrose Barlow regularly celebrated Mass, was put up for auction last month and it failed to attract a buyer. It is still available for purchase. It would make a fine house for the new archbishop, bringing him much into closer proximity with the poorer parts of the city.
ReplyDelete