Patrick O'Donoghue (bishop) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Right Reverend Patrick O'Donoghue |
|
|---|---|
| Bishop emeritus of Lancaster | |
| Church | Roman Catholic Church |
| Province | Liverpool |
| Diocese | Lancaster |
| Appointed | 5 June 2001 |
| Enthroned | 4 July 2001 |
| Reign ended | 1 May 2009 |
| Predecessor | John Brewer |
| Successor | Michael Campbell |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 25 May 1967 |
| Consecration | 29 June 1993 by Cardinal Basil Hume |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 4 May 1934 Mourne Abbey, County Cork, Ireland |
| Died | 24 January 2021 (aged 86) Nazareth House, Mallow, County Cork, Ireland |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Parents | Daniel and Sheila O'Donoghue |
| Previous post | Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster |
| Motto | Beati Pauperes |
Patrick O'Donoghue (born May 4, 1934 – died January 24, 2021) was an Irish Catholic leader. He served as a bishop, which is a high-ranking priest who oversees a group of churches called a diocese. From 2001 to 2009, he was the fifth Bishop of Lancaster in England.
Contents
Early Life and Priesthood
Patrick O'Donoghue was born on May 4, 1934, in Mourne Abbey, a small area in County Cork, Ireland. He was one of five children in his family. His parents, Daniel and Sheila O'Donoghue, were farmers.
In 1959, Patrick moved to Britain to study to become a priest. He trained at two seminaries, which are special schools for priests. On May 25, 1967, he became a priest for the Archdiocese of Westminster in England.
Becoming a Bishop
On May 18, 1993, Patrick O'Donoghue was chosen to be an Auxiliary Bishop for the Westminster Archdiocese. An auxiliary bishop helps the main bishop. He was also given the special title of Titular Bishop of Tulana.
He officially became a bishop on June 29, 1993. This special ceremony is called a consecration. The main person who consecrated him was Basil Hume, who was a very important leader called a Cardinal-Archbishop. As an auxiliary bishop, Patrick O'Donoghue was in charge of the churches in West London.
Leading the Lancaster Diocese
After the previous bishop, John Brewer, passed away, Patrick O'Donoghue was appointed the Bishop of Lancaster. This happened on June 5, 2001. He officially started his new role at St Peter's Cathedral in Lancaster on July 4, 2001.
Fit for Mission? Review
In 2007, Bishop O'Donoghue started a big review for his diocese called Fit for Mission?. The goal was to help the diocese prepare for the future. They wanted to encourage all Catholics to be more active in sharing their faith. This was important because there were fewer priests and fewer people regularly attending church.
Catholic Schools and Education
In November 2007, Bishop O'Donoghue released an important document about Catholic education. It was called Fit for Mission? – Schools. Many people in the Catholic community praised this document. Even the Holy See (the central government of the Catholic Church) thought it was very good. They hoped it would be an example for other dioceses.
Bishop O'Donoghue strongly believed that Catholic schools should keep their Catholic identity. He was against ideas that tried to make these schools less religious. Some people, like politicians and union leaders, disagreed with his strong views on education.
Catholic Caring Services
In October 2008, Bishop O'Donoghue had a disagreement with a local Catholic adoption agency. The agency was called Catholic Caring Services. They were trying to make changes to their practices that did not follow the teachings of the Church. This conflict happened because of new government rules in the UK.
Retirement and Passing
Bishop O'Donoghue retired from his role on May 1, 2009. He had a special Mass (church service) at St Peter's Cathedral in Lancaster. After retiring, he was given the title Bishop Emeritus of Lancaster. This means he was still a bishop but no longer actively leading the diocese.
On May 29, 2009, he left the Diocese of Lancaster. He moved back to Ireland and became an assistant priest in the parish of Bantry, which is on the west coast of County Cork. Patrick O'Donoghue passed away on January 24, 2021. He was living in a care home in Dromahane at the time.
