Michael Smith (bishop)
His Most Reverend, Dr. Michael Smith | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Meath, Emeritus | |
| Archdiocese | Armagh |
| Diocese | Meath |
| Predecessor | John McCormack |
| Successor | Thomas Deenihan |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 9 March 1963 by Cardinal Traglia, Cardinal-Bishop of Albano |
| Consecration | 29 January 1984 by Cardinal Tomás Ó Fiaich |
| Personal details | |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Coat of arms |  |
Michael Smith KC*HS (born 6 June 1940) is the retired[1] Roman Catholic Bishop of Meath, Ireland. He was ordained priest in the Papal Archbasilica of St. John Lateran on 9 March 1963 by Cardinal Traglia, Cardinal-Bishop of Albano. He celebrated his first mass on 10 March 1963 in the Clementine Chapel, located under the Altar at Papal Basilica of Saint Peter.
Early life and education[edit]
He was born in Oldcastle, County Meath, the son of Bridget Fagan and John Smith and studied for the priesthood at the Irish College in Rome. He was ordained a priest for his native diocese on 9 March 1963 and continued his studies in Rome where he earned a doctorate in canon law. He attended all 168 days of the Second Vatican Council for which he and 41 other young priests prepared the official record,[2] having been appointed as a recording secretary to the Council immediately after his ordination as a priest.
After his return from Rome he served in the Cathedral Parish of Mullingar, as chaplain to St Loman's Hospital and as secretary to the bishop.
| Styles of Michael Smith | |
|---|---|
| |
| Reference style | The Most Reverend |
| Spoken style | Your Grace |
| Religious style | Bishop |
He was appointed auxiliary bishop of the diocese and Titular Bishop of Leges on 17 November 1983 and was consecrated on 29 January 1984. The principal consecrator was Tomás Cardinal Ó Fiaich; his principal co-consecrators were Archbishop Gaetano Alibrandi, the Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland, and Cahal Daly, Bishop of the Diocese of Down and Connor.[1]
On 13 October 1988, he was appointed coadjutor bishop with the right of succession. On 16 May 1990 he succeeded John McCormack on the latter's retirement.
Episcopal Ministry[edit]
For much of his time as Bishop of Meath he served as secretary to the Irish Bishops' Conference and was actively involved in Church matters. Regarded as a traditional bishop he is well respected both by the people of his diocese and those in public life.[citation needed]
He took a keen interest in world affairs and led fund-raising campaigns to assist the victims of earthquakes in South America and victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.[3]
In October 2006 he travelled to Rome with the other bishops of Ireland for their five-yearly ad limina visit to the Pope.
Smith retired as Bishop of Meath on 18 June 2018[1]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Cheney, David M. "Bishop Michael Smith [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org.
- ^ Smith, Michael (2006). "An Eyewitness Account". In Dermot Lane; Brendan Leahy (eds.). Vatican II: Facing the 21st Century. Dublin: Veritas. ISBN 9781847300126. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
In all, forty-two students drawn from the seminaries in Rome were invited to take part, the majority of them Italian.
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