Hexham and Newcastle: New Bishop installed

Bishop Robert Byrne

The Solemn Mass of Installation of the Right Reverend Robert Byrne, Congregation of the Oratory of St Philip Neri, as the fourteenth Bishop of the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle, took place on Monday 25 March. The day chosen was the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord and the venue was the Cathedral Church of St Mary, Newcastle upon Tyne.

Archbishop Malcolm McMahon, O.P.of Liverpool, accompanied by Bishop Séamus Cunningham, Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese, presented Bishop Byrne to the Dean of the Cathedral, Reverend Fr Dermott Donnelly, representing the clergy and laity of the Diocese. After the Apostolic Mandate of Appointment was read by the Chancellor of the Diocese, Fr Simon Lerche, Bishop Byrne was led to the Cathedra (Bishop's Chair) by Archbishop McMahon, where he was presented with the Crozier, the sign of a Bishop's office and ministry, by Bishop Cunningham.

The Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Edward Adams representing Pope Francis, was present, along with Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster and President of the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, and the Bishops and Ordinaries of the Catholic Dioceses of England and Wales, Scotland and Ireland. The Bishops included Archbishop Bernard Longley of Birmingham, where Bishop Byrne has served for the past five years as Auxiliary Bishop. Priests, Deacons and Religious from the Archdiocese of Birmingham and Hexham and Newcastle were present, along with the Clergy of the Congregation of the Oratory of St Philip Neri, Bishop Byrne's family and friends, and representatives of the parishes of Hexham and Newcastle.

Bishop Byrne succeeds the Bishop Séamus Cunningham, who has been Bishop of the Diocese since 2009. Bishop Byrne was born in Manchester on 22 September 1956. He was ordained priest in 1985 and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Birmingham on 13 May 2014. Speaking of his appointment, Bishop Byrne said: "I am deeply humbled by the trust Pope Francis has placed in me with this appointment as Bishop of Hexham & Newcastle. I would like to thank the people and priests of the Archdiocese of Birmingham where I have served for the past five years and, in particular, Archbishop Bernard for his constant kindness and support. I look forward to making my home in the North East, with its rich Christian heritage, and also getting to know and serve the people, deacons, religious and priests of the Diocese. I ask all of you to keep me in your prayers as I pray for you."

Link: www.rcdhn.org.uk/index.php