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| Pope Benedict XVI has made his first appointment of a Bishop in England and Wales. He has asked Monsignor Canon Peter Doyle to become the new Bishop of Northampton. Peter Doyle was born on 3rd May 1944 at Wilpshire, near Blackburn in Lancashire. His family moved to Essex in 1951, and Peter was educated by the Jesuits at St. Ignatius Prep School, Buckhurst Hill and at St. Ignatius College, Stamford Hill. Having won a scholarship to Sandhurst he was due to go there after his "A" levels and then onto the Royal Artillery. However, in his final year at school, he decided to offer himself for the priesthood. He trained at Allen Hall seminary and was ordained priest by Bishop Derek Worlock in St. John's Cathedral, Portsmouth on 8th June 1968. Since then Monsignor Doyle has worked in a number of parishes and posts. He was assistant priest at St. Joseph's, Copnor 1968-70, assistant priest at St. Edward's, Windsor 1970-75, administrator at St. John's Cathedral, Portsmouth 1975-87, parish priest at St. Joseph's, Maidenhead 1987-91, and parish priest at St. Peter's, Winchester 1991-2005 and also at St. Gregory's, Alresford since 2004.
Till now he has been a member of the Council of Priests, a Consultor and a member of the Cathedral Chapter and since 2001 a member of the Bishop's Council and a Vicar General. In the past he has been Dean of Portsmouth and of Winchester, has chaired various school Governing bodies, and was Chairman of the Diocesan Schools Commission and the Diocesan Religious Education Council. In the autumn of 2003 he was the Diocesan Administrator while Bishop Crispian Hollis was on sabbatical. Following his appointment, Monsignor Doyle said, “Humbled, stunned, surprised and excited to be called to be Bishop of Northampton, I can only place myself in the hands of God and ask for your prayers. “I am very aware of how difficult it was to lose Bishop Kevin McDonald after such a short time and I am conscious of the great patience and faithfulness of the Diocese during the past eighteen months. In particular, I appreciate how much Monsignor Séan Healy and his team have done during that time. “I very much look forward to getting to know the clergy, religious and people of the diocese, and to visiting the parishes and communities that make up the body of Christ. In particular I wish to affirm and encourage both clergy and people in the many ministries they fulfil in the service of Christ and his Church. I want to take every opportunity to become part of the family of the diocese and, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to play my full part as bishop in its life and mission. “I am also eager to continue to develop good relations with other Christians, and with people of other faiths and of none. It is important to me that the Church continues to reach out to the world around us with the Gospel of hope.” Welcoming Pope Benedict’s choice, Monsignor Séan Healy, who has for the last 18 months administered the Diocese of Northampton, said, “I am delighted that Monsignor Doyle is our new Bishop. The clergy and people of the Diocese of Northampton are very pleased that a bishop has now been appointed. Monsignor Doyle has a high reputation as a pastoral priest who has worked in many parishes in the Diocese of Portsmouth. His skill and expertise will be invaluable to us here as we continue to work for the spread of the Gospel in this part of the country.” Bishop Crispian Hollis, who until now was Monsignor Doyle’s bishop, also welcomed the appointment. “I am, of course, absolutely thrilled that his gifts have been recognised and that he has been appointed to Northampton,” said Bishop Hollis, “but his departure will leave a huge gap both in Winchester and in the Diocese as a whole. We will miss him very much. “I am very happy for the diocese and people of Northampton who have been waiting such a long time for this appointment. They have been given a fine priest to be their new Bishop.” Monsignor Doyle will be ordained as the twelfth Bishop of Northampton on Tuesday 28th June 2005, 11.30am, at Northampton Cathedral (the Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate and St Thomas of Canterbury, Kingsthorpe Road, Northampton). |
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