Michael Smith (bishop)
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Michael Smith (Irish: Mícheál Mac Gabhann; born 6 June 1940) is the Roman Catholic Bishop of Meath, Ireland.
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[edit] Career
He was born in Oldcastle, County Meath, the son of Julia Tuite and ? Smith. Having studied for the priesthood at the Irish College in Rome, he was ordained a priest for the diocese on 9 March 1963. Continuing his studies in Rome he earned a Doctorate in Canon Law. He attended all 168 days of the Second Vatican Council for which he and 11 other young priests prepared the official record, having been appointed as a recording secretary to the Council immediately after his ordination as a priest. Returning 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 |
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| Reference style | The Most Reverend |
| Spoken style | Your Grace |
| Religious style | Bishop |
| Posthumous style | none |
He was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of the diocese and Titular Bishop of Leges on 17 November 1983. He was ordained a bishop 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, then 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 Dr. John McCormack on the latter's retirement.
[edit] Recent
In his years as Bishop of Meath he has served as Secretary to the Irish Bishops' Conference and has been 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. He was considered by many as a possible successor to Desmond Connell, the Archbishop of Dublin before the appointment of Archbishop Diarmuid Martin. He is also a possible candidate to assume a post of responsibility in the Roman Curia in the Vatican.
He takes a keen interest in world affairs and has led fund-raising campaigns to assist the victims of earthquakes in South America and victims of the recent Tsunami in South East Asia.[2]
In October 2006 he travelled to Rome with the other bishops of Ireland for their five-yearly ad limina visit to the Pope.
| Episcopal lineage | |
| Consecrated by: | Tomás Ó Fiaich |
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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