Patrick O'Regan (bishop)

Patrick Michael O'Regan (born 8 October 1958) is a prelate of the Catholic Church. He has been the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Adelaide since 25 May 2020. Prior to that, he had been the Bishop of Sale since 2015.

The Most Reverend Patrick O'Regan
Archbishop of Adelaide
Church	Catholic Church
Archdiocese	Archdiocese of Adelaide
Predecessor	Philip Wilson
Orders
Ordination	2 September 1983 in St Michael and St John's Cathedral, Bathurst, New South Wales
Consecration	26 February 2015 in St Mary's Cathedral, Sale, Victoria by Denis Hart
Personal details
Birth name	Patrick Michael O'Regan
Born	8 October 1958 Bathurst, New South Wales
Previous post	Bishop of Sale
Alma mater	St Patrick's College, Manly; Institut Catholique, Paris

Styles of Patrick Michael O'Regan
Reference style	The Most Reverend
Spoken style	His Excellency
Religious style	Archbishop

O'Regan was elected as the 9th Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sale in 2014 and he was consecrated and installed as a bishop by the Archbishop of Melbourne, Denis Hart on 26 February 2015 at a ceremony in Sale.[1][2] On 19 March 2020, Pope Francis announced that Bishop O'Regan would become the 12th Archbishop of Adelaide.[3]

Early years and background

O'Regan was born in Bathurst, New South Wales, one of four children and grew up in the village of Perthville, located approximately 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) south of Bathurst. Educated at St Joseph's Primary School, Perthville and St Stanislaus' College, Bathurst, O'Regan commenced study for the priesthood at St Columba College, Springwood and later at St Patrick's College.[4] During his semester breaks it was reported that he pulled beers at the Majellan Club, carted feed and cut cauliflowers in the local market gardens.[5]

Ordained as a priest at St Michael and St John's Cathedral in Bathurst on 2 September 1983, O'Regan served as an assistant parish priest in parishes in Lithgow, Cowra, Orange and in Bathurst. During 1994 and 1995 O'Regan commenced higher studies at the Institut Catholique, Paris. He returned to Australia, initially to Orange, before being appointed as a parish priest in Wellington. O'Regan completed his higher studies in France during 2001 and 2002 graduating with a Licentiate in Liturgy and Sacramental Theology;[6] returning to Australia in 2003 as parish priest of Blayney. In 2008 he was appointed as Diocesan Administrator in the Diocese of Bathurst;[7] promoted to Diocesan Chancellor to 2009; to the Dean of the Cathedral in 2010; and concurrently as the Vicar General in 2012.[4]

Bishop of Sale

In December 2014 it was announced that Pope Francis had appointed O'Regan as the Bishop of Sale, replacing Christopher Prowse, who became the Archbishop of Canberra-Goulburn.[4][6][8][9] O'Regan was consecrated and installed as Bishop on 26 February 2015, by Archbishop Denis Hart.[1][2]

Archbishop of Adelaide

On 19 March 2020 it was announced that Pope Francis had appointed O'Regan as the Archbishop of Adelaide.[10] He was installed as Archbishop of Adelaide on 25 May 2020 at a small ceremony, due to COVID-19 restrictions, at St Francis Xavier's Cathedral, Adelaide, South Australia.[11]

See also

• Roman Catholicism in Australia

References

1. "Bishop Patrick Michael O'Regan". Catholic Hierarchy. 18 December 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
2. "Ordination of Bishop Patrick O'Regan". Catholic Education Office. Roman Catholic Diocese of Sale. 26 February 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
3. "Bishop Patrick O'Regan named Archbishop of Adelaide". Australian Catholic Bishops Conference. 19 March 2020. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
4. Gallagher, Paul (3 December 2014). "Diocese of Sale" (Press release). Apostolic Nuncio. Retrieved 27 December 2014.
5. Eddy, Louise (6 December 2014). "Perthville's Father Patrick O'Regan named new Bishop of Sale". Western Advocate. Retrieved 27 December 2014.
6. "Sale's ninth bishop announced". Catholic Leader. 5 December 2014. Retrieved 27 December 2014.
7. "Administrator appointed for Bathurst Diocese" (Press release). Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne. 13 November 2008. Retrieved 27 December 2014.
8. "Broken Bay Prepares to Welcome Bishop Peter A Comensoli" (Press release). Catholic Communications, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney. 5 December 2014. Retrieved 27 December 2014.
9. "New Catholic bishop appointed". Gippsland Times and Maffra Spectator. 5 December 2014. Retrieved 27 December 2014.
10. "Bishop Patrick O'Regan named Archbishop of Adelaide". Australian Catholic Bishops Conference. 19 March 2020. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
11. McGuire, Michael (22 May 2020). "Adelaide's new Catholic Archbishop Patrick O'Regan says George Pell should 'gracefully retire'". The Advertiser. Retrieved 22 June 2020.