Archbishop Bernard Longley About the Archbishop Expand About the Archbishop Archbishop Bernard Longley was born in Manchester on 5 April, 1955 and was ordained Bishop and appointed as an Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Westminster, on 24th January 2003. Archbishop Longley was Head of the Diocesan Pastoral Board and had pastoral responsibilities for the Deaneries of Camden, Hackney, Islington, Marylebone, Tower Hamlets, and Westminster. Archbishop Bernard Longley studied at Xaverian College and the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester and New College, Oxford. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton on 12th December 1981 at St John’s Seminary, Wonersh, and was Assistant Priest at St Joseph’s, Epsom, and Chaplain to Psychiatric Hospitals. From 1987 to 1996 he was on the staff at St John’s Seminary, Wonersh, teaching dogmatic theology. In 1991, he was appointed Surrey Chairman of the Arundel and Brighton Diocesan Commission for Christian Unity and in 1996 became National Ecumenical Officer at the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales. In 1999 he was appointed Moderator of the Steering Committee of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland and also Assistant General Secretary of Catholic Bishops’ Conference with responsibilities for Ecumenism and Interreligious Affairs. Archbishop Longley authored the Catholic Commentary on the Agreed Joint Statement by the International Anglican-Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission – “Growing towards Unity and Mission” (2007). The Archbishop was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI in October 2009 and was installed as the ninth Archbishop of Birmingham on Tuesday 8th December 2009. In 2010 Archbishop Longley was appointed by Pope Benedict as a member of the newly erected Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelization. In 2011 Pope Benedict appointed the Archbishop as the co-Chairman of the Anglican Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC), with oversight of the third phase of Anglican-Catholic dialogue. Archbishop Bernard is a member of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity (DPCU) and a member of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue (DID). He is also Vice President for the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales and Chair of the Department for Dialogue and Unity. Sept 2025: Appointed a consultor to the Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews, within the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity. Contact Email [email protected] Jennifer DaviesArchbishop's Secretariat Archbishop's House 8 Shadwell StreetBirmingham B4 6EY Email [email protected] Tel 0121 236 9090 Fax 0121 212 0171 Fr Dominic CosslettArchbishop's Secretariat Archbishop's House8 Shadwell StreetBirmingham B4 6EY Email [email protected] Tel 0121 236 9090 Fax 0121 212 0171
Archbishop Bernard - Homilies and Pastoral Letters Expand 2026 Pastoral Letter - Fifth Sunday in Lent (21-22 March) Homily - Chrism Mass, 1 April Homily - Good Friday, 3 April Homily - Easter Vigil, 4 April 2025 Homily - Mass for Religious, 1 February Pastoral Letter - Fifth Sunday of Lent (5-6 April) Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill Homily - Palm Sunday, 13 April Homily - Chrism Mass, 16 April Homily - Easter Vigil, 19 April Homily - Ordination to the Permanent Diaconate of Paul Milton, Sunday 13 July Homily - Ordination to the Priesthood of Fr Gerard Bowen, Saturday 19 July Homily - ACN #RedWednesday Mass, 19 November Homily - Civic Mass, Sunday 23 November Homily - Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Monday 8 December 2024 Homily: Rite of Election 18 February 2024 Pastoral Letter - Fifth Sunday in Lent, 16/17 March 2024 Chrism Mass, 27 March 2024 Easter Vigil, 30 March 2024 Thanksgiving Mass for Marriage, 4 May 2024 Ordination of David Bench 20 July 2024 SVP Birmingham Annual Festival Mass, 21 September 2024 Pastoral Letter for Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, 21-22 September 2024 Guild of St Stephen, 5 October 2024 Pastoral Letter - Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time, 16/17 November 2024 Homily, Red Wednesday Schools Mass, 20 November 2024 Homily, 50th Anniversary of the Birmingham Pub Bombings Service at St Philip's Cathedral, Thursday 21 November 2024 Homily, Civic Mass on the Feast of Christ the King, Sunday 24 November 2024 Homily, Ordinations to the Diaconate 14 December 2024 Pastoral Letter - Feast of the Holy Family, 28-29 December 2024 2023 Pastoral Letter Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (21-22 January 2023) Pastoral Letter for the 4th Sunday of Lent - 18/19 March 2023 Chrism Mass - Wed 5 April Maundy Thursday - 6 April Easter Vigil - Sat 8 April Bishop David McGough Requiem - Thurs 20 April Pastoral Letter for Fourth Sunday of Easter, Vocations Sunday - 29 April Video: Recorded at Our Lady of the Wayside, Shirley Fifth Sunday of Easter (Coronation and launch of LOUDfence), Sunday 7 May Lourdes Closing Mass for the 2023 Pilgrimage Civic Mass November 2023 Feast of the Holy Family, 30-31 December 2023
Bishop David Evans Auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham Expand The Reverend Canon David Ernest Charles Evans was born in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, in the Archdiocese of Birmingham. He carried out his studies in preparation for the priesthood at the Venerable English College in Rome and was awarded a licentiate in philosophy and theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University. On 29 July 1978, he was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Birmingham. He subsequently held the following offices: parish vicar at Saint Mary’s, Walsall (1979-1981) and at Saint Aloysius, Oxford (1981-1983); formator and vice-rector at Saint Mary’s College, Oscott, Birmingham (1983-2001); parish priest at Saint Austin’s, Stafford (2001-2006); episcopal vicar for Coventry, Warwickshire, and Oxfordshire (2006-2007); parish priest of Saint Theresa’s, Chalbury, Oxon (2007-2012). Since 2014 he has served as parish priest of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, Rednal, and since 2019, Episcopal Vicar for Birmingham and Worcester. He is a member of the Birmingham Metropolitan Chapter, a Judge of the Birmingham Metropolitan Chapter, and a member of the Bishops’ Conference Department for Dialogue and Unity. He has served on the English Anglican- Roman Catholic Committee and the Bishops’ Conference Committee for Faith and Culture. Pastoral Areas: Birmingham Cathedral & South, Birmingham East & North, Kidderminster & Worcester. Key Responsibilities: -Affirm & strengthen Catholic life in the Pastoral Area-Represent the Archbishop locally-Facilitate initiatives to strengthen and encourage the life of deaneries and parishes-Carry out formal visitations to parishes-Celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation Residence 82 Old Oscott HillKingstandingBirminghamB44 9SP 0121 243 1877 [email protected]
Bishop Timothy Menezes Auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham Expand Bishop Timothy Menezes Auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham The Holy Father Pope Francis appointed Monsignor Timothy Menezes, Dean of St Chad's Cathedral, as a new Auxiliary Bishop to serve the Archdiocese of Birmingham. Bishop Timothy was ordained on Tuesday 16 July 2024. Bishop Timothy Menezes SLL • Born 18 July 1970• Formation for the Priesthood at St Mary’s College, Oscott, and the Venerable English College, Rome• Ordained Priest at St Dunstan’s, Kings Heath, 22 July 1995• 1995-96 Further Studies, Rome • 1996-98 Assistant Priest, St Michael’s, Wolverhampton• 1998-2000 Assistant Priest, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Redditch• 2000-2004 Archbishop’s Secretary• 2004-11 Parish Priest, St Thomas More, Coventry • 2011-19 Vicar General• 2022-2024. Dean, St Chad’s Cathedral• 2022-2024. Parish Priest, Sacred Heart and St Margaret Mary, Aston. Pastoral Areas: North Staffordshire, Stafford, Lichfield and Walsall and Dudley and Wolverhampton Key Responsibilities: -Affirm & strengthen Catholic life in the Pastoral Area-Represent the Archbishop locally-Facilitate initiatives to strengthen and encourage the life of deaneries and parishes-Carry out formal visitations to parishes-Celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation Residence: Flat 3, Aston HallChurch LaneAston-by-StoneStaffsST15 0BJ Email: [email protected] Tel: 0121 230 6241
Bishop Richard Walker Auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham Expand Bishop Richard Walker Auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham The Holy Father Pope Francis appointed Canon Richard Walker, Vicar General, as new Auxiliary Bishop to serve the Archdiocese of Birmingham. Bishop Richard was ordained on Tuesday 16 July 2024. Bishop Richard Walker STL• Born on 24 October 1960• 1985 Qualified as a solicitor• Formation for the Priesthood at St Mary’s College, Oscott, and the Venerable English College, Rome• 2000 Awarded Licentiate in Dogmatic Theology from the Gregorian University, Rome• Ordained Priest at St Francis, Kenilworth, 22 July 2000• 2000-2003 Assistant Priest, Christ the King, Coventry • 2003-2014 member of the Formation Staff at St Mary’s College, Oscott, for the majority of which time he was Vice Rector • 2014-2020 Parish Priest, St John the Evangelist, Banbury• 2015-2020 Director of Ongoing Formation for the Archdiocese• 2017-2020 member of the Archdiocesan Safeguarding Commission• 2018-2020 Parish Priest, St Joseph the Worker, Banbury • Trustee of St Mary’s College, Oscott • September 2020 appointed Vicar General and a Trustee of the Archdiocese. Pastoral Areas: Coventry, Warwickshire and Oxfordshire Key Responsibilities: -Affirm & strengthen Catholic life in the Pastoral Area-Represent the Archbishop locally-Facilitate initiatives to strengthen and encourage the life of deaneries and parishes-Carry out formal visitations to parishes-Celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation Residence: St. Francis’ PresbyteryRising LaneBaddesley ClintonWarwickshireB93 0DD Email: [email protected] Telephone: 07496 439043
Bishop William Kenney Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus Expand Right Reverend William Kenney CP, Titular Bishop of Midica Bishop Kenney studied sociology and psychology at the universities of Växjö and Gothenburg and obtained a Fil kand (the same as a BA). He worked as a parish priest and academic sociologist within the Catholic Church in Sweden, before pursuing doctoral studies at the London School of Economics from 1977 to 1979. He then lectured in the Sociology of Religion and was Director of Studies at the Department of Religious Studies in the University of Gothenburg between 1979 and 1982 and from 1984 to 1987. He was a General Councillor of the Passionist Congregation, resident in Rome, from 1982 to 1984. Bishop Kenney was ordained bishop on 24 August 1987 and appointed Auxiliary Bishop and Vicar General of the diocese of Stockholm. One of his major concerns has been to build up the Caritas organisation of the diocese. Caritas is responsible for the pastoral-social work of the Church on both a national and international basis. In 1991 he was elected President of Caritas Europe for a four-year term. The major part of this work concerned the problems of refugees and immigrants within Europe and the building up of the Caritas organisations in the eastern part of our continent. He was re-elected for a further four-year term in 1995. He served for three terms on the Legal Affairs Commission of Caritas Internationalis that has its headquarters in the Vatican. In 1988 Bishop Kenney was awarded an honorary doctorate of Philosophy at the University of Gothenburg for his work in encouraging immigrant students to attend University. Besides his duties as Auxiliary Bishop in the Archdiocese of Birmingham, he lectures extensively, both in Sweden and abroad on social issues and on ecumenism and inter-religious dialogue. He is also internationally known as a retreat-leader, particularly for religious.He has taken part in three Episcopal synods: in 1991 on Europe; 1994 on Religious Life; in 1999 the Second European Synod. Through a Papal appointment in 2013, he is also co-chair of the international conversations between the Lutheran and Catholic Churches. He is a member to the International Department of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England & Wales (CBCEW) and represents the Conference in COMECE (Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community), and also has responsibility for the Conference’s work in Iraq, Sudan and South Sudan.Bishop Kenney was elected Diocesan Administrator of the Archdiocese of Birmingham by the Cathedral Chapter. His term of office ended on the installation of Archbishop Bernard Longley, in December 2009. He is a member of the Las Casas Advisory Board which promotes critical reflection on questions of human dignity in the light of Catholic social teaching and theology; a trustee of the Newman Trust, Oxford since 2012; a member of the diocesan Justice & Peace Commission and most recently, the Chair of the Pastoral Planning Group, which coordinates planning for the future of the Southern region of the diocese. Residence St Hugh’s House27 Hensington RoadWoodstockOxfordshireTel & Fax: 01993 812234Email: [email protected] PA to Bishop Kenney:Ms Lucia HattamTel: 01993 812234Email: [email protected]
Bishop Philip Pargeter Retired Expand Philip Pargeter was born in Wolverhampton on 13 June 1933. He was educated at St Hilda’s Primary School, Northenden, Manchester and at St Bede’s College, Manchester. He studied for the priesthood at Grove Park (1951 to 1952) and at St Mary’s Seminary, Oscott (1952 to 1959). He was ordained priest on 21 February 1959. Bishop Pargeter served at Cotton College from 1959 to 1985 as a member of staff, Housemaster (1975 to 1984), Rector (1982 to 1985) and as parish priest for the local community (1984 to 1985). In June 1985 he was appointed Administrator of St Chad’s Cathedral. He was made a Canon of the Cathedral Chapter in 1986. A keen ecumenist, Bishop Pargeter became Chairman of the Birmingham Council of Churches in 1988. In this capacity he has worked to forge stronger ecumenical links in the Birmingham area. He was ordained as titular Bishop of Valentiniana and auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham by Archbishop Couve de Murville 21 February 1990. On 31 July 2009, Pope Benedict XVI accepted Bishop Pargeter’s resignation as Auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham in accordance with canons 411 and 401§1.
Bishop David McGough Bishop David - RIP Expand March 2023: It is with great sadness we announce the death of Bishop David McGough, retired auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Birmingham. Bishop David passed away recently at his home in Tean aged 78. Bishop David McGough RIP David Christopher McGough was born on 20 November 1944 in Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. He attended the Sacred Heart School, Tunstall; St Joseph’s Preparatory School, Trent Vale, Stoke-on-Trent, and Cotton College, North Staffordshire. He studied for the priesthood at St Mary’s College, Oscott - the Diocesan Seminary - from 1963. He also studied at the Venerable English College in Rome and obtained a degree in Theology. He was ordained to the priesthood on 14 March 1970 by Bishop Joseph Cleary in his home Parish, the Sacred Heart, Tunstall. After a year teaching at the Diocesan Seminary he returned to Rome for Post Graduate Studies and gained a degree in Sacred Scripture in 1974. Bishop McGough spent 15 years teaching Scripture to students for the Catholic Priesthood at Oscott College from 1974 until 1989. In 1986 he was appointed as Parish Priest at Christ the King, Kingstanding, Birmingham. He has been Parish Priest at Our Lady and All Saints, Stourbridge, since 1990. His other responsibilities in the Archdiocese of Birmingham have been as Dean of the Dudley Deanery and Canon of St Chad’s Cathedral, Birmingham. He was appointed Episcopal Vicar for Walsall, Wolverhampton, the Black Country and Worcestershire in 2004. His hobbies are photography and heritage railways. He follows Stoke City Football Club from a distance. He was ordained Bishop by Archbishop Nichols in St Chad’s Cathedral on 8 December 2005.