Bishop Bosco MacDonald Ordained Tenth Bishop of Diocese of Clifton
Bishop Bosco MacDonald was Ordained the Tenth Bishop of Clifton at Clifton Cathedral on Wednesday 8 May 2024.
A packed Cathedral welcomed the new Bishop, along with his family and almost all the Clifton diocesan priests and deacons, and many of the Bishops of England and Wales. The choir and music provided a beautiful audio backdrop to this joyous occasion.
Archbishop Bernard Longley, Archbishop of Birmingham and Metropolitan Principal was the Consecrating Bishop, with Bishop Bosco’s predecessor, Bishop Declan Lang, and Bishop Peter Collins, Bishop of East Anglia, as Co-consecrating Bishops.
Also present were two cardinals – His Eminence Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, and His Eminence Cardinal Arthur Roche, Prefect of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.
His Excellency Archbishop Miguel Maury Buendìa, Apostolic Nuncio to Great Britain, represented Pope Francis at the Episcopal Ordination.
Pope Francis’ Message
Francis, Bishop, Servant of the Servants of God, sends greetings and a Blessing to his dear son Bosco MacDonald of the clergy of Clifton diocese and hitherto appointed to the Bishop of Clifton as dean and administrator of the Cathedral church of Saints Peter and Paul in the city of Bristol.
Blessed indeed was that Apostle who, proclaiming true witness to Christ the son of the living God, received at that moment his heavenly reward (cf Mt 16, 16-17). As We reflect today, stepping ahead joyfully, on so great a fatherly revelation, which is a support and consolation in Our task of guiding the universal Church, We now intend with fatherly concern to secure the welfare of the Clifton ecclesial community which, deprived at present following the resignation of Our Venerable brother Declan Ronan Lang, awaits its Pastor.
We therefore consider that it is appropriate for Us to approach you, dear son, who, devoted as you are to pastoral activities, have displayed many human and christian gifts, by reason of which you seem to Us suited to this ministry. Accordingly, guided by the counsel of the Dicastery for Bishops and by the fullness of Our Apostolic authority, We willingly appoint you Bishop of Clifton, granting you the due rights and matching obligations associated with this ministry.
You may commit yourself to episcopal Ordination outside the City of Rome, maintaining liturgical norms, by a catholic Bishop of your choice. Before your episcopal Ordination, nevertheless, it will be for you to make a profession of faith and swear a declaration of loyalty to Us and Our Successors in accordance with the rules of ecclesiastical law. It is Our will that you should inform the clergy and people of your diocese of this Our decree. We urge them with all our heart to cherish the diocese and accept you as custodian and guide.
Dear son, may the Lord provide you with the strength to serve permanently God’s holy people, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and of the apostles Peter and Paul, in faith and hope and in fervent charity to nourish that people fully. Given at the Lateran, Rome, on the fourteenth day of March, in the two thousand and twenty-fourth year of our Lord, the twelfth year of Our Pontificate.
Francis
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