Bishopric of the Forces in Great Britain

The Bishopric of the Forces (in Great Britain) is the Latin Church Catholic military ordinariate (non-geographically aligned) which provides chaplains to the British Armed Forces based in the United Kingdom and their overseas postings.[1][2][3]

Bishop of the Forces
Bishopric
catholic
Incumbent:
Paul James Mason
Information
First holderFrancis Walmsley
EstablishedMilitary bishopric in 1917,
Military vicariate in 1953,
Military ordinariate in 1986
CathedralCathedral of St Michael and St George, Aldershot
Website
www.rcbishopricforces.org.uk

It is exempt, i.e. directly subject to the Holy See (not part of any ecclesiastical province) and its Roman Congregation for Bishops, whilst being a full member of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales. The chaplains (padres) are drawn from the dioceses of England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland and the Commonwealth, as well as from some religious orders. Chaplains have spiritual and pastoral care of military personnel and their families.

Until 1986, they were called "military vicariates" and had a status similar to that of apostolic vicariates which are headed by a bishop who receives his authority by delegation from the Pope. The apostolic constitution Spirituali Militum Curae of 21 April 1986 raised their status, declaring that the bishop who heads one of them is an "ordinary", holding authority by virtue of his office, and not by delegation from another person in authority.[1]

There is sometimes confusion between the holder of this Catholic post and the Anglican "Bishop to the Forces": for this reason the former is normally referred to as "the Roman Catholic Bishop of the Forces".

Offices and statistics

The current Bishop of the Forces is the Rt Rev Paul Mason, who was appointed by Pope Francis on 9 July 2018. The Vicar General of the Bishopric and Dean of the Military Cathedral is Father Nick Gosnell. The chancellor of the Bishopric of the Forces is Father Stephen Sharkey.

The diocesan office and the episcopal see, the Cathedral of St Michael and St George (dedicated to traditional patron saints of chivalry and military), are located on Queens Avenue, Aldershot, Hampshire, England.

As per 2014 it has 25 priests (23 diocesan, 2 religious), 2 deacons and 2 lay religious brothers.

History

From 1917, individual titular bishops were appointed, twice, as Roman Catholic Bishops of the Forces.

On 21 November 1953, a permanent Military Vicariate of Great Britain was established, still always held by titular bishops.

On 21 July 1986, it was promoted as Military Ordinariate of Bishopric of the Forces in Great Britain, with its own Ordinary.

List of office holders
Roman Catholic Bishops of the Forces
From Until Incumbent Notes
Military bishopric[1][2][3]
19171934William Keatinge, Titular Bishop of MetellopolisAppointed on 30 October 1917 and consecrated on 25 February 1918. Died in office on 21 February 1934.[4]
19351946James Dey, Titular Bishop of Sebastopolis in ArmeniaAppointed on 13 April 1935 and consecrated on 2 June 1935. Died in office on 8 May 1946.[5]
19461954Sede vacante
Military vicariate[1][2][3]
19541963David Mathew, Titular Archbishop of Apamea in Bithynia (1946.02.20 – 1975.12.12)Previously Apostolic Delegate (papal diplomatic envoy) of British East and West Africa. Appointed on 16 April 1954. Resigned on 23 March 1963 and died on 12 December 1975.[6]
19631978Gerard Tickle, Titular Bishop of BelaAppointed on 12 October 1963 and consecrated on 1 December 1963. Resigned on 24 April 1978 and died on 14 December 1994.[7]
19791986Francis Walmsley, Titular Bishop of Tamalluma (1979.01.08 – 1998.03.07 see below)Appointed on 8 January 1979 and consecrated on 22 February 1979. Became the first bishop of the military ordinariate at the vicariate's promotion on 21 July 1986.[8]
Military ordinariate[1][2][3]
19862002Francis WalmsleyHitherto last incumbent of the military vicariate. Appointed bishop of the military ordinariate on 21 July 1986. Retired on 24 May 2002 and died on 26 December 2017.[8]
20022008Tom Burns, Marists (S.M.)Born in Northern Ireland (UK) Appointed on 24 May 2002 and consecrated on 18 June 2002. Translated to Menevia in 2008.[9]
20092015Richard MothAppointed on 25 July 2009 and consecrated on 29 September 2009. Translated to Arundel and Brighton on Saturday, 21 March 2015.[10]
2018Paul James MasonAppointed on 9 July 2018 and installed in the Cathedral of St Michael and St George on 12 September 2018[11]

See also

References
  1. "Bishopric of the Forces". Catholic Church in England and Wales.
  2. "Military Ordinariate of Catholic Bishopric of the Forces in Great Britain". GCatholic.org. Retrieved 7 April 2009.
  3. "Military Ordinariate of Great Britain". Catholic Hierarchy. Retrieved 7 April 2009.
  4. "Bishop William Keatinge". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved 11 December 2011.
  5. "Bishop James Dey". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved 11 December 2011.
  6. "Bishop David Mathew". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved 11 December 2011.
  7. "Bishop Gerard William Tickle". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved 11 December 2011.
  8. "Bishop Francis Joseph Walmsley". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved 11 December 2011.
  9. "Bishop Thomas Matthew Burns". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved 11 December 2011.
  10. "Bishop Charles Phillip Richard Moth". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved 11 December 2011.
  11. "Rinunce e nomie". press.vatican.va. Retrieved 9 July 2018.

https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/it/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_jp-ii_apc_19860421_spirituali-militum-curae.html

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