New Bishop is ordained

Posted by The Journal on Mar 22, 09 11:06 AM in Churches

Rt Rev Seamus Cunningham Top Catholic leaders have gathered to honour the new Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle.

The Rt Rev Seamus Cunningham was installed as Bishop in a two-hour service at St Mary's Roman Catholic Cathedral, Newcastle.

He was honoured by the most senior Catholic leaders from across the UK, including the Archbishop of Westminster and Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor.

Pope Benedict XVI also sent his personal representative, Archbishop Faustino Sainz MuÃÂ±oz, from Rome, who brought with him the official Proclamation.

More than 200 priests, deacons and members of religious orders, and 19 representatives of North East Christian churches and other faiths packed out the cathedral in the city centre to see the Bishop ordained.

People who had not been able to get a ticket to the service packed the doorway of the cathedral, spilling out onto the streets.

The new Bishop was ordained by Liverpool's Archbishop the Most Rev Patrick Kelly.

Bishop Cunningham was born in 1942 at Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland, but has served in the North East for almost 43 years.

He took up his first post as assistant priest in Our Lady and St Joseph's parish, Brooms, North West Durham, in 1966.

He leaves a much-loved parish in St Oswin's, Tynemouth, and St Mary's, Cullercoats to take up the post as Bishop.

We'd like to hear from you.
Send your stories, pics and videos to northumberland@ncjmedia.co.uk