Resignation of bishop of Geraldton, Australia, and appointment of successor
Appointment of auxiliary of Atlanta, United States of America
Resignation of bishop of Geraldton, Australia, and appointment of successor
The Holy Father Francis has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Geraldton, Australia, presented by His Excellency Msgr. Justin Joseph Bianchini.
The Pope has appointed as bishop of the diocese of Geraldton, Australia, the Rev. Michael Morrissey, currently vicar general of the same diocese.
Rev. Michael Morrissey
The Rev. Michael Morrissey was born on 9 September 1952 in Yalgoo, in the Western Australian hinterland. He carried out his secondary studies in Perth at the Aquinas College, guided by the Christian Brothers. He continued his studied for the priesthood at the St. Charles Seminary of Guildford, Western Australia, and then at the St. Francis Xavier seminary in Adelaide.
He received priestly ordination on 31 January 1981 in the St. Francis Xavier Cathedral in Geraldton.
He then held various offices in the diocese of Geraldton, including pastor of several parishes (Karratha, Cathedral, Mullewa, Rangewaay), director of the Clergy Life and Ministry office, chancellor and vicar general. He has also served as military chaplain for the north-west region of Australia, serving overseas for a brief period as a lieutenant colonel. He currently represents the parish priests in the Catholic Education Commission of Western Australia.
Appointment of auxiliary of Atlanta, United States of America
The Holy Father has appointed as auxiliary bishop of Atlanta, United States of America, Rev. Bernard E. Shlesinger III, of the clergy of the diocese of Raleigh, North Carolina, spiritual director of the St. Charles Borromeo seminary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, assigning him the titular see of Naiera.
Rev. Bernard E. Shlesinger III
The Rev. Bernard E. Shlesinger III was born 17 December 1960 in Washington DC, in the homonymous archdiocese. After frequenting the “Mount Vernon High School”, Virginia (1975-1979), he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in agricultural engineering from the “Virginia Polytechnic University” in Blacksburg (1979-1983). After entering the air force (1983-1990), he was a pilot for large freight aircraft (C-130 Hercules), reaching the rank of Captain. After leaving the air force he entered the seminary, carrying out his philosophical studies at the Theological College of the Catholic University of America in Washington (1990-1991) and theology at the Pontifical North American College and the Pontifical Gregorian University of Rome (1992-1996).
He was ordained a priest for the diocese of Raleigh, North Carolina, on 22 June 1996.
After priestly ordination he held the following offices: vicar in the “Saint Mary” parish in Wilmington (1996-1998), pastor of the “Our Lady of Guadalupe” parish in Newton Grove and assistant director of vocations (1998-2007), vicar forane of the “Newton Grove Deanery” (2006-2013), director of vocations and seminarians for the diocese of Raleigh (2007-2013), administrator of the “Maria Reina de las Americas” parish in Mount Olive and its missionary churches, “Santa Teresa del Nino Jesus” at Beulaville and “Santa Clara” in Magnolia (2010-2012), and spiritual director at the “Saint Charles” seminary in Philadelphia (since 2013). He has also served as head of the presbyteral council of the diocese of Raleigh.
Aside from English, he speaks Spanish and Italian.
