Fr Ralph Heskett CSSR has been appointed as Bishop of Gibraltar to succeed Bishop Caruana who has retired on reaching the age of 75. Fr Heskett was born in 1953, professed as a Redemptorist in 1971 and ordained priest in 1976. He has worked in a variety of offices in the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, particular in work for vocations. His appointment is of particular interest to people in the Archdiocese of Southwark since he was from 1998-2008 parish priest of the Redemptorist parish of Our Immaculate Lady of Victories (known as "St Mary's") in Clapham. (pictured) The official announcement is at today's Vatican Bollettino.
Please remember bishop-elect Heskett in your prayers.
UPDATE: That pesky Father John Boyle managed to find a picture of Fr Heskett for Caritas in Veritate. I couldn't find anything on google images. Ecce:
3 comments:
We know Fr. Heskett well as he has been providing summer 'cover' for our priests for years. An inspired and welcome choice for those of us who know him here in Gibraltar.
He will be ordained Bishop of Gibraltar on 10th July.
Isn't that a photo of Father Mark Drew?
Readers might be interested to kn ow that Bishop Caruana was the last member of the "class of l959" ordained at Wonersh to retire from active work. There are still 6 of us still alive in the priethood out of 13. Gibraltar diocese has many connections with Southwark, especially through Archbishop Amigo, a Gibraltarian who was Bishop here in Southwark for nearly 50 years and Archbishop Bowen who I think was born there also. Several priests from Southwark or with Southwark connections have become Bishops of Gibraltar. In the 19th Century there was Bishop Bellord and in the 20th Century several others including religious like Fr Heskett who became Bishops there.
Bishop Caruana wrote a history of the Church in Gibraltar.
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