Clifton Diocese: new bishop ordained

Ordination of Bishop Bosco MacDonald

Source: Clifton Diocese

Bishop Bosco MacDonald was ordained the Tenth Bishop of Clifton at the Cathedral Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Bristol on Wednesday 8 May 2024.

A packed congregation welcomed the new Bishop, along with his family and almost all Clifton's priests and deacons, and many of the Bishops of England and Wales. The choir and music provided a beautiful audio backdrop to the 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 - Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, and Cardinal Arthur Roche, Prefect of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. Archbishop Miguel Maury Buendìa, Apostolic Nuncio to Great Britain, represented Pope Francis.

A message from Pope Francis said:

'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.'

Bishop John Bosco MacDonald, known as Bosco, was born in Bath on 21 July 1963. He was baptised at the parish church of St Mary's in the city. He studied at the seminary in Valladolid, Spain, and was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Clifton at St John's in Bath on 6 July 1991.

His first appointment of his diocesan ministry was at the Cathedral parish as an assistant priest, before being made parish priest of St John Fisher in Wellington from 1995-1998. He then moved to Holy Family, Patchway.

In November 1997, Bishop-elect Bosco was appointed the Diocesan Coordinator of Chaplains for Primary, Secondary and Sixth Form sectors, and from 1998-2023 was a member of the Retired Priests Committee. On New Year's Day 2003, he was appointed Dean of Bristol North West and held the role for four years. His next parish appointment was to St Gregory the Great with St Thomas More in Cheltenham. During this time, in March 2009, he was Installed as Canon of the Cathedral Chapter.

In 2010, Bishop Bosco was appointed Amicus Clero for the diocese. The term means 'friend of the clergy' and the incumbent offers a listening ear for any priest with pastoral or personal concerns.

https://cliftondiocese.com/