Bishop McManus Named Bishop of Worcester

The Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, has appointed the Most Rev. Robert J. McManus as the fifth Bishop of Worcester, succeeding another Rhode Island native, the Most Rev. Daniel P. Reilly who is retiring.

Bishop McManus has been Auxiliary Bishop of Providence for five years. He will be installed as Bishop of Worcester on Friday, May 14, 2004 at the Cathedral of St. Paul in that city. A farewell Mass in Providence is in the planning stages for early May.

Bishop McManus received the news from the Most Rev. Gabriel Montalvo, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States. The Nuncio asked if he would accept. Bishop McManus said, "The telephone call from Archbishop Montalvo was a momentous occasion for me to make good on the promise of obedience I had made five years ago on February 22, 1999 when I was ordained a bishop here in the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul. Without hesitation I accepted the Holy Father's appointment."

Bishop McManus added, "It is not easy to leave the Diocese of Providence after almost 26 years of serving God's people here as a priest and bishop. This is my home. It is here that I first received the precious gifts of my Catholic faith and my vocation to the priesthood. Yet, with a tranquility of spirit that comes from believing that 'for those who love God everything works together for the good,' I look forward to serving the Diocese of Worcester as its Fifth Bishop."

Bishop Mulvee said, "The news brings mixed emotions. Certainly, with all his friends in our State of Rhode Island and beyond, we offer Bishop McManus our warmest, prayerful congratulations. We rejoice that the Holy Father has recognized his gifts and talents and entrusted the Diocese of Worcester to his care. While his appointment is a blessing for Worcester, this native born Rhode Islander, this dedicated son of the Diocese of Providence will truly be missed here."

Bishop McManus was born in Providence on July 5, 1951. The son of the late Edward W. and Helen F. (King) McManus of Narragansett, he is a graduate of Blessed Sacrament School in Providence and Our Lady of Providence Seminary High School.

He studied for the priesthood at Our Lady of Providence Seminary in Warwick, The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. (bachelor and master of arts degrees) and the Toronto School of Theology (master of divinity degree). He has also earned licentiate and doctoral degrees in sacred theology from The Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Kenneth A. Angell on May 27, 1978.

Following ordination, he served as temporary assistant chaplain at St. Joseph Hospital (1978), associate pastor at St. Matthew Parish in Cranston (1978-81) and associate pastor at St. Anthony Parish in Providence (1981-82). From 1982 to 1984 he was the Catholic chaplain at the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) in Warwick while continuing in residence at St. Anthony.

He pursued advanced studies in theology in Rome from 1984 to 1987. While still in doctoral studies in Rome, he was named director of the diocesan Office of Ministerial Formation on July 1, 1986, and in July 1987 he returned to the diocese and took up residence at St. Luke Parish in Barrington. Bishop McManus became diocesan Vicar for Education on November 9, 1987 while continuing as director of the Office of Ministerial Formation and in-residence at St. Luke.

On October 4, 1990, he assumed the additional duty as theological consultant and editorial writer for The Providence Visitor newspaper. He was appointed a Prelate of Honor to His Holiness with the title of Monsignor on February 28, 1997.

He was named rector of Our Lady of Providence Seminary on June 26, 1998 while continuing his duties as Vicar for Education and Director of Ministerial Formation. At the same time he left St. Luke for residence at the seminary and assumed responsibility for weekend assistance at St. Margaret Parish in Rumford.

Bishop McManus was ordained Titular Bishop of Allegheny and Auxiliary Bishop of Providence on February 22, 1999 and has continued to serve as Secretary for Ministerial Services and Rector of Our Lady of Providence Seminary.