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Mark O'Toole (bishop)

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Mark O'Toole
Archbishop of Cardiff-Menevia
Archbishop Mark O'Toole in 2017
ChurchRoman Catholic Church
ArchdioceseCardiff-Menevia
ProvinceCardiff-Menevia
SeeCardiff-Menevia
Appointed12 September 2024
Predecessor
Previous post(s)
Orders
Ordination9 June 1990
by Basil Hume
Consecration28 January 2014
by Christopher Budd
Personal details
Born (1963-06-22) June 22, 1963 (age 61)
Lambeth, London, United Kingdom
NationalityBritish
Parents
  • Marcus O'Toole
  • Maura O'Toole (née McDonagh)
MottoIn manus tuas, Domine
Coat of arms

Mark O'Toole (born 22 June 1963) is a British Catholic prelate who has served as Archbishop of Cardiff-Menevia since its formation on 12 September 2024. He had held the two offices of Archbishop of Cardiff and Bishop of Menevia since 2022.

Early life and education

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O'Toole was born in Southwark, England, and attended St Ignatius Primary School, Stamford Hill and St Thomas More Secondary school in Wood Green, leaving in 1981 with four ‘A’ levels before going to the University of Leicester, where he graduated with a B.Sc. in geography in 1984. [1]

He commenced his studies for the priesthood at Allen Hall Seminary in Chelsea and was ordained a priest on 9 June 1990 by Basil Hume for the Archdiocese of Westminster at the Church of St Ignatius, Stamford Hill, London. [2]

Between 1990 and 1992 he studied for an M.Phil. in theology at the University of Oxford.[1]

Between 2002 and 2008 he served as the private secretary to Cormac Murphy-O'Connor before his appointment as the rector of Allen Hall Seminary in September 2008.[3]

Episcopal ministry

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On 9 November 2013, O'Toole was appointed the ninth bishop of Plymouth by Pope Francis.[4] He received his episcopal consecration on 28 January 2014.[3] He was the first new bishop of England and Wales appointed by Pope Francis. [5]

In O'Toole's homily during the Stella Maris Mass for seafarers on 25 September 2014 in Plymouth Cathedral, O'Toole expressed an affinity with the mission of the Apostleship of the Sea, the Catholic charity that provides pastoral and practical support to all seafarers. He said this was because his grandfather was something of a seafarer and fisherman who owned his own boat and made a living in trading goods and supplies off the West coast of Ireland.[6]

On 27 April 2022, Pope Francis appointed O'Toole Archbishop of Cardiff, succeeding George Stack. At the same time, he named him Bishop of Menevia, thereby uniting the two dioceses in the person of a single bishop. His installation took place in Cardiff Cathedral on 20 June 2022, the feast day of Welsh martyrs Saints Julius and Aaron.[7]

On 12 September 2024, Pope Francis merged the two ecclesiastical jurisdictions O'Toole was leading into the Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia, and O'Toole became the first archbishop of that archdiocese.[8]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Rector of Allen Hall Seminary Mgr Mark O’Toole appointed as new Bishop of Plymouth", News Centre, Diocese of Westminster, 2 May 2015
  2. ^ Larsen, Chris. Catholic Bishops of Great Britain, Sacristy Press, 2016, p. 150ISBN 9781910519257
  3. ^ a b "Seminary Rector Mgr Mark O'Toole appointed Bishop of Plymouth". Independent Catholic News. UK. 9 November 2013. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  4. ^ "Pope Francis appoints new English bishop". Catholic Herald. UK. 9 November 2013. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  5. ^ Pepinster, Catherine. "O’Toole becomes Bishop of Plymouth", The Tablet, 30 January 2014
  6. ^ [1], Bishop Mark O'Toole in Stella Maris Mass 2014 Homily.
  7. ^ "New Archbishop of Cardiff pledges to 'build up places of sanctuary'". The Tablet. 21 June 2022. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  8. ^ "Resignations and Appointments (continued), 12.09.2024" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 12 September 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
[edit]

"Archbishop Mark Anthony O'Toole". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved 11 October 2022.

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Bishop of Plymouth
2013–2022
Succeeded by
None yet
Preceded by Archbishop of Cardiff
2022–present
Incumbent
Preceded by Bishop of Menevia
2022–present
Incumbent