Bishop John Noonan | Credit: Archdiocese of Miami

In one of the rare Saturday appointments of Pope Benedict XVI, Bishop John Noonan, until this time Auxiliary of Miami, has been named the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Orlando.

Bishop John Noonan was born in Limerick, Ireland on February 26, 1951. After moving to the United States in the 1970s, Noonan entered St. John Vianney College Seminary in Miami, graduating with a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy in 1979. He earned his Master of Divinity from St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach in 1983. On September 23rd of that year, Noonan was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Miami at St. Paul of the Cross Church in North Palm Beach. Bishop Noonan also holds a Master of Education from Boston College.

Throughout his priesthood, Bishop Noonan has served as a parochial vicar, chaplain to youth ministry, Dean of Men at Miami’s college seminary, supervising principal at Monsignor Pace High School and St. Brendan High School, and Rector/President of St. John Vianney College Seminary.

Almost nine years to the date of his appointment as the ordinary of Orlando, on October 22, 2001, Pope John Paul II made Noonan a Chaplain to His Holiness. In 2005, Pope Benedict appointed Monsignor Noonan as the ninth Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Miami. He was ordained to the episcopacy on August 24, 2005 at the Cathedral of St. Mary.

Bishop Noonan, who currently resides at the seminary, is known to play pranks on seminarians and priests alike. In fact, during the recent 50th Anniversary celebration of the seminary, one priest recalled how the pranks were the funniest when then-Rector Noonan joined in.

During my time at the seminary, I was fortunate enough to witness the kind and gentle nature of Bishop Noonan. Every morning he would bring coffee to the ladies on staff, making them laugh with his remarks in Spanish. Whenever he saw a seminarian walking around campus, he would always take the time to see how their day was going and to make sure they were keeping up with their studies.

UPDATE: The Archdiocese of Miami and the Diocese of Orlando have issued a joint statement. Here is a portion of that statement.

“Vatican II calls Bishops to be fathers and pastors to the people. I pray that with God’s help I will be able to be a good father and pastor as Bishop of the Diocese of Orlando,” said Bishop Noonan. “I ask that my brother priests and all of God’s people pray for me as I begin my new ministry among you.”

Bishop Noonan succeeds Most Reverend Thomas Wenski who led the Diocese of Orlando between November 13, 2004 and June 1, 2010.

Father Richard Walsh, pastor of St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church, has served as diocesan administrator since Archbishop Wenski’s departure.

“Called forth by the Spirit, I am humbled to serve the faith‐filled people of the Diocese of Orlando as diocesan administrator,” said Father Richard Walsh. “Now, we are joyful to know of the appointment of Bishop Noonan as our shepherd and with him, we will labor in the vineyard of the Lord to continue to build the Kingdom of God on earth.”

Bishop Noonan’s installation will be on December 16 at 2:00 p.m.