Edwin Regan
Encyclopedia
Edwin Regan is a Welsh
prelate
of the Roman Catholic Church
. He is the second and current Bishop of Wrexham
.
, and studied at St. John's Seminary
in Waterford
, Ireland
, where he was ordained
to the priesthood
on 5 July 1959. He then served as assistant pastor
at St. Alban's Church in Pontypool
(1959) and at St. Joseph's Church in Neath
(1959-1966. From 1966 to 1967, he attended Corpus Christi College
in London
, obtaining a diploma
in catechetics
.
Regan served as chaplain
to Porthcawl Convent from 1967 to 1971, whence he became director of catechetics and cathedral
administrator for the Archdiocese of Cardiff. He was raised to the rank of Honorary
Canon
in 1978, and Chapter
Canon in 1985. He was later pastor of St Helen's Church in Barry (1984–1989) and of St. Mary's Church in Bridgend
(1989–1994).
On 7 November 1994, Regan was appointed Bishop of Wrexham
by Pope John Paul II
. He received his episcopal consecration
on the following 13 December from Archbishop John Ward
, OFM Cap
, with Bishops Daniel Mullins
and Vincent Nichols
serving as co-consecrators
.
In addition to his Wrexham post, Regan was named Apostolic Administrator
of Cardiff in December 2000, to assist the ailing Archbishop Ward in governing the archdiocese
. This appointment was considered unusual, as an Apostolic Administrator is normally named when the sitting Ordinary
has either died or resigned. Regan remained in the post until the appointment of Peter Smith as the new Archbishop of Cardiff
on 26 October 2001.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. He is the second and current Bishop of Wrexham
Bishop of Wrexham
The Bishop of Wrexham is the Ordinary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wrexham in the Province of Cardiff in Wales.The diocese covers an area of and consists of the Welsh historic counties of Anglesey, Caernarfonshire, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Merionethshire and Montgomeryshire The Bishop of...
.
Biography
Edwin Regan was born in Port TalbotPort Talbot
Port Talbot is a town in Neath Port Talbot, Wales. It had a population of 35,633 in 2001.-History:Port Talbot grew out of the original small port and market town of Aberafan , which belonged to the medieval Lords of Afan. The area of the parish of Margam lying on the west bank of the lower Afan...
, and studied at St. John's Seminary
St. John's Seminary
St. John's Seminary may refer to:India* St. John's Regional Seminary in Ramanthapur, Hyderabad.* St. John's Regional Seminary in Kothavalasa, Vizianagaram District, Andhra PradeshNew Zealand*St. Johns Seminary in Auckland, New Zealand...
in Waterford
Waterford
Waterford is a city in the South-East Region of Ireland. It is the oldest city in the country and fifth largest by population. Waterford City Council is the local government authority for the city and its immediate hinterland...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, where he was ordained
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
to the priesthood
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
on 5 July 1959. He then served as assistant pastor
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
at St. Alban's Church in Pontypool
Pontypool
Pontypool is a town of approximately 36,000 people in the county borough of Torfaen, within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire in South Wales....
(1959) and at St. Joseph's Church in Neath
Neath
Neath is a town and community situated in the principal area of Neath Port Talbot, Wales, UK with a population of approximately 45,898 in 2001...
(1959-1966. From 1966 to 1967, he attended Corpus Christi College
Corpus Christi College
Corpus Christi College can refer to the following colleges:*Corpus Christi College, Cambridge*Corpus Christi College, Oxford*Corpus Christi College *Corpus Christi College, Melbourne...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, obtaining a diploma
Diploma
A diploma is a certificate or deed issued by an educational institution, such as a university, that testifies that the recipient has successfully completed a particular course of study or confers an academic degree. In countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia, the word diploma refers to...
in catechetics
Catechism
A catechism , i.e. to indoctrinate) is a summary or exposition of doctrine, traditionally used in Christian religious teaching from New Testament times to the present...
.
Regan served as chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
to Porthcawl Convent from 1967 to 1971, whence he became director of catechetics and cathedral
Cardiff Cathedral
The Metropolitan Cathedral Church of St David, also known as St David's Cathedral Cardiff is a Roman Catholic cathedral in the city centre of Cardiff, Wales and is the centre of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cardiff. Located in Charles Street, the Cathedral remains the focal point for Catholic...
administrator for the Archdiocese of Cardiff. He was raised to the rank of Honorary
Title of honor
An honorary title or title of honor is a title bestowed upon individuals or organizations as an award in recognition of their merits.Sometimes the title bears the same or nearly the same name as a title of authority, but the person bestowed does not have to carry any duties, possibly except for...
Canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
in 1978, and Chapter
Chapter (religion)
Chapter designates certain corporate ecclesiastical bodies in the Roman Catholic, Anglican and Nordic Lutheran churches....
Canon in 1985. He was later pastor of St Helen's Church in Barry (1984–1989) and of St. Mary's Church in Bridgend
Bridgend
Bridgend is a town in the Bridgend County Borough in Wales, west of the capital, Cardiff. The river crossed by the original bridge, which gave the town its name, is the River Ogmore but the River Ewenny also passes to the south of the town...
(1989–1994).
On 7 November 1994, Regan was appointed Bishop of Wrexham
Bishop of Wrexham
The Bishop of Wrexham is the Ordinary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wrexham in the Province of Cardiff in Wales.The diocese covers an area of and consists of the Welsh historic counties of Anglesey, Caernarfonshire, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Merionethshire and Montgomeryshire The Bishop of...
by Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
. He received his episcopal consecration
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
on the following 13 December from Archbishop John Ward
John Aloysius Ward
John Aloysius Ward was a Roman Catholic clergyman. He became Bishop of Menevia in 1981, and Archbishop of Cardiff in 1983...
, OFM Cap
Order of Friars Minor Capuchin
The Order of Friars Minor Capuchin is an Order of friars in the Catholic Church, among the chief offshoots of the Franciscans. The worldwide head of the Order, called the Minister General, is currently Father Mauro Jöhri.-Origins :...
, with Bishops Daniel Mullins
Daniel Joseph Mullins
Daniel Joseph Mullins was an Roman Catholic prelate who served as the Bishop of Menevia from 1987 to 2001.Born in Kilfinane, County Limerick, Ireland on 10 July 1929, he was ordained to the priesthood on 12 April 1953. He was appointed an auxiliary bishop of Cardiff and Titular Bishop of...
and Vincent Nichols
Vincent Gerard Nichols
Vincent Gerard Nichols is the Archbishop of Westminster, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, and head of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales...
serving as co-consecrators
Consecrator
Consecrator is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to designate a bishop who ordains a priest to the episcopal state. The term is often used in Eastern Rite Churches and in Anglican communities. The term "Principal Consecrator" is used to designate the primary bishop who ordains a new bishop...
.
In addition to his Wrexham post, Regan was named Apostolic Administrator
Apostolic Administrator
An apostolic administrator in the Roman Catholic Church is a prelate appointed by the Pope to serve as the ordinary for an apostolic administration...
of Cardiff in December 2000, to assist the ailing Archbishop Ward in governing the archdiocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
. This appointment was considered unusual, as an Apostolic Administrator is normally named when the sitting Ordinary
Ordinary
In those hierarchically organised churches of Western Christianity which have an ecclesiastical law system, an ordinary is an officer of the church who by reason of office has ordinary power to execute the church's laws...
has either died or resigned. Regan remained in the post until the appointment of Peter Smith as the new Archbishop of Cardiff
Archbishop of Cardiff
The Archbishop of Cardiff is the Ordinary of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cardiff.The archdiocese covers an area of and spans the historic counties of Monmouthshire, Herefordshire and eastern Glamorganshire...
on 26 October 2001.