Michael Joseph Dooley (born 13 December 1961) is a New Zealand prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He was appointed as the 7th Bishop of Dunedin, New Zealand on 22 February 2017, ordained bishop on 26 April 2018 and installed on 27 April 2018.


Michael Dooley
7th Bishop of Dunedin
Bishop Dooley in 2023
ArchdioceseArchdiocese of Wellington
DioceseRoman Catholic Diocese of Dunedin
Installed27 April 2018
PredecessorColin Campbell
Orders
Ordination13 December 1989
Consecration26 April 2018
by Colin Campbell
Personal details
Born
Michael Joseph Dooley

(1961-12-13) 13 December 1961 (age 62)
NationalityNew Zealander
DenominationRoman Catholic Church
ParentsJoseph Dooley and Mary Hogan
OccupationRoman Catholic bishop
ProfessionCleric
Alma materOtago University
Holy Cross Seminary
Melbourne College of Divinity
MottoTrust in God
Coat of armsMichael Dooley's coat of arms
Ordination history of
Michael Dooley
History
Priestly ordination
Date13 December 1989
PlaceNightcaps, New Zealand
Episcopal consecration
Principal consecratorColin Campbell
Co-consecratorsCardinal John Dew
Archbishop Martin Krebs
Date26 April 2018
PlaceDunedin Town Hall, Dunedin, New Zealand
Styles of
Michael Dooley
Reference styleThe Most Reverend
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleBishop

Early life and education

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Dooley was born in Invercargill, the son of Joseph Dooley and Mary Hogan. He was educated at Heddon Bush Primary School and Central Southland College, Winton. He completed an apprenticeship as a fitter and turner before studying for a Bachelor of Theology at Otago University while he was at Holy Cross Seminary, then located at Mosgiel. He then completed a Master of Theology at Melbourne College of Divinity.[1]

Priesthood

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Dooley was ordained as a priest by Bishop Leonard Boyle on 13 December 1989, at St Peter & St Paul Church, Nightcaps.[2] Dooley was an assistant priest at St. Mary's Basilica, Invercargill and at Gore. After completing his master's degree in theology in Melbourne, he was parish priest of Mosgiel where he was also Director at the Holy Cross Formation Centre. He then became Formator and Spiritual Director at Holy Cross Seminary in Auckland. On returning to Dunedin, he was again parish priest of Mosgiel and Green Island. He was appointed vicar general of the Dunedin diocese in 2016.

Episcopacy

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On 22 February 2018, Dooley was appointed by Pope Francis to succeed Colin Campbell, on his retirement, as the 7th Bishop of Dunedin.[3][4][5]

Dooley was ordained Bishop at the Dunedin Town Hall on 26 April 2018 and installed the next day.[6] The principal consecrator was his predecessor, Colin Campbell and the principal co-consecrators were Cardinal Dew and Archbishop Martin Krebs, the Apostolic Nuncio.[7]

Approach

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Dooley has said that he follows Pope Francis' views that instead of having a fortress mentality, it was better to engage with the world with a positive message of what the church may offer, like the gospel, to people in their everyday lives and to help the vulnerable in society and the poor which are "definitely what [Pope Francis] would want us to be more concerned about."

Dooley has expressed his opposition to euthanasia.[8]

References

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  1. ^ "Pope appoints Fr Michael Dooley as Bishop of Dunedin, NZ Catholic, 23 February 2018 (Retrieved 24 February 2018)
  2. ^ "Catholic Diocese of Dunedin - Bishop Michael". www.cdd.nz. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  3. ^ "New bishop for Dunedin", Diocese of Palmerston North news, 23 February 2018 (Retrieved 25 February 2018)
  4. ^ "Resignation of bishop of Dunedin, New Zealand, and appointment of successor", Resignations and appointments 22.02.2018, Holy See Press Office, Summary of Bulletin (Retrieved 25 February 2018)
  5. ^ "Bishop Colin Campbell announces new Bishop for the Diocese of Dunedin", Diocese of Dunedin website (Retrieved 7 March 2018)
  6. ^ "Bishop Michael Dooley ordained as 7th Bishop of Dunedin", CathNews New Zealand 30 April 2018 (Retrieved 1 May 2018)
  7. ^ "Bishop Michael Dooley", Catholic Hierarchy (retrieved 1 May 2018)
  8. ^ David Loughry, "Appointment surprise for new bishop", Otago Daily Times, 24 February 2018 (Retrieved 25 February 2018)
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Catholic Church titles
Preceded by 7th Bishop of Dunedin
2018–present
Succeeded by
incumbent