Scottish Catholic Observer

Bishop Joseph Devine of Motherwell (above left) is to retire today after more than 30 years in the role.

The apostolic nuncio Archbishop Antonio Meninni is to meet with the priests of Motherwell this morning and announce that Bishop Joseph Toal of Argyll and the Isles (above left) is to serve as the apostolic administrator of the diocese until a replacement is found.

Bishop Devine tendered his resignation in August of last year, having reached his 75th birthday, the age at which bishops must offer their retirement.

A spokesman for the diocese said the bishop was ‘relieved and happy’ to be standing down.

“He had hoped that his successor would be appointed shortly [after his 75th birthday] but he was told however that would be unlikely and that he would have to continue into 2013,” the spokesman said. “He is now relieved and happy that ten months after tendering his resignation that the burden of office is now being handed initially to an administrator, as has happened in other dioceses, and in the fullness of time to a younger man who will be ordained as the new Bishop of Motherwell.”

The spokesman also said the bishop would always hold the people of Motherwell diocese in his heart.

“He will always have a deep fondness for the people of Lanarkshire and is greatly appreciative of the loyalty, support and generosity that he has received not only from his own congregations but from people of all faiths and none,” he said.

Motherwell now becomes the fourth of Scotland’s eight dioceses to be without a Vatican-appointed bishop. Paisley and Dunkeld Dioceses have administrators from within those dioceses, and St Andrews and Edinburgh Archdiocese—and now Motherwell Diocese—have apostolic administrators: Archbishop Philip Tartgalia of Glasgow and Bishop Toal respectively.

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