It is announced today, Tuesday 6 July 2021, in Rome and in Liverpool, that His Holiness Pope Francis has appointed Canon Thomas Neylon of the Archdiocese of Liverpool to be Bishop of Plestia and Auxiliary Bishop of Liverpool.
The Archbishop of Liverpool, The Most Reverend Malcolm McMahon OP, says of the appointment:
“I am grateful to the Holy Father, Pope Francis, for his generosity to me and the people of our archdiocese in the appointment of Canon Thomas Neylon as Auxiliary Bishop of Liverpool.
I am delighted to welcome Canon Tom Neylon as an Auxiliary Bishop. When I came to the archdiocese in 2014 Canon Tom was already a Vicar General and trustee of the archdiocese and his excellent pastoral and administrative skills have been invaluable to me in my ministry as Archbishop. He will now be able to use those God given talents at a higher level in assisting me in taking the Church forward in the coming years.
Bishop-elect Tom was born in Warrington and grew up in the town. Ordained by Pope St John Paul II in 1982 he has served in pastoral ministry in Wigan, Skelmersdale, and then for 24 years in St Helens before moving to Widnes last year, so it is true to say that he knows our archdiocese and our people well. He has always offered excellent pastoral care and been alongside his parishioners in times of need and times of joy – qualities which will serve him and the whole archdiocese well in the coming years.
Our Synod met two weeks ago and this month we will meet to determine a pastoral plan for the coming years. Bishop-elect Tom will fulfil a vital role in implementing our plan so that we can better serve the people of our archdiocese. It is a challenging time but one which offers a bright future for Catholics in this part of north-west England as we continue to be ‘together on the road’. Bishop-elect Tom will, I know, be always walking alongside our people on that journey.
It is with great joy that I will ordain him Bishop on Friday 3 September in our Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King. On that day the Church celebrates the Feast of Pope St Gregory the Great, a man who reorganised Church life and administration and sent Augustine and his monks to evangelise the English. It is a fitting day to ordain a Bishop who will be charged with the tasks of administration and evangelisation in this part of England. I know that Bishop-elect Tom will accept these tasks graciously and fulfil them with diligence and care for others.
Welcome Bishop-elect Tom Neylon – I look forward to your ministry as Auxiliary Bishop of Liverpool. May God bless you and all the people of our great archdiocese”.
