Anthony Farquhar (Bishop)
Encyclopedia
The Most Reverend Anthony J. Farquhar D.D.
, S.T.L.
, B.A.
(b. 6 September 1940) is the Roman Catholic Auxiliary Bishop
of the Diocese of Down and Connor.
and educated at St. Malachy's College
. He later studied Classics
at Queen’s University, Belfast. He was then sent to study Theology
at the Pontifical Lateran University
, Rome
. He was ordained to the priesthood on 13 March 1965, aged 24.
From 1965-66 he was Assistant Priest at Dunsford and Ardglass Parish. He was a hospital chaplain in 1966. He was later assigned to teach Latin
at St MacNissi's College, Garron Tower
. where he stayed as a teacher from 1966-70. From 1970-75 he was Assistant Chaplain, along with Fr Rt Rev Msgr Ambrose Macaulay, to Queen's University, Belfast and finally as Chaplain/Lecturer at the University of Ulster
from 1975-83.
His main outside interests are folk music and football, particularly student football. He is a very active President of Queens University Association Football Club and Patron of the Irish Universites Football Union. He is also a long-term and dedicated supporter of Dundee United Football Club.
of Hermiana and, with Canon Patrick Walsh
, as Auxiliary Bishop of Down & Connor. The Principal Consecrator was the Bishop of Down and Connor, Cahal Daly, (now Cardinal Archbishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese of Armagh
) and Principal Co-
Consecrators were Archbishop Gaetano Alibrandi
, the Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland
and Bishop William J. Philbin (Bishop Emeritus
of Down and Connor). His Episcopal Motto is 'Sapientia Proficere' ('to increase in wisdom') from Luke 2:52. He is currently Chairman of the Irish Bishops Conference
on Ecumenism
.
s that travelled to Rome
for their Quinquennial Visit Ad Limina
visit in October 2006. In December 2007 he officiated at the dedication of the new Altar in the Church of the Good Shepherd in his native Parish of the Most Holy Rosary, Belfast, following the renovation programme.
A new book titled Inter-Church Relations: Developments and Perspectives has been published by Veritas
to mark the 25th anniversary of his ordination as a bishop
.
In it, a number of distinguished contributors have praised Farquhar's work, including the Sean Cardinal Brady
who notes that he was “engaged actively in promoting bonds of friendship and understanding at times when it has been far from easy to do so”.
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
, S.T.L.
Licentiate of Sacred Theology
Licentiate of Sacred Theology is the title of the second cycle of studies of a Faculty of Theology offered by a pontifical universities or ecclesiastical faculties of sacred theology. An Ecclesiastical Faculty offers three cycles of study: Baccalaureate or fundamentals, Licentiate or specialized,...
, B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
(b. 6 September 1940) is the Roman Catholic Auxiliary Bishop
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of the Diocese of Down and Connor.
Career
Anthony Farquhar, popularly known as "Bishop Tony", was born in BelfastBelfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
and educated at St. Malachy's College
St. Malachy's College
St. Malachy's College is the oldest Roman Catholic grammar school in the province of Ulster, and one of the oldest in Ireland.The college was founded in 1833 by Bishop William Crolly, about 50 years after the repeal of the penal laws, which had outlawed, among other things, the celebration of the...
. He later studied Classics
Classics
Classics is the branch of the Humanities comprising the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean world ; especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome during Classical Antiquity Classics (sometimes encompassing Classical Studies or...
at Queen’s University, Belfast. He was then sent to study Theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
at the Pontifical Lateran University
Pontifical Lateran University
The Pontifical Lateran University is a university by pontifical right based in Rome, Italy. The university also hosts the central session of the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family...
, Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. He was ordained to the priesthood on 13 March 1965, aged 24.
From 1965-66 he was Assistant Priest at Dunsford and Ardglass Parish. He was a hospital chaplain in 1966. He was later assigned to teach Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
at St MacNissi's College, Garron Tower
Garron Tower
IMPORTANT: This page concerns a school which no longer exists, for the current school operating in its campus, see St Killian's CollegeSt MacNissi's College, now St Killian's College was a grammar school located to the north of Larne, which was once Northern Ireland's busiest port...
. where he stayed as a teacher from 1966-70. From 1970-75 he was Assistant Chaplain, along with Fr Rt Rev Msgr Ambrose Macaulay, to Queen's University, Belfast and finally as Chaplain/Lecturer at the University of Ulster
University of Ulster
The University of Ulster is a multi-campus, co-educational university located in Northern Ireland. It is the largest single university in Ireland, discounting the federal National University of Ireland...
from 1975-83.
His main outside interests are folk music and football, particularly student football. He is a very active President of Queens University Association Football Club and Patron of the Irish Universites Football Union. He is also a long-term and dedicated supporter of Dundee United Football Club.
Bishop
On 6 April 1983, aged 42, he was appointed Titular BishopTitular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Hermiana and, with Canon Patrick Walsh
Patrick Walsh (Bishop)
Patrick Joseph Walsh , is an Irish prelate of the Roman Catholic Church and from 1991 until 2008 he was the 31st Bishop of Down & Connor. Dr Walsh was born in 1931 at Cobh, Irish Free State...
, as Auxiliary Bishop of Down & Connor. The Principal Consecrator was the Bishop of Down and Connor, Cahal Daly, (now Cardinal Archbishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese of Armagh
Archdiocese of Armagh (Roman Catholic)
The Archdiocese of Armagh is a Roman Catholic archdiocese in the northern part of Ireland. According to tradition, the "Diocese of Armagh" was established by St. Patrick about 445 AD. It enjoyed a preeminance in Ireland as the most senior primatial see...
) and Principal Co-
Consecrators were Archbishop Gaetano Alibrandi
Gaetano Alibrandi
Archbishop Gaetano Alibrandi of the Roman Catholic Church was a senior papal diplomat and former Personal Secretary to Giovanni Battista Montini .Mgr. Alibrandi was ordained priest on 1 November 1936, and Consacreted Bishop in 1961...
, the Apostolic Nuncio to 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...
and Bishop William J. Philbin (Bishop Emeritus
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
of Down and Connor). His Episcopal Motto is 'Sapientia Proficere' ('to increase in wisdom') from Luke 2:52. He is currently Chairman of the Irish Bishops Conference
Irish Bishops Conference
The Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference is the episcopal conference of the Roman Catholic bishops in Ireland. Their meetings generally take place a number of times a year in Maynooth, County Kildare, the location of St Patrick's College, Maynooth, Ireland's national Catholic seminary...
on Ecumenism
Ecumenism
Ecumenism or oecumenism mainly refers to initiatives aimed at greater Christian unity or cooperation. It is used predominantly by and with reference to Christian denominations and Christian Churches separated by doctrine, history, and practice...
.
Recently
He was one of the BishopBishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
s that travelled to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
for their Quinquennial Visit Ad Limina
Quinquennial Visit Ad Limina
In the Roman Catholic Church, a quinquennial visit ad limina or more properly, quinquennial visit ad limina apostolorum or simply an ad limina visit means the obligation of residential diocesan bishops and certain prelates with territorial jurisdiction , of visiting the thresholds of the [tombs of...
visit in October 2006. In December 2007 he officiated at the dedication of the new Altar in the Church of the Good Shepherd in his native Parish of the Most Holy Rosary, Belfast, following the renovation programme.
A new book titled Inter-Church Relations: Developments and Perspectives has been published by Veritas
Veritas
In Roman mythology, Veritas, meaning truth, was the goddess of truth, a daughter of Saturn and the mother of Virtue. It was believed that she hid in the bottom of a holy well because she was so elusive. Her image is shown as a young virgin dressed in white...
to mark the 25th anniversary of his ordination as a bishop
Ordination
In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...
.
In it, a number of distinguished contributors have praised Farquhar's work, including the Sean Cardinal Brady
Sean Brady
Seán Brady or similar names may refer to:* Seán Brady , Irish cardinal* Seán Brady , Fianna Fáil politician, member of Dáil Éireann* Sean Brady , Canadian diplomat...
who notes that he was “engaged actively in promoting bonds of friendship and understanding at times when it has been far from easy to do so”.