Richard Higgins
Encyclopedia
Colonel Richard Brendan Higgins, USAF (ret)
, (born 22 February 1944) is an Irish
born American
Roman Catholic bishop
. Bishop Higgins is the Titular Bishop
of the Casae Calanae
and an Auxiliary Bishop
of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA.
Higgins was born in Longford
, County Longford
, Ireland
. He was ordained a priest
on 9 March 1968 for the Diocese of Sacramento
at the Basilica of St. John Lateran
in Rome
. He joined the United States Air Force
as a chaplain
in 1974, and served both in the United States and abroad, including two assignments as the Catholic pastor at the United States Air Force Academy
. He was named an Honorary Prelate of His Holiness (monsignor
) by Pope John Paul II
in 1997.
On 7 May 2004 he was appointed Titular Bishop for the Diocese of Casae Calanae. He was ordained a bishop on 3 July of the same year at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
in Washington, D.C.
The Principal Consecrator
was Archbishop Edwin O’Brien
; his Principal Co-Consecrators were Bishop Howard Hubbard, and Bishop William Weigand
.
After 30 years of active duty service, Bishop Higgins retired from the Air Force on September 1, 2004, with the rank of colonel
. His military decorations include the Legion of Merit
with one oak leaf cluster
and the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal
with seven oak leaf clusters.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
, (born 22 February 1944) is an Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
born American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Roman Catholic bishop
Bishop
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...
. Bishop Higgins is the Titular Bishop
Titular 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 the Casae Calanae
Casae Calanae
The Diocese of Casae Calanae is a Titular See in the Roman Catholic Church. The first Titular Bishop was appointed to this See on 10 June 1966. In Latin the diocese is known as Casensis Calanensis. The current bishop of the titular see is Richard Higgins, an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese...
and an 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 Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA.
Higgins was born in Longford
Longford
Longford is the county town of County Longford in Ireland. It has a population of 7,622 according to the 2006 census. Approximately one third of the county's population resides in the town. Longford town is also the biggest town in the county...
, County Longford
County Longford
County Longford is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Longford.Longford County Council is the local authority for the county...
, 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...
. He was ordained a priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
on 9 March 1968 for the Diocese of Sacramento
Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento is an ecclesiastical territory or particular church of the Roman Catholic Church in the northern California region of the United States...
at the Basilica of St. John Lateran
Basilica of St. John Lateran
The Papal Archbasilica of St. John Lateran , commonly known as St. John Lateran's Archbasilica and St. John Lateran's Basilica, is the cathedral of the Diocese of Rome and the official ecclesiastical seat of the Bishop of Rome, who is the Pope...
in 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 joined the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
as a 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...
in 1974, and served both in the United States and abroad, including two assignments as the Catholic pastor at the United States Air Force Academy
United States Air Force Academy
The United States Air Force Academy is an accredited college for the undergraduate education of officer candidates for the United States Air Force. Its campus is located immediately north of Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado, United States...
. He was named an Honorary Prelate of His Holiness (monsignor
Monsignor
Monsignor, pl. monsignori, is the form of address for those members of the clergy of the Catholic Church holding certain ecclesiastical honorific titles. Monsignor is the apocopic form of the Italian monsignore, from the French mon seigneur, meaning "my lord"...
) 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 ...
in 1997.
On 7 May 2004 he was appointed Titular Bishop for the Diocese of Casae Calanae. He was ordained a bishop on 3 July of the same year at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is a prominent Latin Rite Catholic basilica located in Washington, D.C., honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary as Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, the Patroness of the United States...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
The Principal Consecrator
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...
was Archbishop Edwin O’Brien
Edwin Frederick O'Brien
Edwin Frederick O'Brien is an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He is the current Pro-Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem since his appointment by Pope Benedict XVI on 29 August 2011...
; his Principal Co-Consecrators were Bishop Howard Hubbard, and Bishop William Weigand
William Weigand
William Keith Weigand is an American Roman Catholic bishop, who served as the eighth Bishop of Sacramento in the U.S. state of California from 1993 to 2008. He previously served as the seventh Bishop of Salt Lake City and as a priest in the Diocese of Boise.-Episcopal appointments:Weigand was born...
.
After 30 years of active duty service, Bishop Higgins retired from the Air Force on September 1, 2004, with the rank of colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
. His military decorations include the Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
with one oak leaf cluster
Oak leaf cluster
An oak leaf cluster is a common device which is placed on U.S. Army and Air Force awards and decorations to denote those who have received more than one bestowal of a particular decoration. The number of oak leaf clusters typically indicates the number of subsequent awards of the decoration...
and the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal (United States)
The Meritorious Service Medal is a military decoration presented to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguished themselves by outstanding meritorious achievement or service to the United States subsequent to January 16, 1969...
with seven oak leaf clusters.