Philip Moger

The Right Reverend

Philip Moger
Moger in 2024
ChurchCatholic Church
DioceseSouthwark
SeeGlastonia
Appointed28 November 2022
Installed21 February 2023
Other post(s)
Orders
Ordination26 June 1982[1]
by Gordon Wheeler
Consecration21 February 2023
by John Wilson
Personal details
Born (1955-04-25) 25 April 1955 (age 69)
Halifax, West Riding of Yorkshire
Alma materSt Cuthbert's College, Ushaw

Philip Moger (born 25 April 1955) is an English bishop of the Catholic Church serving as auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of Southwark. As of 13th September 2024, he is bishop-elect of the Diocese of Plymouth, Devon. [2] He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Leeds and served as the rector of the Basilica of Our Lady of Walsingham from 2020 - 2023.

Biography

Early life

Phillip Moger was born in Halifax, West Yorkshire, on 25 April 1955, and was raised mainly by his grandmother after his mother died when he was five.[3] He felt the first call to the priesthood when he was eight years old.[4] He worked briefly for NatWest Bank before becoming a seminarian for the Diocese of Leeds and studying at St Cuthbert's College, Ushaw.[4]

Priesthood

Moger was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Leeds at St. Mary's church, Halifax, by then-bishop of Leeds Gordon Wheeler in 1982.[1] He served various roles throughout the diocese, including as a parochial vicar, the vocations director for the Diocese, and as a chaplain at a Sue Ryder home. In 2008 he was appointed a prelate of honour, a canon of the chapter of Leeds Cathedral, and dean of the cathedral. Additionally, he oversaw the liturgical planning for Pope Benedict XVI's 2010 visit to the United Kingdom.[5] In 2020, he became the rector of the Basilica of Our Lady of Walsingham in Little Walsingham, Norfolk.[3]

He was also named the first Catholic honorary canon of the Church of England's Ripon Cathedral by Bishop John Packer in 2008, as well as serving as the Catholic observer on the Church of England's Liturgical Commission.[6]

Episcopacy

Auxiliary Bishop of Southwark

In November 2022 Pope Francis appointed Moger an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Southwark, with the titular see of Glastonia.[3] He was consecrated a bishop at St. George Cathedral on 21 February 2023 by Archbishop John Wilson with Bishop Marcus Stock and Bishop Paul Hendricks acting as the principal co-consecrators.[7][8]

Bishop of Plymouth

On the 13th September 2024 it was announced that Pope Francis had appointed Moger as bishop of the Diocese of Plymouth.[9] Commenting on his appointment, he said, "I’m very honoured to be asked by Pope Francis to be the tenth Bishop of this great Diocese of Plymouth… I look forward to visiting and getting to know the clergy, religious and lay faithful in this beautiful part of the Lord’s vineyard."[10]

He was due to be installed as bishop on Saturday 9th November at the Cathedral Church of St Mary and St Boniface, Plymouth.[11] On 6th November, however, Moger issued an apology stating he intended to postpone his installation until termination of the investigation of personal issued raised.[12] Mentions of due process in his statement raised the question of if Moger was subject to a canonical inquiry.[13]

References

  1. ^ a b Ordination Register of the Diocese of Leeds, Diocesan Archive of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Leeds. 26 June 1982.
  2. ^ james (13 September 2024). "Pope Francis appoints Bishop Philip Moger as the new Bishop of Plymouth". Catholic Bishops' Conference. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "Resignations and Appointments". Holy See Press Office. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  4. ^ a b "An interview with the Walsingham Catholic National Shrine's Rector, Mgr Philip Moger". Catholic National Shrine of Our Lady. 12 November 2020. Archived from the original on 18 June 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  5. ^ "Rt Rev. Philip Moger". Catholic Bishops' Conference. Archived from the original on 28 November 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  6. ^ "New rector for National Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham". Catholicireland.net. 30 January 2020. Archived from the original on 28 November 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  7. ^ "Bishop Philip Robert Moger". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  8. ^ "New Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese of Southwark". Catholic Bishops' Conference. 28 November 2022. Archived from the original on 28 November 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  9. ^ james (13 September 2024). "Pope Francis appoints Bishop Philip Moger as the new Bishop of Plymouth". Catholic Bishops' Conference. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  10. ^ james (13 September 2024). "Pope Francis appoints Bishop Philip Moger as the new Bishop of Plymouth". Catholic Bishops' Conference. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  11. ^ james (13 September 2024). "Pope Francis appoints Bishop Philip Moger as the new Bishop of Plymouth". Catholic Bishops' Conference. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  12. ^ "Installation Statement from the Bishop-elect of Plymouth". Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales. 6 November 2024. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
  13. ^ "English diocese sees bishop's installation halted — again". www.pillarcatholic.com/. 7 November 2024. Retrieved 7 November 2024.