Michael Russell (10 December 1920 – 12 January 2009) was the Roman Catholic

Bishop A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...

of Waterford and Lismore in

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

from 1965 to 1993.

Education and Ordination

Born in Loughmore,

Thurles Thurles (; ''Durlas Éile'') is a town in County Tipperary, Ireland. It is located in the civil parish of the same name in the barony of Eliogarty and in the ecclesiastical parish of Thurles (Roman Catholic parish), Thurles. The cathedral ch ...

, Co Tipperary, in 1920, Russell was educated at the Christian Brothers School in

, and played minor hurling for Tipperary. He was sent to study for the priesthood at

St Patrick's College, Maynooth St Patrick's Pontifical University, Maynooth ( ga, Coláiste Naoimh Phádraig, Maigh Nuad), is the "National Seminary for Ireland" (a Roman Catholic college), and a pontifical university, located in the town of Maynooth, from Dublin, Ireland. ...

and was ordained there on 17 June 1945 for service in the

Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly The Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly ( ga, Ard-Deoise Chaisil agus Imligh) is an ecclesiastical territory or archdiocese of the Catholic Church ( particularly the Roman Catholic or Latin Church) located in mid-western Ireland and the metropolis ...

. He began postgraduate studies and, in 1948, was awarded a doctorate in

Canon Law Canon law (from grc, κανών, , a 'straight measuring rod, ruler') is a set of ordinances and regulations made by ecclesiastical authority (church leadership) for the government of a Christian organization or church and its members. It is th ...

. In the summer he was appointed to the staff of

St. Patrick's College, Thurles Mary Immaculate College, (MIC) Thurles is a third level college of education in Thurles, County Tipperary. Formerly a seminary, the college specialises in humanities courses in accounting, business studies, Irish and religious studies. History M ...

where he lectured where he lectured in moral theology. He became vice-president in 1959.

Episcopal Ministry

His appointment as Bishop of Waterford and Lismore was announced by Pope

Paul VI Pope Paul VI ( la, Paulus VI; it, Paolo VI; born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini, ; 26 September 18976 August 1978) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City, Vatican City State from 21 June 1963 to his ...

on 8 November 1965 in succession to Bishop

Daniel Cohalan (bishop of Waterford and Lismore) The Most Reverend Daniel Cohalan (1884–1965) was an Irish Roman Catholic clergyman who served as Bishop of Waterford and Lismore from 1943 to 1965. Early life and education He was born in Kilmichael in County Cork, Ireland on 28 January 1884. ...

. Even though Russell was not yet ordained a bishop, he attended the final session of the

Second Vatican Council The Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican, commonly known as the , or , was the 21st Catholic ecumenical councils, ecumenical council of the Roman Catholic Church. The council met in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome for four periods (or sessions) ...

and received episcopal ordination in the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, Waterford, on 19 December 1965. He took as his episcopal motto 'Humilitate et Lenitate' (humility and gentleness.) In 1984 the highlight of the trip to Ireland by President

Ronald Reagan Ronald Wilson Reagan ( ; February 6, 1911June 5, 2004) was an American politician, actor, and union leader who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. He also served as the 33rd governor of California from 1967 ...

was a visit to his ancestral home village of Ballyporeen in Russell's Waterford diocese. He, along with every other Catholic bishop invited to similar events, refused to attend and gave no explanation. At his death he was reported to have been the last surviving Irish bishop who had taken part in the

. The same obituary recalled his episcopal ministry in Waterford "He oversaw the building of many new churches in the expanding suburbs of Waterford city particularly.....he was very committed to the active, social care of his flock, particularly where new community centres and the elderly were concerned. He was also a great supporter the credit unions."

References

1920 births 2009 deaths People from Thurles Roman Catholic bishops of Waterford and Lismore Alumni of St Patrick's College, Maynooth 20th-century Roman Catholic bishops in Ireland {{Ireland-RC-bishop-stub