Derek John Christopher Byrne

Derek Byrne S.P.S. (born 17 January 1948) is an Irish prelate of the Catholic Church and a member of the St. Patrick's Missionary Society (Kiltegan Fathers) who was bishop of Primavera do Leste–Paranatinga in Brazil from 2014 to 2023. He was bishop of Guiratinga, Brazil from 2008 to 2014.

Biography edit

Derek John Christopher Byrne was born on 17 January 1948^[1] in Monkstown, County Dublin. He attended Newbridge College.^{[citation needed]}

He studied at University College Cork, earning a BA in Philosophy and Theological Studies in St. Patrick's College, Kiltegan, where he was ordained a priest in 1973.^[2] Following ordination, he went to Brazil, where he served until 1980. He worked in the US and Ireland in fundraising and leadership positions before going back to Brazil in 2003 as parish priest of Castanheira in the state of Mato Grosso.^[3]

On 24 December 2008, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him bishop of Guiratinga in Brazil.^[1]^[4] He received his episcopal consecration on 23 March 2009.^[5]

On 25 June 2014, upon the creation of the new diocese of Primavera do Leste-Paranatinga in Brazil, Pope Francis named Byrne its first bishop.^[5]^[6]

Pope Francis accepted his resignation on 7 June 2023.^[7]

References edit

^ ^a ^b "Rinunce e nomine, 24.12.2008" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 24 December 2008. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
^ "Bishop Derek Byrne SPS". International Eucharistic Congress 2012. Archived from the original on 13 September 2014.
^ Hennigan, Tom (21 March 2009). "Dublin priest embraces mission to lead diocese in deepest Brazil". The Irish Times.
^ "Kiltegan Priest appointed Bishop in Brazil". Kandle. 13 January 2009. Archived from the original on 1 January 2017.
^ ^a ^b "Rinunce e nomine, 25.06.2014" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 25 June 2014. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
^ "El papa Francisco "revoleó" como un hincha más la camiseta de la Argentina". Tribuno de Salta (in Spanish). 25 June 2014. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
^ "Resignations and Appointments, 07.06.2023" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 7 June 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2023.