Ralph Heskett C.Ss.R. (born 3 March 1953) is an English Roman Catholic prelate who has been the Bishop of Hallam since July 2014, having immediately before that been Bishop of Gibraltar from 2010 to 2014.[1][2]


Ralph Heskett

Bishop of Hallam
Heskett in Gibraltar in 2016
ChurchRoman Catholic Church
ProvinceLiverpool
DioceseHallam
Appointed20 May 2014
Installed10 July 2014
PredecessorJohn Rawsthorne
Previous post(s)Bishop of Gibraltar, 2010-2014
Orders
Ordination10 July 1976
by Hugh Lindsay
Consecration10 July 2010
by Michael Bowen
Personal details
Born (1953-03-03) 3 March 1953 (age 71)
NationalityEnglish
DenominationRoman Catholic
Styles of
Ralph Heskett C.Ss.R.
Reference styleThe Right Reverend
Spoken styleMy Lord
Religious styleBishop

Early life and ministry

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Hesket was born in Sunderland in England. He was educated at Saint Aidan's Grammar School, Sunderland, a Christian Brothers school, from 1964 to 1969. He was a seminarian from 1969 to 1970 at the Redemptorist order's minor seminary in Birmingham. He was subsequently a novice of the order in Perth, Scotland.

On 21 August 1971 he began his theological studies at Hawkstone Hall and Canterbury. He was ordained as a priest on 10 July 1976 at St Benet's Church, Monkwearmouth, Sunderland.[2] After ordination he worked in Scotland until 1980 and then England until 1984. From 1987 to 1990 he was the Redemptorist order's superior and the pastor of Our Lady of the Annunciation at Bishop Eton, Liverpool.

From 1997 to 1999 he studied at All Hallows College. He was parish priest at St Mary's Roman Catholic Church, Clapham from 1999 to 2008.[3]

Episcopate

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He was appointed the bishop of the Diocese of Gibraltar by Pope Benedict XVI on 18 March 2010.[2] His consecration to the episcopate took place on 10 July 2010; the principal consecrator was the Most Reverend Michael George Bowen, Archbishop Emeritus of Southwark, with the Right Reverend Charles Caruana, Bishop Emeritus of Gibraltar, and the Right Reverend Thomas Matthew Burns, Bishop of Menevia, as co-consecrators.[2]

Heskett was appointed bishop of the Diocese of Hallam by Pope Francis on 20 May 2014,[2] and installed during a Mass on 10 July 2014.[citation needed]

References

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  1. ^ "Pope Francis appoints new Bishop of Hallam". independent catholic news. 20 May 2014. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Bishop Ralph Heskett, C.Ss.R." Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
  3. ^ Rt Rev Ralph Heskett C.Ss.R, Catholic Bishops Conference, retrieved 2 October 2013
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Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Bishop of Gibraltar
2010–2014
Succeeded by
Preceded by Bishop of Hallam
2014–present
Incumbent