Glasgow has a new Archbishop with the news that Pope Francis has appointed Bishop William Nolan.
Bishop Nolan, the current Bishop of Galloway, will be installed as successor of St Mungo in St Andrew’s Cathedral on February 26.
The 68-year-old was baptised in St Patrick’s Church, Craigneuk and educated at Cathedral Primary School in Motherwell, St Patrick’s Primary, Craigneuk, St Vincent’s College, Langbank (1965-67), and St Mary’s College, Blairs (1967-71).
Father Nolan was ordained priest for the Diocese of Motherwell in 1977 and served as assistant priest of Our Lady of Lourdes in East Kilbride, St David’s in Plains and St Bridget’s in Baillieston, before serving as parish priest of Our Lady of Lourdes, East Kilbride.
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He was nominated as Bishop of Galloway in November of 2014 by Pope Francis and consecrated in the Grand Hall, Kilmarnock in February of 2015 by Archbishop Leo Cushley of St. Andrews and Edinburgh.
Reacting to the announcement, Bishop Nolan said: “I feel overwhelmed by the trust Pope Francis is putting in me by appointing me as Archbishop of Glasgow. It will be wrench for me to leave Galloway Diocese where for seven years I have experienced the kindness and friendship of so many people, particularly the clergy. God truly blessed me by sending me to Galloway and I hope that my successor there will be similarly blessed.
“As I overcome my initial shock at being appointed Archbishop my thoughts now turn to the challenges that lies ahead. I look forward to working with everyone in the Archdiocese, laity and clergy, to carry out the mission that we share of proclaiming God’s good news and of bringing the joy of the gospel into the lives of the people of today.”
Bishop Nolan added: “I am well aware of my own inadequacies and of the difficulties the Church faces today. Thank God therefore that we can be sure of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in the Church. As I leave the Diocese of Galloway behind, from now on I belong to Glasgow. And I assure the people of Glasgow of my commitment and dedication to them. Please remember me in your prayers."
