The Bishop of Meath, Bishop Michael Smith, together with the other Irish bishops, returned from Rome last weekend at the conclusion of their 5-yearly ‘Ad Limina’ meetings with Pope Francis and Vatican officials.
33 YEARS AGO
Last Sunday, 29 January, Bishop Smith marked 33 years as a bishop.
The episcopal ordination of the then Fr. Michael Smith (43) took place in the Cathedral of Christ the King, Mullingar on Sunday, 29 January, 1984, when he became the Auxiliary Bishop of Meath and the youngest bishop in Ireland at the time.
Four years later, on Monday, 10 October, 1988, he was appointed Co-adjutor Bishop of Meath.
LONGEST SERVING
Bishop Smith is now the longest serving bishop in Ireland and is one of the longest ever serving Bishops of Meath.
A native of Oldcastle, Co. Meath, he was ordained a priest 54 years ago, on Sunday, 9 March, 1963.