Most Reverend Michael Mulhall D.D.
Biography
Born: February 25, 1962
Ordained: July 21, 1989
Named Bishop of Pembroke: June 30, 2007
Consecrated: September 21, 2007
Named Archbishop of Kingston: 30 March 2019
Installed as Archbishop of Kingston: 3 May 2019
Apostolic Administrator of Pembroke: 3 May 2019
Most Reverend Michael Mulhall was born in Peterborough, Ontario, on February 25, 1962, one of five children of Vernon and Maureen Mulhall. He received his elementary and secondary education in Peterborough and then studied at Trent University where he obtained his B.A. in 1985. He pursued theological studies in Rome at the Angelicum (S.T.B.—1988) and at the Augustinianum (S.T.L.—1991) while following the formation program at the North American College.
Bishop Mulhall was ordained to the Priesthood for the Diocese of Peterborough on july 21, 1989. From 1991 to 1994, he served in Huntsville. From 1994 to 2002, he served as an official of the Holy See in the Congregation for Oriental Churches. Returning to his native diocese in 2002, he served again briefly in Huntsville and then in Hastings.
In 2003, he was given added responsibilities as Chancellor for Spiritual Affairs and in 2004, as Vicar General of the Diocese of Peterborough. He occupied these positions until June 30, 2007, when he was appointed Bishop of Pembroke, Ontario, by Pope Benedict XVI. He was ordained as the eighth Bishop of Pembroke in St. Columbkille’s Cathedral, Pembroke, Ontario, on September 21, 2007 by the Most Reverend Luigi Ventura, Apostolic Nuncio to Canada.
Coat of Arms
The symbols of the upper one –third portion of the shield represent Our Blessed Lady of the Immaculate Conception, patroness of the North American College in Rome, and on the left the Mulhall family arms. The major section across the centre represents the Hickey family arms. Bishop Mulhall’s home diocese of Peterborough is represented in the lower left of the shield (St. Peter), and to the right, the peace dove standing upon the gold sword represents the diocese of Pembroke (St. Columbkille).
Bishop Mulhall’s motto is Fiduciam habemus apud Deum – “We have confidence before God”. Jesus, the Son and Word, who was with God from eternity (John 1:1), has won for us the confidence of friendship before God our creator. This same idea was dear to the contemplatives of later generations. In their pursuit for holiness, the monks of the desert of Palestine of the 5th adopted this same Greek notion to our relationship with Christ, the confidence or boldness with which we address a dear friend who loves us and who guides us daily. As the Christian makes progress in spiritual perfection through prayer and self-denial, one grows each day in confidence (fiducia). May we appreciate the invitation that Christ offers and grow each day in confidence (fiducia-parresia).