Michael Charles Evans

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Michael Charles Evans (born 10 August 1951, South London), is currently the third Roman Catholic Bishop of East Anglia, in the Ecclesiastical Province of Westminster.

1 Biography
2 Illness
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Biography

Ordained as a Priest at Southwark on June 22, 1975, Michael Evans spent some time as an assistant priest, then studied for a Master of Theology degree at the University of London for four years (1975 to 1979) subequently returning to St. John's Seminary for eight years as lecturer in Doctrine.

During his time within the Roman Catholic Church, Bishop Michael has held many and varied posts, ranging from the chaplain of a convent school to chairman of the Archdiocese of Southwark's Justice and Peace Coordinating Committee.

On 14 February 2003 Pope John Paul II appointed Canon Evans as the third Bishop of East Anglia. He succeeded the Most Reverend Peter Smith, who is now Archbishop of Cardiff. Canon Michael was ordained as the third Bishop of East Anglia at the Cathedral Church of St John the Baptist, Norwich on 19 March 2003.

On his appointment as the new bishop, Canon Michael Evans said: 'I was astonished to be appointed as Bishop of East Anglia, and have a real sense of my unworthiness for this responsibility, but I accepted this new ministry with a joyful though nervous 'yes'. I look forward to getting to know the diocesan family of East Anglia, and to working with my brother priests and deacons as a team dedicated to the ministry of Christ. As I prepare for my ordination, I ask everyone to keep me in their prayers.'^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Illness

In November 2006 Bishop Michael announced through the Diocesan office in Norwich that he was suffering from prostate cancer and undergoing radiotherapy 1to treat the condition.^[1]

Bishop Michael is one of the younger prostate cancer sufferers as the disease usually strikes people over the age of 60 unless there is a family history of the illness. He said he has been helped through the illness by the radiotherapy team at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, support from the community and his faith in God ^[2]

“I am in the recovery period at the moment”, the bishop said. “I have finished the radiotherapy sessions but I have no idea what the long term affects [sic] are. I will not find that out until at least next month when I have more tests ... I am much more tired than I was when I was having treatment and have had to rest a great deal. This is meant to be the worst time for side-effects and I am really feeling it ... It has been a real battle but I have had a lot of support from everyone and at no time did I even consider giving up. It is one of those things that you have to just keep fighting.”^[3]