William Benedict Friend

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

William Benedict Friend
Denomination Roman Catholic Church
Senior posting
See Shreveport
Title Bishop Emeritus of Shreveport
Period in office 19822008
Predecessor None
Successor Michael Duca
Religious career
Priestly ordination 7 May 1959
Previous bishoprics Diocese of Alexandria-Shreveport
Previous post Bishop of Alexandria-Shreveport
Personal
Date of birth 22 October 1931 (1931-10-22) (age 76)
Place of birth Miami

William Benedict Friend (born 22 October 1931) is the retired bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Shreveport, in Louisiana, and its first bishop.

He was ordained on 7 May 1959 as a priest of the Diocese of Mobile-Birmingham, Alabama. On 31 August 1979, Pope John Paul II appointed him Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Alexandria-Shreveport, and that same day was named bishop of the titular see of Pomaria. He was ordained a Titular Bishop of Pomaria on 30 October 1979. On 17 November 1982, he was appointed bishop of the Diocese of Alexandria-Shreveport.

The Diocese of Shreveport was created on 16 June 1986, from territory carved from the Diocese of Alexandria-Shreveport, which itself was renamed Diocese of Alexandria in Louisiana. On the same day, Bishop Friend was appointed the first Bishop of Shreveport and was installed as bishop on 30 July 1986.

Styles of
William Benedict Friend
Reference style The Most Reverend
Spoken style Your Excellency
Religious style Monsignor
Posthumous style none


On 22 October 2006, Bishop Friend sent the mandatory letter to Pope Benedict XVI resigning the diocese as he had reached the age of 75. His resignation was accepted on 20 December 2006. Bishop Friend will remain at the helm of the diocese as apostolic administrator until a new Bishop is appointed. On 1 April 2008] Pope Benedict named Michael Duca as the new bishop of the diocese ending Friend's duties as apostolic administrator.


[edit] External links

Preceded by
Lawrence Preston Joseph Graves
Bishop of Alexandria-Shreveport
19821986
Succeeded by
John Clement Favalora
Preceded by
None
Bishop of Shreveport
198620 December 2006
Succeeded by
Michael Duca