William Medley

William Francis Medley (born September 17, 1952) is an American clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. A former priest of the Archdiocese of Louisville, he is the current Bishop of the Diocese of Owensboro.

Biography

William Medley was born in Loretto, Kentucky, to James Werner and Dorothy (née Hayden) Medley.[1] Following his graduation from St. Thomas Seminary High School, he studied at Bellarmine College in Louisville, from where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy and psychology.[1] He earned a Master of Divinity degree from St. Meinrad School of Theology in St. Meinrad, Indiana.[2] From 1974 to 1978, he served as a social worker for the Kentucky Department of Human Resources.[1]

On May 22, 1982, Medley was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Thomas C. Kelly, O.P.[3] He then served as associate pastor at St. Pius X Church and chaplain at Assumption High School in Louisville until 1985, when he became associate pastor at the Cathedral of the Assumption.[2] In 1988, he was named administrator of St. Benedict Church, St. Charles Borromeo Church and Holy Cross Church, all three of which were merged to form St. Martin de Porres Church in 1990.[1] He became director of the Office of Clergy Personnel in 1989, and served as rector of St. Joseph Proto-Cathedral (the original seat of the Archdiocese of Louisville) from 1993 to 2005.[2] During Medley's tenure as rector, St. Joseph was elevated to the rank of a basilica and had its sanctuary renovated.[4]

Medley was named pastor of Mother of Good Counsel Church in Louisville in 2005, and of Transfiguration of Our Lord Parish in Goshen in 2007.[1] In 2008, these two parishes were merged to form St. Bernadette Church in Prospect, with Medley remaining as pastor.[1] In addition to his pastoral duties, he was also a member of the College of Consultors, Priests' Council, Planning Commission, Priests' Health Panel, and Priests' Personnel Board.[1] He also served as president of the Bardstown/Nelson County Ministerial Association and on the Nelson County Human Rights Commission.[1]

On December 15, 2009, Medley was appointed the fourth Bishop of Owensboro by Pope Benedict XVI.[3] His episcopal consecration took place on February 10, 2010, at the Owensboro Sports Center.[4] He has selected as his episcopal motto: "Holy Is God's Name."[4]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Medley Appointed 4th Bishop For Owensboro Diocese". West Kentucky Star. 2009-12-15. http://www.westkentuckystar.com/News/Local---Regional/Western-Kentucky/Medley-Appointed-4th-Bishop-For-Owensboro-Diocese-. 
  2. ^ a b c "Louisville Pastor Named Bishop of Owensboro, Kentucky; Succeeds Bishop McRaith". United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. 2009-12-15. http://www.usccb.org/comm/archives/2009/09-257.shtml. 
  3. ^ a b "Bishop William F. Medley". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bmedley.html. 
  4. ^ a b c Palmo, Rocco (2009-12-15). "O, Wensboro: For West Kentucky, an Advent Medley". Whispers in the Loggia. http://whispersintheloggia.blogspot.com/2009/12/o-wensboro-for-west-kentucky-advent.html.