William Philbin

William J. Philbin (26 January 1907 - 23 August 1991) was an Irish Roman Catholic Prelate. From 1962 until his retirement, he held the title Bishop of Down and Connor.

Career

William Philbin was born in Kiltimagh in County Mayo, Ireland on 26 January 1907.

At the age of 17 he went to St Patrick's College, Maynooth for the diocese of Achrony and was ordained on the 21 June 1931. He spent most of his ministry as a professor of dogmatic theology at St Patrick's College, Maynooth.

As a student Philbin was the editor of Leabhar Nuidheacht, published at Maynooth and later, as professor he was the joint editor of the Irish Theological Quarterly.

On 22 December 1953 Pope Pius XII appointed him Bishop of Clonfert, Ireland. He attended all four sessions of the Second Vatican Council.

Upon the death of Bishop Daniel Mageean in 1962, Pope John XXIII appointed him the 29th Bishop of Down and Connor. His stewardship of the diocese was marked by the outbreak of the Troubles in the late 1960s.

He was succeeded as Bishop by Cahal Daly, his Peritus at the Second Vatican Council, in November 1982.

Philbin died August 22, 1991 in Dublin and in buried in St.Peter's Cathedral, Belfast

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