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February 12, 2025By Maria Young
The Catholic Free Press
Msgr. Richard F. Reidy, vicar general and moderator of the curia, has been appointed by Pope Francis as the next bishop of the Diocese of Norwich, Connecticut.
Bishop-elect Reidy’s appointment was publicized Wednesday morning in Washington, D.C., by Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States.
Bishop-elect Reidy succeeds Bishop Emeritus Michael C. Cote, who retired Sept. 3, 2024, after 21 years as bishop of the Norwich diocese. Archbishop Christopher J. Coyne of the Archdiocese of Hartford, Connecticut, has been the apostolic administrator for Norwich during the vacant period since Bishop Cote’s retirement.
Bishop-elect Reidy told The Catholic Free Press that he was “stunned” when he received Cardinal Pierre’s phone call on behalf of the pope asking him to be bishop.
He said he asked the cardinal for time to pray and speak with his spiritual advisor, who was not immediately available. That night, unable to sleep, he prostrated himself before the altar in extended prayer at Christ the King Church in Worcester, (the parish where he is in residence). The following morning, after speaking with his spiritual advisor, with peace, he accepted the assignment.
At a press conference Wednesday morning at the chancery in Norwich, introduced by Archbishop Coyne, Bishop-elect Reidy expressed his gratitude to Pope Francis for appointing him to the position; to Archbishop Coyne for his support over the past few days; to Bishop McManus for having worked so closely together over the years in Worcester, and calling his “integrity, courage and fidelity” an inspiration to him; and Bishop Reilly, the fourth bishop of Worcester and third of Norwich, whose love of people left “deep impressions” on him.
He said he looks forward to thanking and meeting Bishop Emeritus Cote.
“Above all, I thank God for life which is a gift, for my baptism making me a member of the Church, for my vocation as a priest and now as a bishop,” he added.
Bishop McManus told The Catholic Free Press that “our loss is their gain,” and expressed joy for his brother priest.
“Bishop-elect Reidy is an exemplary priest who has served the Diocese of Worcester with great devotion and pastoral enthusiasm as a parish priest, Diocesan Tribunal Canon Lawyer, and for the last twelve years as Vicar General,” Bishop McManus stated.
“The Bishop-elect is a holy priest who has ministered to the people who have been committed to his pastoral care with zeal and compassion. Although I shall miss Bishop-elect Reidy’s competence as a valued co-worker in our diocesan administration, I am delighted for the Diocese of Norwich, as the People of God in that wonderful diocese prepare to receive their new Shepherd.”
Bishop-elect Reidy said that the first thing he needs to do as bishop is get to know the people, visit parishes and learn about the communities. He looks forward to listening to and talking with the people of the Diocese of Norwich.
He reminisced on the people he has encountered in his 30 years as a priest, many becoming friends and others “like family” – celebrating with them at weddings and baptisms and those of their children. He said he hopes to extend that “family” in Norwich.
He has been “edified and inspired by the holy lay people raising their families at home,” others in various working professions, “widows and widowers, and those bearing with the frailty of old age, illness or injury,” he said. “You are all valued and beloved members of the Church.”
He thanked the people for their faith and asked for prayers that he may be a “worthy” bishop.
The Diocese of Norwich serves about 230,000 Catholics, according to the diocesan website, in all counties of Middlesex, New London, Tolland and Windham in Connecticut as well as Fishers Island – a portion of Suffolk County in the state of New York.
Bishop-elect Reidy’s installation Mass will be held on April 29 at 2 p.m. at St. Patrick Cathedral in Norwich. At this time, further details regarding the installation are still being planned.
About Bishop-elect Reidy
Bishop-elect Reidy was born May 30, 1958, in Worcester, the son of Robert C. and Barbara A. (Lee) Reidy. His home parish was Immaculate Conception in Worcester.
Bishop-elect Reidy received a bachelor’s degree in political science from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester in 1980, and a Juris Doctor from Boston College of Law in Newton in 1983.
He was a member of the law firm of Mirick, O’Connell, DeMallie and Lougee from 1983 to 1990, before beginning studies for the priesthood at St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore. He continued his studies in Rome at the Pontifical North American College from 1991 to 1994, earning a doctorate in sacred theology in 1993 from the Pontifical Gregorian University, and a master’s degree in spirituality at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in 1994.
He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Timothy J. Harrington on June 25, 1994, in St. Paul Cathedral.
Following ordination Bishop-elect Reidy served as associate pastor of St. Peter Parish, Worcester.
He was named rector of St. Paul Cathedral and pastor of St. Paul Parish on June 6, 1995. He served as diocesan chaplain of the Boy Scouts of America from 1996-2008. In August of 2008 he began graduate studies in canon law at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., where he earned his licentiate in canon law in 2010.
Upon his return to the diocese, he was appointed pastor of St. Ann Parish in North Oxford and defender of the bond for the diocesan Tribunal in the Judicial Vicar’s Office.
Bishop-elect Reidy was appointed vicar general and moderator of the curia, with residence at Christ the King Parish in Worcester, on July 6, 2013. He served as temporary administrator in several parishes, including St. Paul and St. Stanislaus parishes in Warren from January 2022 to August 2023.
Bishop-elect Reidy was named a chaplain to his holiness with the title of Reverend Monsignor by Pope Francis on Aug. 30, 2023.
The Worcester- Norwich Connection
Bishop-elect Reidy, born and raised in Worcester, is to become the sixth bishop of Norwich. A few of his predecessors also have ties to the city.
Bishop Bernard J. Flanagan, the first bishop of the Diocese of Norwich (1953-1959), later became the second bishop of the Diocese of Worcester in 1959 and served through 1983. He also attended the College of the Holy Cross in the city.
Bishop Daniel P. Reilly served the Diocese of Norwich as its third bishop from 1975 through 1994 until becoming the fourth bishop of the Diocese of Worcester from 1994 through 2004.
Bishop Cote, the fifth bishop of Norwich, attended Assumption University (then College) in Worcester and earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy.
