Who Is The Catholic Bishop Of Belize?

The current Catholic Bishop of Belize is Lawrence Sydney Nicasio, who has been in the role since 26 January 2017. He is the Bishop of Belize City-Belmopan, which is a diocese of the Latin Church of the Roman Catholic Church in continental Central America. Nicasio was born in 1956 and came from a Garifuna family. He attended Augustine High School and later studied philosophy and theology in the US. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1989 and served as Vicar in Belmopan for 13 years. He was appointed Bishop of Belize City-Belmopan by Pope Francis in 2017. Unfortunately, Nicasio passed away on 1 January 2024 at the age of 67 after a struggle with cancer.

The current Bishop of Belize City and Belmopan is Lawrence Sydney Nicasio

Nicasio served as a Vicar in Belmopan for 13 years from 1991 to 2004, and was then pastor in Orange Walk Town. He was also pastor of two suburban churches in Belize City: St. Ignatius from 2005 to 2008, and St. John Vianney from 2008 to 2013. Nicasio received his episcopal consecration from the Apostolic Nuncio in Belize, Archbishop Léon Kalenga Badikebele, on 13 May 2017. The co-consecrators were the Archbishop of Nassau, Patrick Christopher Pinder, and Fernand J. Cheri, OFM, Auxiliary Bishop in New Orleans.

Nicasio's tenure as Bishop was marked by health difficulties. He underwent surgery in the U.S. in 2022 and sadly passed away on 1 January 2024 at the age of 67, after a battle with cancer. Following his death, Fr. Jordan Gongora was appointed administrator of the Diocese of Belize City-Belmopan, governing the diocese until a new bishop is appointed.

Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Bishop Dorick M. Wright in 2017

Pope Francis's acceptance of Bishop Dorick M. Wright's resignation in 2017 marked a turning point for the Catholic Church in Belize. Bishop Wright, who served as the fourth bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Belize City-Belmopan from 2006 to 2017, stepped down on January 26, 2017, with Pope Francis officially accepting his resignation. This decision came at a time when Bishop Wright was facing a series of health challenges, including failing eyesight and kidney failure, which had already led to the appointment of an auxiliary bishop, Viatorian Fr. Christopher Glancy, in 2012.

Bishop Wright's tenure as bishop was marked by his strong opposition to the decriminalization of homosexual activity in Belize, a stance supported by the Belize Evangelical Council and later the Belize Council of Churches, which included the Roman Catholic Church in Belize. Despite his controversial views, Wright was dedicated to the religious education and training of priests. He founded the St. Benedict Diocesan Seminary, a minor seminary that opened in 2013, offering two years of college training for those studying for the priesthood.

Born on November 15, 1945, Dorick McGowan Wright had a personal connection to the Catholic Church in Belize from a young age. Growing up in the Holy Redeemer Cathedral parish, he experienced a tragedy in his mid-teens when he lost his mother, two sisters, and a brother in Hurricane Hattie. This life-altering event is symbolically represented by the tree on Bishop Wright's coat of arms, depicting the mango tree that saved his life. After completing his education and being ordained in 1975, he served in various parishes, including St. Joseph Parish, Holy Redeemer Cathedral parish, and Inmaculada Parish in Orange Walk.

Following Bishop Wright's resignation, Pope Francis appointed Fr. Lawrence Sydney Nicasio as the new bishop of the Diocese of Belize City-Belmopan. Bishop Nicasio's tenure, however, was also marked by health difficulties, including a battle with cancer that ultimately led to his untimely death in 2024. In the wake of Bishop Nicasio's passing, Fr. Jordan Gongora was named vicar general and served as the administrator of the diocese until the appointment of a new bishop.

Bishop Wright suffered from health problems, including kidney failure

Dorick McGowan Wright was the Catholic Bishop of Belize from 2006 until his resignation in 2017. He suffered from a series of major health problems, including kidney failure.

Wright's health issues were serious enough to warrant the appointment of an auxiliary bishop, Christopher Glancy, in 2012. Glancy was tasked with assisting Bishop Wright in leading the diocese. Despite his health problems, Wright continued to serve as Bishop until his resignation in 2017, at the age of 71.

Kidney failure is a condition where the kidneys are unable to adequately filter waste and excess fluid from the blood. It can be caused by various factors, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or glomerulonephritis. The condition can lead to a build-up of waste products in the body, resulting in symptoms like fatigue, nausea, and swelling in the legs and feet. Treatment options may include dialysis or a kidney transplant, depending on the severity of the condition.

In addition to kidney failure, Wright may have faced other health challenges that have not been disclosed publicly. It is not uncommon for individuals to experience multiple health issues, especially as they advance in age. However, no other specific health problems have been mentioned in relation to Bishop Wright.

The impact of Wright's health problems extended beyond his personal well-being. His resignation in 2017, likely influenced by his health, left a leadership vacuum in the diocese. This transition period can be challenging for any organisation, and the appointment of a new bishop is a significant undertaking. The Vatican is responsible for appointing new bishops, and the process involves drawing up a profile of the ideal candidate and making a selection that aligns with the needs and characteristics of the diocese.

The Diocese of Belize City-Belmopan is part of the Latin Church

The Diocese of Belize City-Belmopan is a diocese of the Latin Church of the Roman Catholic Church in continental Central America. The diocese covers the entirety of Belize, formerly known as British Honduras. It is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Kingston in Jamaica and a member of the Antilles Episcopal Conference. The diocese was erected as the Apostolic Prefecture of British Honduras on 10 June 1888, on territory split from the Apostolic Vicariate of Jamaica.

On 1 March 1893, it was elevated to the Apostolic Vicariate of British Honduras, thus becoming entitled to a titular bishop. The diocese was then renamed the Apostolic Vicariate of Belize on 15 December 1925, after its see. On 29 February 1956, it was elevated to the Diocese of Belize.

On 31 December 1983, the name of the diocese was changed to the Diocese of Belize City-Belmopan. As of 2014, the diocese served 162,100 Catholics (48.5% of the total population) across 13 parishes and 5 missions, with 46 priests, 2 deacons, and 95 lay religious. The cathedral of the diocese, also known as its mother church, is the Holy Redeemer Cathedral in Belize City. Our Lady of Guadalupe Co-Cathedral in Belmopan is the co-cathedral of the diocese.

The Diocese covers the entirety of Belize

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Belize City–Belmopan covers the entirety of Belize, which was formerly known as British Honduras. The diocese is part of the Latin Church of the Roman Catholic Church in continental Central America.

The history of the diocese goes back to 1888 when it was erected as the Apostolic Prefecture of British Honduras. In 1893, it was elevated to the Apostolic Vicariate of British Honduras, and in 1925, its name was changed to the Apostolic Vicariate of Belize. Finally, in 1956, it was elevated to the Diocese of Belize, and in 1983, it was renamed the Diocese of Belize City–Belmopan.

The cathedral of the diocese, also known as its mother church, is Holy Redeemer Cathedral in Belize City. Our Lady of Guadalupe Co-Cathedral in Belmopan is the co-cathedral of the diocese.

As of 2014, the diocese pastorally served approximately 162,100 Catholics, or 48.5% of the total population, across 13 parishes and 5 missions. The diocese has 46 priests, 2 deacons, and 95 lay religious members.

The current bishop of the Diocese of Belize City and Belmopan is Lawrence Sydney Nicasio, who was appointed on 26 January 2017. Bishop Nicasio, unfortunately, passed away on 1 January 2024 at the age of 67 after a struggle with cancer. Fr. Jordan Gongora was appointed to serve as the administrator of the diocese until the appointment of a new bishop.

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