View source for Michael Russell (bishop of Waterford and Lismore)

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Use Irish English|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox bishopstyles |
name=Michael Russell|
dipstyle=[[Most Reverend|The Most Reverend]] |
offstyle=[[Grace (style)|Your Grace]] |
relstyle=[[Bishop (Catholic Church)|Bishop]] |
alma_mater=[[Maynooth College]]|
deathstyle=none |}}
'''Michael Russell''' (10 December 1920 – 12 January 2009) was the Roman Catholic [[Bishop (Catholic Church)|Bishop]] of [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Waterford and Lismore|Waterford and Lismore]] in [[Ireland]] from 1965 to 1993.
==Education and Ordination==
Born in Loughmore, [[Thurles]], Co Tipperary, in 1920, Russell was educated at the Christian Brothers School in [[Thurles]], and played minor hurling for Tipperary.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.munster-express.ie/local-news/‘humble-and-gentle-bishop-michael-russell-is-laid-to-rest/| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111028134710/http://www.munster-express.ie/local-news/%e2%80%98humble-and-gentle-bishop-michael-russell-is-laid-to-rest/| archive-date = 2011-10-28| title = 'Humble and gentle' Bishop Michael Russell is laid to rest {{!}} Munster Express Online}} </ref>
He was sent to study for the priesthood at [[St Patrick's College, Maynooth]] and was ordained there on 17 June 1945 for service in the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly]]. He began postgraduate studies and, in 1948, was awarded a doctorate in [[Canon Law]].  In the summer he was appointed to the staff of [[St. Patrick's College, Thurles]] where he lectured where he lectured in moral theology. He became vice-president in 1959.<ref>[https://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0113/1231738220580.html Bishop Russell dies, aged 88]</ref>
==Episcopal Ministry==
His appointment as Bishop of Waterford and Lismore was announced by Pope [[Paul VI]] on 8 November 1965 in succession to Bishop [[Daniel Cohalan (bishop of Waterford and Lismore)]].  Even though Russell was not yet ordained a bishop, he attended the final session of the [[Second Vatican Council]] and received episcopal ordination in the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, Waterford, on 19 December 1965.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.catholicbishops.ie/2009/01/15/bishop-william-lee-homily-solemn-requiem-mass-bishop-michael-russell-rip/|title = Bishop William Lee homily at Solemn Requiem Mass for Bishop Michael Russell RIP}}</ref>  He took as his episcopal motto 'Humilitate et Lenitate' (humility and gentleness.)
In 1984 the highlight of the trip to Ireland by President [[Ronald Reagan]] was a visit to his ancestral home village of Ballyporeen in Russell's Waterford diocese. He, along with every other Catholic bishop invited to similar events, refused to attend and gave no explanation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishcentral.com/roots/history/irish-bishops-treated-ronald-reagan-like-the-plague-says-historian|title = Irish bishops treated Ronald Reagan "like the plague" says historian|date = 14 May 2018}}</ref>
At his death he was reported to have been the last surviving Irish bishop who had taken part in the [[Second Vatican Council]].   The same obituary recalled his episcopal ministry in Waterford  "He oversaw the building of many new churches in the expanding suburbs of Waterford city particularly.....he was very committed to the active, social care of his flock, particularly where new community centres and the elderly were concerned. He was also a great supporter the credit unions."<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/last-irishman-at-second-vatican-council-as-bishop-1.1236773 | title=Last Irishman at second Vatican Council as bishop | newspaper=The Irish Times | date=24 January 2009 | accessdate=23 January 2021 }}</ref>
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{authority control}}
{{Roman Catholic bishops of Waterford and Lismore}}
{{Roman Catholic dioceses in Ireland}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Russell, Michael}}
[[Category:1920 births]]
[[Category:2009 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Thurles]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic bishops of Waterford and Lismore]]
[[Category:Alumni of St Patrick's College, Maynooth]]
[[Category:20th-century Roman Catholic bishops in Ireland]]
[[Category:Christian clergy from County Tipperary]]
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