BUFFALO, NY – Bishop Richard J. Malone will address the Canisius University undergraduate Class of 2013 on Saturday, May 18 at 10:00 a.m. in the University at Buffalo’s Alumni Arena (North Campus). The undergraduate class is comprised of 726 Canisius students.
Installed in August 2012, Bishop Malone is the 14th bishop of the Diocese of Buffalo and shepherd to more than 700,000 Western New York Catholics.
Prior to being installed as bishop of the Diocese of Buffalo, Bishop Malone served for eight years as bishop of Portland, Maine. During his tenure, Bishop Malone undertook an ambitious consolidation of the state’s parishes, from 135 to 60. The clustering of parishes, while a difficult decision, was essential to improve the functioning of the diocese in a rural state such as Maine, which has seen dramatic population shifts. In addition to the restructuring, Bishop Malone led the Diocese of Portland in a successful $40 million capital campaign, which took place in the midst of a nationwide economic depression. Bishop Malone continues to serve as apostolic administrator for the Diocese of Portland until a permanent bishop is appointed.
Bishop Malone has bestowed his valuable gift of time in service to numerous national and regional committees, including as a member of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, where he serves as chair of its Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth; the Episcopal Advisory Board of the Catholic Radio Association; the Board of Trustees for St. Joseph’s College in Standish, Maine; and the Board of Directors for Catholic Relief Services.
A native of Salem, Massachusetts, Bishop Malone was ordained in 1972 at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston. He holds a bachelor’s degree from St. John’s Seminary in Boston, a licentiate of sacred theology degree from the Weston Jesuit School of Theology in Cambridge, and a doctor of theology degree from Boston University.
Canisius will confer an honorary doctorate degree upon Bishop Malone during undergraduate commencement ceremonies. Also receiving honorary doctorate degrees are Donald L. Trump, MD, president and CEO of Roswell Park Cancer Institute and Walter Sharrow, PhD, emeritus professor of history at Canisius University.
For more information about undergraduate commencement ceremonies, contact the Office of Public Relations at 716-888-2790.
One of 28 Jesuit universities in the nation, Canisius is the premier private university in Western New York.
