Richard Brendan Higgins

Richard Brendan Higgins KC*HS, USAF (ret)[1] (born February 22, 1944) is an Irish-born American bishop of the Roman Catholic Church.

For the United States Army Air Forces pilot, see Richard W. Higgins.
His Excellency, The Most Reverend

Richard Brendan Higgins
Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus for the Military Services, USA
Titular Bishop of Casae Calanae
Richard Higgins in 2013
ArchdioceseMilitary Services, USA
AppointedMay 7, 2004
InstalledJuly 3, 2004
Term endedJanuary 2, 2020
Other post(s)Titular Bishop of Casae Calanae
Orders
OrdinationMarch 9, 1968
ConsecrationJuly 3, 2004
by Edwin Frederick O'Brien, Howard James Hubbard, and William Weigand
Personal details
Born (1944-02-22) February 22, 1944
Longford, County Longford, Ireland
DiedJanuary 2, 2020
St. Peter's Square, Vatican City
MottoEcce Ego Mitte Me
Coat of arms
Styles of
Richard Brendan Higgins
Reference style
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleBishop

Higgins is the titular bishop of the Casae Calanae and served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA from 2004 to 2020.

Biography

Higgins was born in Longford, County Longford, Ireland. He studied for the priesthood at the Pontifical Irish College in Rome, attending the Pontifical Lateran University.[2]

On March 9, 1968, Higgins was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Sacramento at the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome. [2] After arriving in California, Higgins had pastoral assignments in Roseville, California, and Grass Valley, California.[2]

In September 1974, Higgins joined the United States Air Force Chaplain Corps. His assignments as chaplain included Lowry Air Force Base, NAS Keflavik, Laughlin Air Force Base, Bitburg AB, Malmstrom AFB, Maxwell Air Force Base, RAF Lakenheath, Nellis AFB, and Pope Air Force Base.[2]

Higgins's postings also included the Air Command and Staff College, the United States Air Force Academy, Headquarters United States Air Forces Europe, and Headquarters Pacific Air Forces.[2] While serving in the USAF, Higgins was awarded an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate and several Flight Instructor Certificates.[2]

In 1997, Pope John Paul II named Higgins an Honorary Prelate of His Holiness (monsignor).[2]

Auxiliary Bishop of the Military Services, USA

On May 7, 2004, John Paul II appointed Higgins as Titular Bishop of Casae Calanae.[3] He was installed and consecrated on July 3, 2004, at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. The Principal Consecrator was Archbishop Edwin O'Brien; his Principal Co-Consecrators were Bishop Howard Hubbard and Bishop William Weigand.[2]

On September 1, 2004, Higgins retired from the US Air Force with the rank of colonel. His military decorations include the Legion of Merit with one oak leaf cluster and the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with seven oak leaf clusters.[2]

Retirement as bishop

On January 2, 2020, Pope Francis accepted Higgins's resignation as bishop, which he submitted upon reaching the age of 75 as required by canon law.[4]

See also

References
  1. "Most Rev. Richard B. Higgins, S.T.L., D.D."; Archdiocese for the Military Services (2005); url accessed March 21, 2007
  2. "Bishop Higgins". Archdiocese for the Military, USA. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  3. Ordination of Bishop Higgins
  4. "Pope Francis Accepts Resignation of Auxiliary Bishop Richard Higgins of the Military Services". Retrieved January 2, 2020.


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