Msgr. Reidy to be Sixth Bishop of Norwich

His Holiness, Pope Francis, has appointed Monsignor Richard F. Reidy, JCL, presently Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia of the Diocese of Worcester, to become the sixth Bishop of Norwich, Connecticut. His ordination and installation will take place on April 29, 2025 at St. Patrick Cathedral in Norwich. The announcement was made this morning 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, Archbishop of Hartford, is currently serving as Apostolic Administrator of the diocese.
 
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, Worcester. He was educated in Worcester and Boston. 
 
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 at the North American College in Rome where he received a bachelor’s degree in sacred theology from the Gregorian University. He earned a master’s degree in spirituality from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome.  
 
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 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. 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 Diocese of Norwich serves more than 230,000 Catholics, according to the diocesan website, in Middlesex, New London, Tolland and Windham Counties in Connecticut as well as Fishers Island – a portion of Suffolk County in the state of New York. The total population exceeds 705,000 people.
 
 
Editors note: Bishop-elect Reidy will be attending a press availability in Norwich on Wednesday at 10:30. The Diocesan Communications Director is Wayne Gignac, [email protected], 860-887-3933 x414.