Francis names Paul Mason as new auxiliary for Southwark diocese

Pope Francis has appointed Father Paul Mason (pictured left alongside Archbishop Peter Smith) as the new Auxiliary Bishop of Southwark. Fr Mason, a priest of the Archdiocese of Southwark, has been the Episcopal Vicar for Kent which comprises the Deaneries of Canterbury, Chatham, Dover, Gravesend, Maidstone, Thanet and Tunbridge Wells.

The episcopal ordination of Bishop -Elect Mason will take place in St George’s Cathedral, Southwark, on 31 May at midday, the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. He will join Bishop Patrick Lynch and Bishop Paul Hendricks as Auxiliary Bishops of the Diocese of Southwark, succeeding Bishop John Hine.

Archbishop Peter Smith, Archbishop of Southwark said: “I was delighted to hear the news that Pope Francis has appointed Father Paul Mason as an Auxiliary Bishop in Southwark. He has served this Diocese for many years, recently in working with me in the care of the people in Kent as my Episcopal Vicar to them, following Bishop John Hine’s move to Tenterden. I am very happy that the Holy Father has once again appointed a third auxiliary to Southwark, and I am sure that as Paul begins this new stage in his ordained ministry he will work with the clergy, religious and lay faithful of Kent with the same energy and enthusiasm he has demonstrated as a priest.”

Bishop–Elect Mason said: “Although I have been working as Episcopal Vicar for Kent for just over two years, I still experienced something of a seismic shift when the Nuncio, Archbishop Mennini, handed me a letter saying that Pope Francis wished to appoint me as Auxiliary Bishop for Southwark. Southwark is a wonderful diocese with great energy and diversity where the priests are not only very supportive but also a delight to work with. I look forward to continuing my ministry with Archbishop Peter and to do all I can to support and promote the Catholic faith and help share the love and mercy of God, particularly to the people of Kent and the Medway.”

Bishop-elect Mason was born in 1962 in North Shields, Tyne & Wear. He attended St Anselm’s Roman Catholic High School, North Shields, and Kings College London. Until 1992 he worked in Turin for Olivetti and London for Hewlett-Packard. He was a seminarian at the Venerable English College in Rome, and ordained a priest on 25 July 1998. He was assistant priest at Saint John the Baptist, in Purley, from 1998 until 2001; full-time hospital chaplain at St Thomas’ and Guys Hospital Trust from 2001 until 2012; pastoral director at Allen Hall Seminary, and Director of Southwark Ongoing Formation from 2012 until 2013.