Bernard Joseph Harrington

Bernard Harrington was born in Detroit, Michigan, to John and Norah (née Cronin) Harrington; he has two brothers, John and Timothy, and one sister, Irene. His parents were immigrants from Bantry Bay, County Cork, in Ireland. He studied at Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit, St. John's Provincial Seminary in Plymouth, and the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., from where he obtained his Master's degree in Education. Harrington was ordained to the priesthood on June 6, 1959, in the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament, for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit.

During his priestly ministry, he served as archdiocesan Assistant Superintendent of Schools and pastor of Holy Name Parish[1] in Birmingham. From 1977 to 1985, he was rector of his alma mater of Sacred Heart Seminary. He later became director of the Department of Formation, and pastor of St. Rene Goupil Parish[2] in Sterling Heights in 1984.

On November 23, 1993, Harrington was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit and Titular Bishop of Uzalis by Pope John Paul II. He received his episcopal consecration on January 6, 1994 from Archbishop Adam Maida, with Bishops Dale Melczek and Walter Schoenherr serving as co-consecrators. Harrington chose as his episcopal motto: "Have life more abundantly" (John 10:10).[3] As an auxiliary to Maida, he served as Vicar of the Office of Pastoral Services for Parishes[4] in the archdiocesan curia, Episcopal Liaison for the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center, and regional bishop for Macomb and St. Clair Counties.

Pope John Paul II later named Bishop Harrington the seventh Bishop of Winona, Minnesota, on November 4, 1998. He was formally installed as Winona's ordinary on the fifth anniversary of his episcopal consecration, January 6, 1999.[5]

Within the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Bishop Harrington chaired the Committee on Education[6] and sat on the Ad Hoc Committee on Catholic Bishops and Catholic Politicians.[7] In these offices, he has expressed his belief that Catholic politicians should oppose abortion.[8] He is also a member of the Priestly Life and Ministry Committee[9] and its liaison to the Subcommittee for Lay Ministry.[10]

Harrington in 2018

On October 15, 2008, Pope Benedict XVI named John M. Quinn as Coadjutor Bishop of Winona. This is a rare appointment as normally Coadjutor Bishops are usually appointed to dioceses where the ordinary is less than the retirement age.[11] On May 7, 2009, Pope Benedict XVI accepted the resignation of Bishop Harrington.[12]

Media related to Bernard Joseph Harrington at Wikimedia Commons

• Diocese of Winona
• USCCB Office of Media Relations