Francis Gerard Brooks was the Roman Catholic Bishop

Bishop

A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...

 of the Diocese of Dromore, Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...

. Born in Rathfriland

Rathfriland

Rathfriland is a village in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is a hilltop Plantation of Ulster settlement between the Mourne Mountains, Slieve Croob and Banbridge. It had a population of 2,079 people in the 2001 Census.-History:...

, County Down

County Down

-Cities:*Belfast *Newry -Large towns:*Dundonald*Newtownards*Bangor-Medium towns:...

, he was ordained a Catholic priest on 19 June 1949 for the Diocese of Dromore.

Brooks was appointed bishop of the diocese on 20 November 1975, and was ordained a bishop on 25 January 1976. The principal consecrator

Consecrator

Consecrator is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to designate a bishop who ordains a priest to the episcopal state. The term is often used in Eastern Rite Churches and in Anglican communities. The term "Principal Consecrator" is used to designate the primary bishop who ordains a new bishop...

 was Cardinal William Conway

William Conway

William Conway may refer to:*William Conway , Roman Catholic Cardinal Archbishop of Armagh, Primate of All Ireland*William Conway , 19th century American sailor...

; the principal co-consecrators were the Papal Nuncio Archbishop Gaetano Alibrandi

Gaetano Alibrandi

Archbishop Gaetano Alibrandi of the Roman Catholic Church was a senior papal diplomat and former Personal Secretary to Giovanni Battista Montini .Mgr. Alibrandi was ordained priest on 1 November 1936, and Consacreted Bishop in 1961...

 and Bishop Eugene O'Doherty, the retiring bishop of the diocese.

Brooks retired on 4 June 1999, and was succeeded by John McAreavey

John McAreavey

John McAreavey is the Bishop of the Diocese of Dromore. He was born in Banbridge, County Down, Northern Ireland.-Early life and education:...

. He remained as Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Dromore until his death on 2 September 2010, aged 86.