William Medley
Encyclopedia
William Francis Medley is an American
clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church
. A former priest of the Archdiocese of Louisville
, he is the current Bishop
of the Diocese of Owensboro
.
, Kentucky
, to James Werner and Dorothy (née Hayden) Medley. Following his graduation from St. Thomas Seminary High School, he studied at Bellarmine College
in Louisville
, from where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts
degree in philosophy and psychology. He earned a Master of Divinity
degree from St. Meinrad School of Theology
in St. Meinrad, Indiana
. From 1974 to 1978, he served as a social work
er for the Kentucky Department of Human Resources.
On May 22, 1982, Medley was ordained
to the priesthood
by Archbishop Thomas C. Kelly, O.P.
He then served as associate pastor at St. Pius X Church and chaplain
at Assumption High School in Louisville until 1985, when he became associate pastor at the Cathedral of the Assumption
. In 1988, he was named administrator of St. Benedict Church, St. Charles Borromeo Church and Holy Cross Church, all three of which were merged to form St. Martin de Porres Church in 1990. He became director of the Office of Clergy Personnel in 1989, and served as rector
of St. Joseph Proto-Cathedral (the original seat of the Archdiocese of Louisville
) from 1993 to 2005. During Medley's tenure as rector, St. Joseph was elevated to the rank of a basilica
and had its sanctuary renovated.
Medley was named pastor
of Mother of Good Counsel Church in Louisville in 2005, and of Transfiguration of Our Lord Parish in Goshen
in 2007. In 2008, these two parishes were merged to form St. Bernadette Church in Prospect
, with Medley remaining as pastor. In addition to his pastoral duties, he was also a member of the College of Consultors, Priests' Council, Planning Commission, Priests' Health Panel, and Priests' Personnel Board. He also served as president of the Bardstown/Nelson County Ministerial Association and on the Nelson County Human Rights Commission.
On December 15, 2009, Medley was appointed the fourth Bishop of Owensboro
by Pope Benedict XVI
. His episcopal
consecration
took place on February 10, 2010, at the Owensboro Sports Center
. He has selected as his episcopal motto: "Holy Is God's Name."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. A former priest of the Archdiocese of Louisville
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Louisville
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Louisville consists of twenty-four counties in Central Kentucky, USA, covering . It is the seat of the Metropolitan Province of Louisville, which comprises the states of Kentucky and Tennessee...
, he is the current Bishop
Ordinary
In those hierarchically organised churches of Western Christianity which have an ecclesiastical law system, an ordinary is an officer of the church who by reason of office has ordinary power to execute the church's laws...
of the Diocese of Owensboro
Roman Catholic Diocese of Owensboro
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Owensboro is a Roman Catholic diocese in Kentucky. It was founded on December 9, 1937. It is currently a suffragan see of the Archdiocese of Louisville...
.
Biography
William Medley was born in LorettoLoretto, Kentucky
Loretto is a city in Marion County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 623 at the 2000 census. The tiny city is best known as the home of the Maker's Mark bourbon distillery.-Geography:Loretto is located at ....
, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, to James Werner and Dorothy (née Hayden) Medley. Following his graduation from St. Thomas Seminary High School, he studied at Bellarmine College
Bellarmine University
Bellarmine University is an independent, private, Catholic university in Louisville, Kentucky. The liberal arts institution opened on October 3, 1950, as Bellarmine College, established by Archbishop John A. Floersh of the Archdiocese of Louisville and named after the Cardinal Saint Robert...
in Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
, from where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in philosophy and psychology. He earned a Master of Divinity
Master of Divinity
In the academic study of theology, the Master of Divinity is the first professional degree of the pastoral profession in North America...
degree from St. Meinrad School of Theology
Saint Meinrad School of Theology
The Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology is located in Saint Meinrad in southern Indiana and is affiliated with the St. Meinrad Archabbey, which itself is affiliated with Einsiedeln Abbey in Switzerland...
in St. Meinrad, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
. From 1974 to 1978, he served as a social work
Social work
Social Work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual, group, or community by intervening through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, and teaching on behalf of those afflicted with poverty or any real or...
er for the Kentucky Department of Human Resources.
On May 22, 1982, Medley was ordained
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
to the priesthood
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
by Archbishop Thomas C. Kelly, O.P.
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
He then served as associate pastor at St. Pius X Church and chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
at Assumption High School in Louisville until 1985, when he became associate pastor at the Cathedral of the Assumption
Cathedral of the Assumption in Louisville
The Cathedral of the Assumption is the cathedral mother church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Louisville in Louisville, Kentucky. His Excellency, the Most Reverend Joseph Kurtz, D.D., the fourth and current Archbishop of Louisville, is in residence at the Cathedral. The Very Reverend Jeffery...
. In 1988, he was named administrator of St. Benedict Church, St. Charles Borromeo Church and Holy Cross Church, all three of which were merged to form St. Martin de Porres Church in 1990. He became director of the Office of Clergy Personnel in 1989, and served as rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of St. Joseph Proto-Cathedral (the original seat of the Archdiocese of Louisville
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Louisville
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Louisville consists of twenty-four counties in Central Kentucky, USA, covering . It is the seat of the Metropolitan Province of Louisville, which comprises the states of Kentucky and Tennessee...
) from 1993 to 2005. During Medley's tenure as rector, St. Joseph was elevated to the rank of a basilica
Basilica
The Latin word basilica , was originally used to describe a Roman public building, usually located in the forum of a Roman town. Public basilicas began to appear in Hellenistic cities in the 2nd century BC.The term was also applied to buildings used for religious purposes...
and had its sanctuary renovated.
Medley was named pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
of Mother of Good Counsel Church in Louisville in 2005, and of Transfiguration of Our Lord Parish in Goshen
Goshen, Kentucky
Goshen is a city in Oldham County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 907 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Nestled along the banks of the Ohio River, Goshen is located at ....
in 2007. In 2008, these two parishes were merged to form St. Bernadette Church in Prospect
Prospect, Kentucky
Prospect is a city in far northeastern Jefferson and southwestern Oldham Counties in the U.S. state of Kentucky, along the Ohio River. The city is a suburb of Louisville, Kentucky. It's one of few cities in Jefferson County that extend into another county. The population was 4,657 at the 2000...
, with Medley remaining as pastor. In addition to his pastoral duties, he was also a member of the College of Consultors, Priests' Council, Planning Commission, Priests' Health Panel, and Priests' Personnel Board. He also served as president of the Bardstown/Nelson County Ministerial Association and on the Nelson County Human Rights Commission.
On December 15, 2009, Medley was appointed the fourth Bishop of Owensboro
Roman Catholic Diocese of Owensboro
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Owensboro is a Roman Catholic diocese in Kentucky. It was founded on December 9, 1937. It is currently a suffragan see of the Archdiocese of Louisville...
by Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
. His episcopal
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
consecration
Consecration
Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service, usually religious. The word "consecration" literally means "to associate with the sacred". Persons, places, or things can be consecrated, and the term is used in various ways by different groups...
took place on February 10, 2010, at the Owensboro Sports Center
Owensboro Sports Center
The Owensboro Sportscenter is a 5,500 seat multi-purpose arena in Owensboro, Kentucky. It is the home of the Kentucky Wesleyan College Panthers basketball and volleyball teams, and since fall of 2008 home to the Kentucky Bisons of the ABA's current incarnation....
. He has selected as his episcopal motto: "Holy Is God's Name."