Pope names auxiliary bishop for Boston archdiocese

By Melissa M. Werthmann, Globe Correspondent

Pope Benedict XVI today named one of Cardinal Seán O’Malley’s top aides as a new auxiliary bishop to the Boston archdiocese.

Monsignor Robert P. Deeley

Monsignor Robert P. Deeley, who spent the past year serving as vicar general and moderator of the Curia in Boston, has been assigned to the Titular See of Kearney and will be ordained as auxiliary bishop in January, according to a statement from the archdiocese.

He will continue to serve as vicar general and moderator of the Curia.

Deeley, 66, said he is humbled by his new position.

“I pray that God grants me wisdom to continue to do the work He has blessed me with nearly forty years of being a priest,” he said in a statement. “Throughout, I have been inspired by the love and support of my family and the joy of bringing the sacraments to our people.”

Deeley chose “Veritatem Facere in Caritate” as his Episcopal motto, which translates to “Living the Truth in Love,” the archdiocese said.

O’Malley said in a statement that Deeley “has contributed greatly to the life of the Church, always focused on bringing people closer to God.”

Deeley was born in Cambridge and grew up in Belmont. His late parents were born in County Galway, Ireland. He attended Sacred Heart Parish in Watertown with his four brothers and graduated from Matignon High School in Cambridge in 1964, the archdiocese said.

Deeley’s younger brother, the Rev. Kevin J. Deeley, is pastor of St. Michael’s Parish in North Andover.

Deeley entered Cardinal O’Connell Minor Seminary in Jamaica Plain and then studied philosophy at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. He graduated in 1968.

He studied at the Pontifical North American College in Rome and earned a degree in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome in 1972, the archdiocese said.

He was ordained in 1973 at his home parish and served as pastor of St. Bartholomew’s Parish in Needham for five years.

Deeley became secretary to the Metropolitan Tribunal of Boston in 1978 and served with the office for more than 20 years. He was a priest at Mary Immaculate of Lourdes in Newton Upper Falls and St. Brigid’s Parish in Lexington, the archdiocese said.

Deeley became pastor of St. Ann’s Parish in Quincy in 1999 and president of the Canon Law Society of America in 2000.

In 2004 Deeley was assigned to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican department that oversees doctrine and handles cases involving clergy abuse of minors, the archdiocese said.

“We are grateful to the Holy Father for naming Monsignor Robert Deeley as an auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of Boston,” O’Malley said. “Throughout his priesthood Bishop-elect Deeley has served with a deep and abiding commitment to Christ and the Church.”

O’Malley will say Mass at 12:05 in Bethany Chapel in Braintree to introduce the bishop-elect, the archdiocese said. Other auxiliary bishops of Boston, priests, deacons, lay people, and the pastoral center staff will attend the celebration.