Francis Xavier Irwin

American prelate (1934–2019)

His Excellency, The Most Reverend

Francis Xavier Irwin

Auxiliary Bishop of Boston
Titular Bishop of Ubaza
Archdiocese| Boston
Appointed| July 24, 1996
Installed| September 17, 1996
Term ended| October 20, 2009
Other post(s)| Titular Bishop of Ubaza
Orders
Ordination| February 2, 1960
by Richard Cushing
Consecration| September 17, 1996
by Bernard Francis Law
Theodore Edgar McCarrick
Robert Joseph Banks
Personal details
Born| (1934-01-09)January 9, 1934

Medford, Massachusetts

Died| October 30, 2019(2019-10-30) (aged 85)
Dennis, Massachusetts
Motto| To live in joyful hope
Styles of
Francis Xavier Irwin

Reference style|

* His Excellency
* The Most Reverend

Spoken style| Your Excellency
Religious style| Bishop

Francis Xavier Irwin (January 9, 1934 – October 30, 2019) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States who served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Boston in Massachusetts from 1996 to 2009.

## Biography

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### Early life

[edit]

Francis Irwin was born on January 9, 1934, in Medford, Massachusetts, one of seven children. He attended Boston College High School, then Boston College, and St. John's Seminary, all in Boston.[1][2]

### Priesthood

[edit]

Irwin was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Boston by Cardinal Richard Cushing at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston on February 2, 1960.[2]After his ordination, the archdiocese assigned Irwin as assistant pastor at St. Joseph Parish in Boston, St. Mary of the Assumption in Revere, Massachusetts, and then St. Patrick in Lawrence, Massachusetts.[1]

In 1968, Irwin left St. Patrick to study again at Boston College for a degree in social work. Starting in 1970, he assumed a series of positions within Catholic Charities for the archdiocese as well as the archdiocesan social services Department. During this period, he spent 18 months teaching at Fordham University in New York City.[1][3]

Irwin left his administrative posts in 1993 for an appointment as pastor of St. Agnes Parish in Arlington, Massachusetts.[1]

### Auxiliary Bishop of Boston

[edit]

Pope John Paul II appointed Irwin as titular bishop of Ubaza and as an auxiliary bishop of Boston on July 24, 1996. He was consecrated by Cardinal Bernard Law at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross on September 17, 1996.[1] As auxiliary bishop, Irwin was the regional bishop of the North Region of the archdiocese.

### Retirement and death

[edit]

Pope Benedict XVI accepted Irwin's resignation as auxiliary bishop of Boston on October 20, 2009.[4]He died on October 30, 2019, at his home on Cape Cod in Massachusetts.[3]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e O'Grady, Robert M. (October 30, 2009). "Bishop Irwin retires as auxiliary and regional bishop". Boston Pilot. Retrieved November 3, 2019.
2. ^ a b "Bishop Francis Xavier Irwin [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2025-07-15.
3. ^ a b "Bishop Francis Irwin, Boston auxiliary, dies". Boston Pilot. October 31, 2019. Retrieved November 3, 2019.
4. ^ "Rinunce e Nomine, 20.10.2009" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. October 20, 2009. Retrieved November 3, 2019.

## External links

[edit]

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