The Most Reverend Gabriel Malzaire Apostolic Administrator of the Catholic Diocese of St. John’s-Basseterre, which includes Montserrat has announced the election of Msgr. Kenneth Richards, as the new Bishop of the Diocese. The election was formally made and announced by the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, in Rome, on November 19, 2011.
Monsignor Kenneth David Oswin Richards, General Vicar of Kingston in Jamaica as Bishop of the Diocese of Saint John’s-Basseterre in the Antilles Rev. Mgr. Kenneth David Oswin Richards was born in Linstead, St. Catherine, in the Spanish Town area, in Jamaica , on August 16, 1958. Although born in the Antilles , his family is of African origin (sub-Saharan).
After his primary studies in the Catholic school of St. Catherine in Linstead, Jamaica.He entered St. Michael Major Seminary. at the University of the West Indies, in Jamaica, where he obtained a Bachelor in Theology. During his studies at the Seminary, he also obtained a licentiate in Moral Theology at the Catholic University of America.
He was ordained priest on September 29, 1985. After ordination, he has held the following positions in the Archdiocese of Kingston in Jamaica: 1985-1989: assistant priest at Holy Cross, 1989-1995: Pastor of St. Benedict and the African martyrs, 1995-2003: Pastor of two parishes St. Jude and St. Patrick, 2002-2005: archdiocesan Director of Vocations, 2004-2008: President of the Priests’ Council and President of the Priests of the Archdiocese; since 2004: Member of the School Council of St. George’s College and Holy Trinity High School, and Director of the Cathedral. Since 2008. Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Kingston in Jamaica.
Bishop Malzaire has carried out the duties of bishop in the diocese since the departure of Bishop Donald Reece who moved to the position of Archbishop in Jamaica, where Bishop-elect Richards served as Vicar General.
Bishop Malzaire is the substantive Bishop of Roseau, in the Commonwealth of Dominica. He, while publicising the Richards’ election extended welcome to Bishop-elect Kenneth Richards to the episcopate on behalf of all the bishops of the Antilles Episcopal Conference.
The date of the ordination Bishop-elect Kenneth Richards will be announced subsequently, as soon as plans are finalized.
