Patrick O'Regan

Patrick Michael O'Regan (born 8 October 1958) is a prelate of the Catholic Church. He has been the Archbishop of Adelaide since 25 May 2020. Prior to that, he had been the Bishop of Sale since 2015.

O'Regan was elected as the 9th Bishop of Sale in 2014 and he was consecrated and installed as a bishop by the Archbishop of Melbourne, Denis Hart on 26 February 2015 at a ceremony in . On 19 March 2020, Pope Francis announced that Bishop O'Regan would become the 12th Archbishop of Adelaide.

Early years and background

O'Regan was born in , New South Wales, one of four children and grew up in the village of Perthville, located approximately south of Bathurst. Educated at St Joseph's Primary School, Perthville and St Stanislaus' College, Bathurst, O'Regan commenced study for the priesthood at St Columba College, and later at St Patrick's College. During his semester breaks it was reported that he pulled beers at the Majellan Club, carted feed and cut cauliflowers in the local market gardens.

Ordained as a priest at St Michael and St John's Cathedral in Bathurst on 2 September 1983, O'Regan served as an assistant parish priest in parishes in , , and in Bathurst. During 1994 and 1995 O'Regan commenced higher studies at the Institut Catholique, Paris. He returned to Australia, initially to Orange, before being appointed as a parish priest in . O'Regan completed his higher studies in France during 2001 and 2002 graduating with a Licentiate in Liturgy and Sacramental Theology; returning to Australia in 2003 as parish priest of . In 2008 he was appointed as Diocesan Administrator in the Diocese of Bathurst; promoted to Diocesan Chancellor to 2009; to the Dean of the Cathedral in 2010; and concurrently as the Vicar General in 2012. O'Regan was consecrated and installed as Bishop on 26 February 2015, by Archbishop Denis Hart. O’Regan is the Grand Prior of the South Australia Lieutenancy of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.