Richard Joseph Malone

Born on March 19, 1946, Richard Joseph Malone was named the 11th Bishop of the Diocese of Portland on February 10, 2004 and was consecrated as bishop on March 31, 2004. Born in Salem, Mass., Bishop Malone graduated from St. John Seminary, Boston with a B.A. in philosophy, a bachelor's degree in divinity and a master's degree in biblical studies and was ordained to the priesthood in 1972. In 1981, Bishop Malone earned a doctorate in theology (Th.D.) from Boston University and a licentiate in sacred theology (S.T.L.) at Weston Jesuit School of Theology, Cambridge in 1990. Prior to arriving in Maine, Bishop Malone served stints as the director of the Office of Religious Education and as the Secretary of Education for the Archdiocese of Boston. He was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Boston, South Region in 2000. As Bishop of the Diocese of Portland, Bishop Malone oversaw an ambitious consolidation of parishes in Maine. He also continued to maintain and improve the diocese’s safe environment programs in compliance with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. During Bishop Malone’s tenure, over 10,000 Catholic Church employees, volunteers, priests and educators in Maine that work with children have been trained in the safe environment program, which includes mandatory background checks. On May 29, 2012, Pope Benedict XVI named Bishop Malone the 14th Bishop of Buffalo, NY and he was installed on August 10, 2012. Appointed by the Holy See, Bishop Malone served as Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Portland until the installation of his successor, Bishop Robert P. Deeley, the 12th Bishop of Portland, on February 14, 2014.