Bishop John Noonan

Bishop John Noonan sees his ministry as a priest and bishop as a mandate from God. His Episcopal motto “God before me and God with me” originates in Exodus when Moses was leading the chosen people out of slavery and into the Promised Land. That same prayer was spoken by St. Patrick as he preached the Gospel in Ireland.  Like Moses and St. Patrick, Bishop Noonan, fifth bishop of Orlando, is following God’s call to serve His people.

Bishop John Noonan was born in Limerick, Ireland and immigrated to New York at the age of 18 and later relocated to Miami where his calling to the priesthood led him to St. John Vianney College Seminary. After graduation, he attended St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary and graduated with a Master of Divinity in 1983. On September 23, 1983 he was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Miami and received his first pastoral assignment as parochial vicar, St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Pompano Beach.

From early in his priesthood, he was seen as a humble servant willing to do whatever was needed in service to the Lord. He excelled at leading young people to Christ and became chaplain for Youth Ministry in Broward County between 1985 and 1987. He then assisted young men discerning a vocation to the priesthood as Dean of Men, St. John Vianney College Seminary from 1989 to 1993.

He continued to serve in the area of education forming young people in the faith and leading Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Miami. He served as supervising principal of Msgr. Edward Pace High School, Miami Gardens from 1993 to 1994 and supervising principal of St. Brendan High School, Miami from 1994 to 1996.

Having a keen interest in education, Bishop Noonan pursued additional studies and received a Master of Education from Boston College in 1996.  He then assumed a leadership role at the seminary he once attended, serving as Rector/President, St. John Vianney College Seminary between 1996 and 2005.  He also assisted priests with encouragement and support as Director of Priestly Life and Ministry between 2001 and 2010.

Pope John Paul II conferred the title of monsignor upon Reverend John Noonan on October 22, 2001. Pope Benedict XVI named him auxiliary bishop of Miami, June 21, 2005 and he was ordained to the episcopacy, Aug. 24, 2005 at the Cathedral of St. Mary, Miami. The Holy Father appointed him bishop of Orlando, October 23, 2010 and his installation ceremony occurred on December 16, 2010 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe.

Bishop Noonan serves as the Episcopal Liaison to Catholic Volunteers in Florida, and serves as a member of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Education and a member of its Charter for the Protection of Youth and Young Adults.  He also serves on the Episcopal Advisory Council of the National Association of Catholic Chaplains.  He is fluent in English, Gaelic, and Spanish.