Following the death of Bishop William Lee, former Bishop Emeritus of Waterford and Lismore, on 5 January 2024, the following funeral arrangements have now been published: Requiem Mass will take place on Tuesday 9 January at 12.00pm followed by burial in the Cathedral grounds.Bishop William Lee passed away peacefully in the loving care of the hospice staff in Saint Vincent’s ward of Dungarvan Community Care Hospital.
Bishop William Lee was born in Newport, Co. Tipperary, on December 2, 1941. He received his early education at the Convent of Mercy National School, the Boy’s National School, Newport, and later at Rockwell College, Cashel. He studied for the priesthood at Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, and was ordained in 1966.After ordination, he studied Canon Law at Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, and was awarded a Doctorate in Canon Law in 1969. Later in 1969, he was appointed curate in the parish of Finglas West in the Archdiocese of Dublin where he ministered for two years. On his return from Dublin, he studied Canon Law for a short period at the Gregorian University, Rome.Bishop Lee was then appointed Bursar and Professor of Philosophy at Saint Patrick’s College, Thurles. While there he served on the Cork Regional Marriage Tribunal, was Chairperson of the Diocesan Catholic Marriage Advisory Council, and was a member of the first National Executive of the Catholic Marriage Advisory Council in Ireland.He was appointed President of Saint Patrick’s College, Thurles, in 1987, and was ordained Bishop of Waterford and Lismore on 25 July 1993. He served on the Commission for Clergy, Seminaries and Vocations and the Commission for the Laity of the Episcopal Conference and was also President of Accord. Bishop Lee retired as Bishop of Waterford & Lismore on 1 October 2013. For the latest Waterford News and Sport, tune into WLR News on the hour and download the WLR App for news on demand
