Information on the Funeral for the late Bishop William Lee RIP
Following the death of Bishop William Lee, Bishop Emeritus of Waterford and Lismore, on 5 January 2024, the following funeral arrangements have now been published:
Reposing at the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, Barronstrand Street, Waterford on Monday 8 January from 2.00pm to 7.00pm.
Rosary at 3.00pm
Evening Prayer led by the clergy at 5.00pm
Night Prayer at 7.00pm
Solemn Requiem Mass 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. He was predeceased by his father John, his mother Delia, his brother John, and his brother in law John McDonagh. Bishop Lee is very deeply regretted by his sisters, Sister Patricia Lee and Eileen McDonagh, his brother Pat, his sisters in law Gay and Mary, his nieces and nephews and extended family and friends.
Bishop Lee is also deeply regretted by Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan and the clergy, religious, and lay faithful of the Diocese of Waterford and Lismore, and by all those who knew him in his many pastoral ministries.
May Bishop Lee rest in peace
ENDS
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.
