Walter Francis Sullivan

infobox bishopbiog
name = The Most Reverend
Walter Francis Sullivan


religion = Roman Catholic Church
See = Richmond
Title = Bishop of Richmond
Period = July 19, 1974 — September 16, 2003
Predecessor = Most Rev. John Joyce Russell
Successor = Most Rev. Francis X. DiLorenzo
date of birth = Birth date and age|1928|6|10|mf=y
place of birth = Washington, D.C.|

Walter Francis Sullivan (born June 10, 1928) is a bishop of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States.

Bishop Sullivan served as the Eleventh Bishop of Richmond in Richmond, Virginia from July 19, 1974 to September 16, 2003. He currently resides within Saint Paul's Parish in the City of Richmond and continues to be active in the diocese, assisting Bishop DiLorenzo as the Bishop Emeritus.

Bishop Sullivan serves on the boards of the Churches' Center for Theology and Public Policy in Washington, D.C.; the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy and numerous diocesan boards. He has been on the boards of the National Catholic Office for Persons with Disabilities; the Christian Children's Fund based in Richmond; the Catholic Committee of Appalachia and on the Administrative Board of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops. Likewise, he has served as the Bishop-President of Pax Christi USA, the national Catholic peace movement.

Curriculum Vitae

The Most Rev. Walter F. Sullivan served as the eleventh bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond. Bishop Sullivan was born on June 10, 1928, in Washington, D.C.

He received his seminary education at St. Charles College and St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore, Maryland and was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Richmond on May 9, 1953.

He served as associate pastor at St. Andrew's Parish in Roanoke and St. Mary's Parish in Fort Monroe (Hampton). In 1960, he received a degree in Canon law from the Catholic University in Washington, D.C. and became Secretary of the Diocesan Tribunal in May of that year.

The then Father Sullivan was named Chancellor of the diocese in February, 1965, and rector of the Cathedral in October 1967. He was consecrated an auxiliary bishop for the diocese on December 1, 1970, and was installed as the Bishop of the newly redrawn Diocese of Richmond on July 19, 1974.

Bishop Sullivan serves on the boards of Christian Children's Fund based in Richmond; the Churches' Center for Theology and Public Policy in Washington, D.C.; the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy; the Catholic Committee of Appalachia; and numerous diocesan boards. He has been on the board of the National Catholic Office for Persons with Disabilities, Pax Christi USA and on the Administrative Board of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Bishop Sullivan is a national leader of the religious community's involvement in the work of justice and peace. He served as Bishop-President of Pax Christi USA, the national Catholic peace movement, from 1991 until 2001. He also served on the writing committee for the 10th anniversary statement of U.S. Catholic Bishops' peace pastoral, The Harvest of Justice is Sown in Peace (1993).

Bishop Sullivan's Coat of Arms

The coat of arms of Bishop Sullivan contains the lions and the stag from the Sullivan coat of arms of Ireland, but is differenced to make the coat of arms personal. The Trefoil between the Sullivan lions is taken from the coat of arms of Bishop Russell, whom Bishop Sullivan assisted as Auxiliary. The group of trees identifies the Vanderloo family of the Bishop's Mother. The dexter implement contains the arms of the See.

Motto

"To Unite All in Christ". The motto is derived from the prayer of Jesus Christ for unity at the Last Supper: "That all may be one, even as thou, Father, in me and I in thee; that they may also be one in us, that the world may believe that you have sent me" (John 17:21).