The Bishop’s office of the Roman Catholic Church has revealed that the Vatican has selected Auxiliary Bishop Dorick M. Wright, 61, to replace Bishop O.P. Martin, whose retirement has been accepted as leader of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Belize City and Belmopan.

Bishop Wright’s installation as the new Diocesan Bishop will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, January 21, 2007, at Landivar Gym in Belize City. The installation Mass will be combined with a celebration of the 50thanniversary of the establishment of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Belize in 1956. Archbishop Luigi Pezzecto, the Apostolic Nuncio to Belize and the Antilles, will be the Chief Celebrant.

When he was asked today what measures he will take to combat crime and immorality, Bishop Wright replied: “I cannot do it by myself, so whatever we do will have to be done as a group, and we have to work with the children in our schools.”

He added that not even the Government seems to know what to do to combat crime.

“As to immorality, the television channels blast immoral programs all day long and when we preach against them, who hears us, certainly not the young people,” commented Bishop Wright.

Bishop Wright is optimistic about his new post.

“I know it is a big responsibility, but with the help of the people, both religious and lay, I will be able to do a good job,” he said.

Bishop Martin has led the Diocese since 1984. His retirement became mandatory after he turned 75 last December, because the Canon law says the head of the Diocese must retire at that age.

Bishop Wright will become the second native of Belize to hold the position of head of the Diocese and the eighth prelate to lead the Diocese since its original establishment as a Vicariate Apostolic in 1893.

Bishop Wright was born on November 15, 1945. He was ordained a priest on June 27, 1975.

From 1964 to 1967 he taught all subjects in Standard IV at Holy Redeemer Primary School.

In 1984, he taught Divinity at BELCAST for 1 year.