AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums Belize Life News Bishop Dorick Wright passed away this morning

Bishop Dorick Wright passed away this morning. He had been ailing for some time, but was still a force in the Catholic community.

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. Dorick M. Wright grew up in Holy Redeemer Cathedral parish. His first cousin is Anglican Bishop Philip Wright and his uncle is Pastor Lloyd Wright from Bethel Assembly of God Church. In 1961, while in his mid-teens, he lost his mother, two sisters, and a brother in hurricane Hattie. The tree image on Bishop Wright's coat of arms is symbolic of the mango tree that saved his life.

He attended St. John's College and then taught for three years at Holy Redeemer Primary School. He then entered Conception Seminary, run by the Order of St. Benedict in north-west Missouri, where he completed his education for the priesthood. Wright was ordained at Holy Redeemer Cathedral, Belize City, on June 27, 1975. He then assisted at St. Joseph Parish, Holy Redeemer Cathedral parish, and Inmaculada Parish in Orange Walk. He returned to St. Joseph Parish as pastor and then to Holy Redeemer Cathedral. On April 4, 2002, Wright was consecrated at St. John's College as Auxiliary to Bishop Osmond P. Martin, with Martin the principal consecrator.

He was appointed bishop of the diocese on November 18, 2006, and installed on January 23, 2007, with Archbishop Luigi Pezzuto, nuncio for Belize and El Salvador, presiding. Bishop Wright founded St. Benedict Diocesan Seminary, a minor seminary offering two years of college training to those studying for the priesthood. It opened on August 27, 2013, on the grounds of the former Santa Familia Benedictine Monastery outside Santa Elena, Belize. Four young men comprised its first class.

Wright outspokenly opposed some aspects of the government's 2013 promotion of same-sex-orientation rights. His position was supported by the Belize Evangelical Council, and later also by the Belize Council of Churches that included the Catholic church as a member. With Bishop Wright's eyesight failing, he requested help to carry out his mission and in 2012 Viatorian Fr. Christopher Glancy was consecrated Auxiliary Bishop and Vicar General for the Diocese of Belize City-Belmopan.

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Bishop Dorick Wright to be Laid to Rest

Bishop Wright will be laid to rest on Wednesday, 22nd April, 2020 at 10 a.m. After consultations with the Nuncio, it was decided that Bishop Wright will be buried in the Holy Redeemer Cathedral Garden.

A procession only with the body will start at 8 a.m. from the morgue, passing by the Belize City churches. The body will be at the Cathedral at 9 a.m. for the mass at 10 a.m. and the event will be shown via social media.

Eventually there will be a memorial Mass for him at the cathedral with simultaneous masses in all parishes.

All are asked to note the Bishop Dorick Wright's funeral will be held Wednesday at 10:00 at the Holy Redeemer Cathedral in Belize City. Those wishing to join may do so via Guadalupe Media.

Here is Tuesday's Vigil Prayer Service for Bishop Dorick Wright

Live: Funeral Mass for the Late Bishop Dorick M. Wright at Holy Redeemer Cathedral.