Biographical Details
Archbishop Mark O’Toole was born in London on 22nd June 1963. The youngest son of Marcus and Maura O’Toole who originally hail from the Irish-speaking community of Connemara, Galway, Ireland. He attended St Ignatius Primary School, Stamford Hill and St Thomas More Secondary School in Wood Green, leaving school in 1981 with four ‘A’ level qualifications. Three years later he graduated the University of Leicester with a BSc in Geography.
Following university, Archbishop Mark O’Toole entered into priestly formation at Allen Hall Seminary, London. He graduated with a BD in Sacred Theology from the University of London (Heythrop College) in 1989.
From 1989-1990 the then Deacon Mark O’Toole spent his time working at St Joan of Arc Parish, Highbury. He was then ordained to the Sacred Priesthood on 9th June 1990 by Cardinal Basil Hume.
1990-1992 Fr. Mark O’Toole entered further studies completing an M.Phil in Theology at the University of Oxford. His thesis studied the relationship between Divine and Human freedom supervised by the then Lady Margaret Professor, Dr Rowan Williams.
Following his graduation, Fr. Mark worked as an assistant priest in St Mary Magdalene parish, Willesden Green; whilst also working as a part-time lecturer in Catechesis. He joined the staff at Allen Hall Seminary full time from 1997-2022 as a lecturer in Theology and as a Formation Adviser to the seminarians. He also served as Dean of Studies from 199-2002. During this period he obtained a Sacred License in Theology from the Pontifical University, Leuven in 2000.
In 2002, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor named Fr. Mark O’Toole as his Private Secretary. he continued in the role until 2008 where he as appointed Rector of Allen Hall Seminary.
On 28th January 2014 he was ordained ninth Bishop of Plymouth. During his time in Plymouth he was appointed an Honorary Canon at both Truro and Exeter cathedrals.
Appointment to Cardiff
On 27th April 2002, Pope Francis named Bishop Mark O’Toole as the 8th Archbishop of Cardiff in succession to Archbishop George Stack. On hearing of his appointment the Archbishop-elect said:
“I am grateful and humbled by the trust that the Holy Father has placed in me. I face the task ahead both with excitement and a certain trepidation, conscious of my own weaknesses. Throughout my life I have learnt to trust the Lord’s will more deeply, and in these days of Eastertide especially, I have taken much comfort from Jesus’ word to his Apostles, “Do not be afraid. I go before you …” It is with this deep sense that the Lord goes before all of us in this new mission, that I fully embrace this new calling in my life”.
News of his appointment also came with the news that both the Diocese of Menevia and Archdiocese of Cardiff were to be united in persona episcope (in the person of the bishop). This meant that Archbishop O’Toole would serve as bishop to both Dioceses, with each retaining their individual character and heritage.
Installation as Eighth Archbishop of Cardiff
Archbishop Mark O’Toole was installed as the Eighth Archbishop of Cardiff at St. Davids Cathedral Cardiff on the 20th June 2022, the feast of Ss. Alban, Julian & Aaron. The event had a large attendance of Bishops from England and Wales, as well as clergy from the Diocese of Plymouth and Archdiocese of Westminster. Laity and clergy of the Archdiocese of Cardiff and representatives of other Christian denominations and faiths within Wales were also present.
During the homily, Archbishop Mark invited all present to reflect upon the mystery of Christ’s love and the new way in which He is calling the Church here in Wales:
“This appointment is more than a clever ecclesiastical solution to the challenge of numbers and resources. We know we cannot keep doing the things we have always done and hope for different results. Yet our lives are not fundamentally about the next pastoral plan or project. What we do together – and it has to be together that we move forward – is only possible because at the centre of our life, is a person, the person of Jesus Christ. Only when we are grounded and rooted in Him do we build on firm foundations. Indeed, what is the point of bringing two dioceses together in the person of the bishop, if this has no real impact on how we each respond to the Lord’s love, and try to help others discover and love Him, too.”
Those who attended the event each received a card depicting the new Christ the Good Shepherd.
The Installation was a celebration filled with joy, gratitude and prayerful hope for the future. It was also the first celebration of its kind to be broadcast live over the Internet by the Archdiocese acknowledging the role new media plays in the work of evangelisation.
Receiving the Pallium from Pope Francis
Archbishop Mark received the pallium from Pope Francis at the celebration of the Solemnity of St Peter & St Paul (29th June 2022) in St Peter’s, Rome. The pallium is a wool scarf that is worn on top of the vestments for Mass, and is a sign of unity with the Holy See worn by Metropolitan Archbishops. The pallium is presented in a box to be carried back his diocese, where it is placed upon the shoulders for the first time by the Papal Ambassador (Apostolic Nuncio) in front of the people. The placing of the pallium will take place in the Autumn 2022.
Other Roles
In addition to being Archbishop of Cardiff, Archbishop Mark also serves as Bishop of Menevia. He is also the chair of the Department for Evangelisation and Discipleship of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales. And is a member of the International Committee for Catechesis.