{{Short description|Jamaican Roman Catholic prelate (1951–2026)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}} {{Infobox Christian leader | type = Bishop | honorific_prefix = The Most Reverend | name = Burchell Alexander McPherson | honorific_suffix = | title = Bishop Emeritus of Montego Bay | image = Burchell A. McPherson.png | caption = McPherson in 2015 | archdiocese = Kingston in Jamaica | diocese = Montego Bay | term_start = 8 June 2013 | term_end = 16 October 2023 | predecessor = Charles Dufour | successor = John Derek Persaud (Apostolic Administrator) | ordination = 23 June 1991 | ordained_by = | consecration = 8 June 2013 | consecrated_by = Donald James Reece, Neil Edward Tiedemann and Charles Dufour | birth_name = Burchell Alexander McPherson | birth_date = {{birth date|1951|5|7|df=y}} | birth_place = Mavis Bank, Surrey, Colony of Jamaica | death_date = {{death date and age|2026|3|25|1951|5|7|df=y}} | death_place = Kingston, Jamaica | denomination = Roman Catholic | motto = Service before self | coat_of_arms = Coat of arms of Burchell Alexander McPherson.svg }} {{Infobox bishopstyles
| | name = Burchell Alexander McPherson | dipstyle = *His Excellency *The Most Reverend | offstyle = Your Excellency | relstyle = Bishop | image = Coat of arms of Burchell Alexander McPherson.svg | image_size = 200px }}
'''Burchell Alexander McPherson''' (7 May 1951 – 25 March 2026) was a Jamaican Roman Catholic prelate, who served as the third Bishop of the Diocese of Montego Bay from 2013 to 2023.<ref name="CH">{{cite web |title=Bishop Burchell Alexander McPherson |url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bmcpher.html |website=Catholic-Hierarchy.org |access-date=26 March 2026}}</ref>
==Early life and education== McPherson was born in Mavis Bank, Jamaica on 7 May 1951.<ref name="Vat2013">{{cite web |title=Rinunce e Nomine, 11.04.2013 |url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2013/04/11/0218/00491.html |website=Holy See Press Office |language=it |date=11 April 2013 |access-date=26 March 2026}}</ref> He was educated at St. Michael’s Seminary and the University of the West Indies before beginning his theological studies for the priesthood.<ref name="SJ">{{cite web |title=Reverend Fr. Burchell McPherson |url=https://stjosephscatholicfalmouth.com/team/reverend-fr-burchell-mcpherson/ |website=St. Joseph's Catholic Church Falmouth |access-date=26 March 2026}}</ref>
==Priesthood== McPherson was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Kingston on 23 June 1991.<ref name="CH" /> During his ministry, he served as the pastor of St. Pius X and St. Peter Claver parishes, and later as the pastor of St. Joseph’s Church in Falmouth.<ref name="SJ" /> He was known for his extensive community work and spiritual leadership within the local parishes.<ref name="AEC">{{cite web |title=Press Release: Death of Bishop Burchell McPherson |url=https://aecbishops.org/press-release-death-of-bishop-burchell-mcpherson/ |website=Antilles Episcopal Conference |access-date=26 March 2026}}</ref>
==Episcopal ministry== On 11 April 2013, Pope Francis appointed McPherson as the Bishop of the Diocese of Montego Bay.<ref name="Vat2013" /> He was consecrated on 8 June 2013, with Archbishop Donald James Reece serving as the principal consecrator.<ref name="CH" />
His tenure as bishop focused on pastoral outreach and the strengthening of diocesan infrastructure. On 16 October 2023, the Holy See announced that Pope Francis had accepted his resignation from the governance of the diocese.<ref name="Vat2023">{{cite web |title=Rinunce e Nomine, 16.10.2023 |url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2023/10/16/0723/01574.html |website=Holy See Press Office |language=it |date=16 October 2023 |access-date=26 March 2026}}</ref>
==Death== McPherson died in Kingston on 25 March 2026, at the age of 74, following a period of illness.<ref name="AEC" />
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bmcpher.html Bishop Burchell Alexander McPherson] at Catholic-Hierarchy.org
{{s-start}} {{s-rel|ca}} {{s-bef | before=Charles Dufour}} {{s-ttl | title=Bishop of Montego Bay|years=2013–2023}} {{s-aft | after=Vacant}} {{end}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McPherson, Burchell}} Category:1951 births Category:2026 deaths Category:Jamaican Roman Catholic bishops Category:21st-century Roman Catholic bishops in Jamaica Category:People from Saint Andrew Parish, Jamaica Category:Bishops appointed by Pope Francis Category:Roman Catholic bishops of Montego Bay