Neil Sebastian Scantlebury

{{Short description|Barbadian Catholic Bishop, Diocese of Bridgetown}} {{Infobox bishop | type = Bishop | honorific-prefix = The Reverend  | name = Neil Sebastian Scantlebury | honorific-suffix = | title = Bishop of Bridgetown | image = Coat of arms of Neil Sebastian Scantlebury.svg | image_size = | caption = | church = Roman Catholic Church | archdiocese = | diocese = Bridgetown | see = Bridgetown | appointed = December 28, 2020 | enthroned = June 11, 2021 | term_end = | predecessor = Charles Jason Gordon | successor = | other_post =  | ordination = May 18, 1995 | ordained_by = Elliot Griffin Thomas | consecration = June 11, 2021 | consecrated_by = Fortunatus Nwachukwu | birth_name = Neil Sebastian Scantlebury | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1965|10|1}} | birth_place = Barbados | death_date = | death_place = | buried = | nationality = | alma_mater = | previous_post = | coat_of_arms = Coat of arms of Neil Sebastian Scantlebury.svg | motto = }} {{Infobox bishopstyles | name= Neil Sebastian Scantlebury | dipstyle=The Most Reverend | offstyle=Your Excellency | relstyle=Bishop | image = Coat of arms of Neil Sebastian Scantlebury.svg | image_size = 200px }}

'''Neil Sebastian Scantlebury''' (born 1 October 1965) is a Barbadian Catholic Bishop who has been the head of the Diocese of Bridgetown since 2021. He is the first native Barbadian to occupy the role.

==Biography== Scantlebury was born in Barbados to Keith and Myrna Scantlebury, both now deceased. His father was a Catholic deacon.<ref name="nationnews">{{Cite web|title=Barbadian appointed Roman Catholic Bishop of Bridgetown|url=https://www.nationnews.com/2020/12/28/barbadian-appointed-roman-catholic-bishop-bridgetown/|publisher=The Daily Nation (Barbados)|date=December 28, 2020|accessdate=December 28, 2020}}</ref> Aside from his native English and Creole, he is fluent in Latin, Spanish, and French.<ref name="vatican press"/>

After completing his primary and secondary education in Barbados, Scantlebury attended the University of the West Indies in Trinidad and Tobago, graduating with a degree in mechanical engineering. After graduating, Scantlebury then moved to the US Virgin Islands to teach religious education at the Catholic school of St Peter and Paul Cathedral, St Thomas.<ref name="nationnews"/> He then entered priestly formation, and attended Mount St. Mary's Seminary, Emmitsburg, Maryland.<ref name="vatican press"/> In 1999, he obtained the Master of Art in Sacred Scripture from Mount St. Mary's.<ref name="nationnews"/>

On 18 May 1995, Scantlebury was ordained to the priesthood,<ref name="CH">{{cite web|title=Bishop Neil Sebastian Scantlebury|url=http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bscantl.html|accessdate=December 28, 2020}}</ref> for the Diocese of Saint Thomas in the Virgin Islands.<ref name="vatican press">{{cite web|title=Appointment of bishop of Bridgetown, Barbados|url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2020/12/28/201228c.html|publisher=Vatican Press|date=December 28, 2020|accessdate=December 28, 2020}}</ref> On 28 December 2020, Pope Francis appointed Scantlebury as the new bishop of the Diocese of Bridgetown, succeeding Charles Jason Gordon.<ref name="vatican press"/><ref>{{cite news|title=Pope appoints four Bishops for English-speaking world|url=https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-12/papal-appontments-bishop-malindi-san-bernadino-shillong-barbados.html|publisher=Vatican News|date=December 28, 2020|accessdate=December 28, 2020}}</ref>

Scantlebury was consecrated bishop on 12 June 2021 by Fortunatus Nwachukwu, the apostolic nuncio to the Caribbean region. Charles Jason Gordon, archbishop of Port-of-Spain and Robert Rivas, bishop of Castries, where the co-consecrators.<ref name="CH"/> In doing so Scantlebury became the first native Barbadian to head the diocese of Bridgetown.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bishop Of Bridgetown To Be Ordained On Friday|url=https://www.entornointeligente.com/bishop-of-bridgetown-to-be-ordained-on-friday/|website=entornointeligente.com|date=June 7, 2021|accessdate=June 12, 2021}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Scantlebury, Neil Sebastian}} Category:1965 births Category:Living people Category:Barbadian Roman Catholic bishops Category:Bishops appointed by Pope Francis Category:University of the West Indies alumni Category:Mount St. Mary's University alumni