The former Bishop of the diocese of Mandeville, Jamaica, remains in critical condition following a stroke.

Bishop Boyle

Bishop Paul Michael Boyle, a member of the Congregation of the Passion, has been hospitalised in Louisville, USA, according to an e-mail sent January 5 to  regional Church leaders by Msgr Michael Palud.

Msgr Palud, the permanent delegate of the Apostolic Administrator for the Mandeville diocese, was in the United States for a convocation and visited Bishop Boyle during his trip.

The bishop, who recently had hip replacement surgery, was hospitalised after suffering a stroke on the left side of his brain. He is also experiencing blood clots in a leg and lung and is battling a serious case of pneumonia. He has been placed on a ventilator 24 hours a day, and slips in and out of consciousness.

The Superior of the Passionist community says while Bishop Boyle remains stable there is concern that further health complications may arise.

Prayers are being offered not only in the Mandeville diocese but across the Jamaica Catholic community and across the region. Archbishop Gilbert offered prayers for the bishop during the closing Mass at last weekend’s 16th Caribbean Conference of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal.

Bishop Boyle, born May 28, 1926, was ordained a priest in his congregation on May 30, 1953. He was ordained a bishop July 9, 1991, and appointed the first bishop of Mandeville on December 20, 1997.

“As founding bishop of our diocese, he has a special place in all our hearts. Let’s continue to accompany him with our prayer and love,” Msgr Palud ended his e-mail message.