Profiles of Bishop Promoters

Bishop Tom Burns is AOS Bishop Promoter for England and Wales. Bishop Peter Moran is AOS Bishop Promoter for Scotland. In 2005, the two sections united to form AOS Great Britain. Together the bishops support a thriving national apostolate.

AOS is active in 55 ports and berthing facilities around Great Britain. There are 26 port chaplains, both lay and ordained, and over a hundred volunteer ship visitors and pastoral workers. Some five hundred volunteer parish contacts spread the word about the work of AOS in parishes throughout the country. In addition, seven administrative staff and numerous volunteers work in the national office in London.

The bishop promoters are both members of the Board of Trustees of AOS GB. According to local law regarding charitable organisations, the trustees are responsible for overseeing governance and financial affairs. Other responsibilities include participating in the appointment of personnel, advising on policy issues and representing the organisation to external bodies.

Bishop Tom (left) and Bishop Peter

The bishops are involved in the day-to-day work of AOS Great Britain. They offer spiritual support to pastoral workers during conferences and retreats. In addition, they participate in the very popular pilgrimages which AOS GB organises for supporters in different parts of the country. Most importantly, they play an active role in the ministry to seafarers. Both bishops frequently visit seafarers centres, often accompanying ship visitors and celebrating Mass onboard.

Every year Bishops Tom and Peter address their own Bishops' Conferences, reporting on the work of AOS. They also report to the international departments of the conferences on the situation of seafarers and migrants in Great Britain. In this way, they promote the work of AOS to the whole Church.

Bishop Tom Burns

Bishop Tom was ordained as a priest in 1971 and spent some years teaching in Marist schools. In 1986, he was commissioned as full time chaplain in the Royal Navy, i.e. the maritime section of the British armed forces, and spent time at sea and in naval bases and colleges. In 2002 he was appointed Bishop of the Forces with responsibility for Catholic personnel in the British Army, Navy and Airforce. These are served by over fifty full-time chaplains and many more officiating chaplains.

Bishop Peter Moran

Bishop Peter was ordained as a priest in 1959 after studying at the Pontifical Scots College in Rome. He worked as a teacher and later as a parish priest and school chaplain. Committed to Ecumenism, he has served as Roman Catholic “Corresponding Member” of the Gordon Presbytery of the Church of Scotland. In 2003 he was ordained Bishop of Aberdeen, a diocese encompassing one third of the landmass of Scotland including the Shetland and Orkney Islands. He is also chaplain to the local francophone community many of whom work in the oil industry.