Bishop John Noonan Announces Retirement, Transition Ahead for Catholic Parishes Across Brevard
CENTRAL FLORIDA — Bishop John Noonan of the Catholic Diocese of Orlando, overseeing Catholic parishes across Brevard County and much of Central Florida, announced this morning that he has submitted his resignation to the Vatican after celebrating his 75th birthday on Feb. 26.
In a message released by the diocese, Noonan said he wrote to Pope Leo XIV offering his retirement in accordance with Canon Law, which requires Catholic bishops to submit their resignation upon reaching age 75.
“Even though I have sent my letter to our Holy Father as prescribed by Canon Law, the appointment of a successor may take time,” Noonan said.
Under Catholic Church procedure, bishops typically remain in office until the pope formally accepts their resignation and appoints a successor, a process that can take months or sometimes longer. In his letter, Noonan noted that two other bishops in Florida’s Province of Miami submitted retirement letters last year and are also awaiting decisions from the Vatican.
Once a resignation is accepted, the Vatican typically appoints a new bishop through a confidential selection process led by the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, who gathers recommendations and submits candidates to the Holy See for final approval by the pope.
Noonan, originally from Limerick, Ireland, immigrated to the United States as a young man and was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Miami in 1983. He was named auxiliary bishop of Miami in 2005 before being appointed the fifth bishop of Orlando by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010.
Established in 1968, the Diocese of Orlando serves nearly 400,000 Catholics across nine Central Florida counties—Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Marion, Lake, Volusia, Brevard, Polk, and Sumter—through 79 parishes, two basilicas, 11 missions and 43 schools.
Catholic roots in Brevard date back well before the diocese was established in 1968. Titusville was one of the earliest Catholic mission areas in the county, with St. Teresa serving as a key mission site as early as the late 19th century. Father John F. O’Boyle, known as a “circuit rider,” ministered to scattered Catholic communities along Florida’s east coast, helping establish the foundations of Catholic life in the region.
One historical curiosity connected to the diocese reflects its proximity to Cape Canaveral and the space program. Under interpretations of Canon Law regarding exploration, the Diocese of Orlando has at times been described as holding ecclesiastical jurisdiction over the moon, since the Apollo 11 mission launched from Cape Canaveral within its territory.
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