Bishop Bill was born in Washington DC in the United States, before his family returned to Australia when he was young. He was educated by the Sisters of Mercy at Pymble and by the Jesuits at St Aloysius' College, Milsons Point, with two years at Wimbledon College, another Jesuit school, when his family was posted to London, England.
He was educated for priesthood at St Columba's College, Springwood (1971-73) and St Patrick's College, Manly (1974-77).
Bill Wright was ordained to the diaconate in October 1976 and to the priesthood on 20 August 1977 at St Mary's Cathedral. After ordination, he gained a BA(Hons), largely in History, at Sydney University.
He has served the parishes of Stanmore, Mount Druitt, Fairfield, Enmore, Dulwich Hill, Bonnyrigg, Moree, Sutherland and Liverpool. In addition, Bishop Bill was Vice-Rector of St Patrick’s College, Manly (1985-1991) and Assistant Secretary to the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, in Canberra, in 1995.
Bishop Bill was ordained eighth Bishop of the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle by the former Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell, on 15 June 2011 at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Hamilton.
Since his ordination as Bishop, he has served as the Co-Chair of the National Committee for Professional Standards. He was a member of the Truth Justice and Healing Council throughout its existence (2013-18). He has been a member of the Bishops Commission for Church Ministry and the Bishops Commission for Ecumenism and Inter-Religious Relations and was a member of the Bishops Commission for Evangelisation Laity and Ministry and the Bishops Commission for Social Justice, Mission and Service.
He was Chair of the Bishops Commission for Professional Standards and Safeguarding.
Bishop Bill submitted his resignation to the Holy Father, Pope Francis, in September 2021. He passed away in November.
