Timothy C. Senior

Timothy Christian Senior (born March 22, 1960) is an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He was an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania from 2009 to 2023, as well as rector and later chancellor of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary. In 2023 Pope Francis named him bishop of the Diocese of Harrisburg in Pennsylvania.

Early life and education
Timothy Senior was born on March 22, 1960, in North Wales, Pennsylvania, to James Harwood and Elise (née Rothwell) Senior. The youngest of three children, he has a brother, Jim, and a sister, Myra. He attended St. Rose of Lima Elementary School and graduated from Lansdale Catholic High School in 1977.

Having decided to become a priest, Senior entered St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy degree in 1981.

Ordination and ministry
Senior was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia by Cardinal John Krol on May 18, 1985. After his 1985 ordination, the archdiocese assigned Senior as parochial vicar at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Feasterville, Pennsylvania.

Senior returned to St. Charles Borromeo in 1988 to continue his graduate studies, receiving Master of Divinity and Master of Arts in pastoral theology degrees that same year in 1988. For part of 1988, he taught religion at Archbishop Kennedy High School in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania.

In 1989, Senior went to Boston, Massachusetts to attend Boston College. During his time in Boston, Senior also worked as executive assistant to the secretary for social services in the Archdiocese of Boston. He received Master of Social Work and Master of Business Administration degrees from Boston College in 1992.

On returning to Philadelphia, Senior worked as deputy secretary for Catholic Human Services from 1992 to 1997, when he became secretary. In this position, he oversaw the governance and operation of the network of Catholic health care and social services ministries sponsored by the archdiocese. Senior was raised to the rank of chaplain to his holiness by Pope John Paul II in 1998, and prelate of honor in 2005. In 2004, Senior was named archdiocesan vicar for clergy by Cardinal Justin Rigali. In addition to his duties as vicar, he resided at and served as chaplain at Divine Providence Village, a facility for people with intellectual disabilities, in Springfield, Pennsylvania.

Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia
On June 8, 2009, Senior was appointed as an auxiliary bishop of Philadelphia and titular bishop of Floriana by Pope Benedict XVI. Senior received his episcopal consecration on July 31, 2009, from Rigali, with Bishops Michael Bransfield and Daniel E. Thomas acting as co-consecrators, at the Cathedral Basilica of Ss. Peter and Paul in Philadelphia.

From 2009 to 2012, Senior served as the moderator of the curia for the archdiocese. In July 2012, Archbishop Charles J. Chaput appointed Senior as rector of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary. In July 2022, Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez appointed Senior as chancellor of that seminary and gave him responsibility for the seminary's move to Lower Gwynedd Township.

Bishop of Harrisburg
On April 25, 2023, Pope Francis appointed Senior as bishop of Harrisburg, succeeding Bishop Ronald Gainer. He was installed on June 21, 2023, at the Cathedral of Saint Patrick.