ORONO – The Most Rev. Richard Malone, recently appointed bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland, has expressed an interest in sharing a meal with students and delivering a lecture to the University of Maine campus community.

Before becoming a bishop, Malone was a college chaplain at Harvard University and Wellesley College. He holds a special concern for college students and would like to support campus ministry by meeting with students.

Bishop Malone will share a meal with students at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 17, at the Newman Center. Dinner will be informal. The bishop would like to get to know the student community at UMaine, to talk to students about their interests and to encourage them in their faith journey while on campus. Those planning to attend the dinner should RSVP to Casey Murphy, Catholic campus minister, 866-2155.

A lecture at 7 p.m. will follow the dinner. Bishop Malone’s topic will be “The Challenge of Faith in Higher Education.”

Bishop Malone will leave time in his schedule for questions and conversation with students. He will celebrate Mass with students at 8 a.m. Friday, Feb. 18, at the Newman Center.