[1] William Mathew Slattery was born at Portlaoise on 6 September 1943; he is a native of Killenaule, County Tipperary, Ireland.
He moved to St. Isidore's College in Rome in order to attend lectures at the Antonianum (Pontifical University of St. Anthony).
He served in various dioceses in South Africa and also in Malawi; he has also been Rector of St John Vianney Seminary, where he also lecturered in Church History from 1985 till 1991.
While at St. John Vianney he also completed a degree course in anthropology at the University of South Africa(Unisa).
(founded by his fellow Franciscans) to provide services in the diocese, and in 2009 supported their setting up of a housing association, Silvie.