The following remarks were made this morning by Bishop Christopher Jones at 11.00am in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Sligo
Dear Friends,
On the 24 May 1994, my predecessor Bishop Dominic Conway came out to speak to you after the 10.30am Mass. He told you that Pope John Paul II had appointed me as his successor as Bishop of the Diocese of Elphin.
I will be forever grateful for the warmth of your welcome and indeed for the encouragement and support that I have received from priests, religious and the lay people of this diocese over the past twenty years. Even in very difficult times you have remained so faithful and so loyal to the Church you love.
This morning it gives me great joy to announce that Pope Francis has now appointed Father Kevin Doran of the Archdiocese of Dublin to succeed me as Bishop of Elphin. This is great news for our diocese because Father Kevin Doran brings with him many unique gifts and talents.
All of us will remember the great responsibility he carried as Secretary General of the 50th International Eucharistic Congress in 2012. The Congress was a huge success under the leadership and guidance of Father Kevin.
Born in 1953 he went on to study for the priesthood at the Holy Cross Seminary in Dublin and later at the Pontifical Irish College in Rome. It is interesting to note that it was Bishop Dominic Conway who ordained Father Kevin as deacon in Rome in May 1976. He was ordained priest in July 1977 and so he has been a priest for thirty seven years. Father Kevin has many qualifications including an M.A. and Ph.D in Philosophy.
Father Kevin comes to our diocese with a wide range of experience in teaching, chaplaincy, medical ethics and bioethics. He was Spiritual Director at the Irish College Rome and taught in the Mater Dei Institute. Indeed as Spiritual Director in the Irish College in Rome he would have known seminarians who are now priests in our diocese. At different times he served as National and indeed European Coordinator of Vocations for the priesthood and religious life.
He was appointed Consultor by Pope John Paul II to the Congregation for Catholic Education in Rome. He served as Parish Priest of Glendalough Parish, Chaplain at Saint Vincent De Paul Parish, Marino, Diocesan Director of the Permanent Diaconate and, most recently, Administrator of the Sacred Heart Parish in Donnybrook. As Director of the Permanent Diaconate for Dublin Father Kevin worked with our own permanent deacons from Elphin in the initial stages of their formation programme.
So you can see Father Kevin comes with great gifts and talents together with experience in many different ministries. I know you will welcome him with great warmth and joy, and that all of us priests, religious and laity will give him huge support as he leads the Diocese of Elphin into the future.
Today we pray for the protection and intercession of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception to whom our diocese is dedicated as we face the challenges and crosses of the future.
It gives me great pleasure now to call on our Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Charles Brown to address you.
ENDS
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