BISHOP BRENDAN KELLY TO BE NEW BISHOP OF GALWAY
(Monday 11th December 2017)
A member of the Irish Jesus Caritas Fraternity for nearly all of his priestly life, Bishop Brendan Kelly has been asked by Pope Francis to be the next bishop of Galway. He succeeds Bishop Martin Drennan who has also been a member of the Jesus Caritas Fraternity and who resigned as bishop in 2016 for reasons of health.
Brendan Kelly (71) has been bishop of the small diocese of Achonry (39,000 Catholics) since 2007. His new Diocese of Galway and Kilmacduagh has over 110,000 Catholics. In 1995-96 he spent a year ministering to the sick and disabled of the l’Arche community in France.
On Monday congratulations were sent to Bishop Brendan on behalf of the Irish Fraternity wishing him blessings and good health. Bishop Kelly is due to begin his ministry in Galway in February 2018.
NEW BISHOP OF RAPHOE A MEMBER OF THE IRISH JESUS CARITAS FRATERNITY
Alan McGuckian, a member of a fraternity in the Diocese of Down and Connor and a Jesuit priest was named as the new bishop of the Diocese of Raphoe on 9th June. He was ordained bishop on 6th August, the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord. A gifted preacher and noted ecumenist, Bishop Alan had for many years been a visitor to the Irish language speaking areas of County Donegal which are now in his new Diocese. Bishop Alan has two brothers, Michael and Bernard who are also members of the Society of Jesus. He is the first ever member of his order to have been appointed a bishop in Ireland.
Irish Fraternity to meet at the beginning of 2018 to elect new national responsible
Members of the Irish Fraternity will gather at Mount St. Joseph’s Cistercian Abbey at the beginning of 2018 for their annual post-Christmas sharing. This time they will also have to choose as new responsible as the 6-year term of Liam Ó Cuív comes to an end.
The gathering will begin on 1st January and continue until 4th January.