I warmly welcome the news today that the Holy Father Pope Francis has appointed Father Kevin Doran as the new Bishop of Elphin in succession to Bishop Christopher Jones.
I have worked closely with Bishop-elect Doran over the years in many pastoral areas, in particular to promote the Church’s teaching on the sanctity of human life. He is well known nationally as a brave advocate for the right to life of the unborn child, as well as being an articulate Church spokesperson for the important, complex and ever more relevant moral issues of medical ethics and bioethics. In addition, in the area of encouraging vocations to the priesthood, Bishop-elect Doran is recognised as having invested much energy and leadership in his former role as National Coordinator of Diocesan Vocations. In 2012 his effective role as Secretary General of the 50th International Eucharistic Congress in Ireland was instrumental in making this global faith gathering such a success for the national and international pilgrims in attendance. On behalf of the Bishops of the Metropolitan province of Tuam, I wish to take this opportunity to welcome Bishop-elect Kevin as a member of the Western Bishops of Ireland. His gifts and experience will no doubt make a valuable contribution to the Church in Ireland. On this day it is with mixed emotions that I say farewell to Bishop Jones in his role as Bishop of Elphin. Regardless of the prevailing cultural climate, the ministry of Bishop Jones has been characterised by his courage and commitment to preach the Gospel and at all times to serve the common good. As priest and bishop he always sought to improve the lot of the most vulnerable. From the moment I first met the then Father Christopher Jones I was struck by his acute social conscience and his unwavering commitment to achieve justice for all. Bishop Christy is first and foremost a much loved local pastor and popular shepherd of the faithful. He is a role model for all who are committed to building a civilization of love. His generous spirit is evident in his tireless support and promotion of marriage and family life. As president of ACCORD, the Catholic Marriage Care Service, and as Chair of the Bishops’ Council for Marriage and the Family, Bishop Christy has consistently raised awareness of the importance of marriage and the family as a positive influence on our society. The West of Ireland owes a great debt of gratitude to the work of Bishop Jones who helped to keep the Western Development Commission operating and in existence in the face of this Government’s austerity programme. The importance of the WDC for the social and economic development of the counties of Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Mayo, Roscommon, Galway and Clare, cannot be overstated. I know that my sentiments are shared not just by the Western bishops, but indeed by bishops, priests, religious and the many people throughout Ireland who have been fortunate to be touched by his ministry. I wish Bishop Jones God’s blessing for a long, happy and healthy retirement. ENDS +Archbishop Michael Neary is Archbishop of Tuam 100 Masses for the Holy Souls commenced on May 14th last and will conclude on the Feast of Our Lady of Knock, 21st August next. These Masses commemorate the 100 masses offered by Archdeacon Cavanagh, Parish Priest of Knock, in 1879 which concluded on the day of the Apparition, 135 years ago. The Masses are a movement of prayer for the launch of the ‘Witness to Hope’ renewal project which will begin October. Due to a huge interest in this initiative the following Mass schedule is in place:
Weekdays: 8am in the Apparition Chapel Sundays: 12 Noon in the Basilica It is very important to note that these times are adaptable to my schedule and will vary, you are advised to check the Shrine website and Parish newsletter for changes. Many thanks, Fr. Richard (Parish Priest of Knock). The Sacred College of Cardinals has had a crucial role to play in the life of the Catholic Church. As well as having the enormous responsibility of electing a new Pope the Cardinals also have the task of advising the Pope and assisting him in the fulfilment of his duties. Cardinals often perform this through their leadership of the various Congregations which exist in order to help the Pope fulfil his ministry of teaching and governing in the universal Church. To accept the office of Cardinal therefore is to accept a position which carries with it very serious responsibilities and it is often said that the Cardinal wears red garments to symbolise the willingness he should have to die for the Pope and for the Catholic faith.
The doctrine that marriage is an indissoluble union of one man and one woman is part of the deposit of faith unceasingly taught by the Catholic Church. It finds confirmation in natural reason and in the words of Our Lord in the gospel of St Matthew: “A man, therefore, will leave his father and mother and will cling to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. And so they are no longer two, they are one flesh; what God, then, has joined, let not man put asunder.” (Mt 19:5-6) It has been encouraging to see that over the last few weeks many Cardinals have fulfilled their solemn duty to defend the doctrine of the faith. We have discussed Cardinal Caffara’s recent interview at some length in this week’s edition but many other Cardinals have also defended the traditional teaching of the Church in response to suggestions made by Cardinal Kasper that in some circumstances the Church might permit reception of Holy Communion by divorced persons living in unions not recognised by the Church. Cardinal Ruini, retired President of the Italian Bishop’s Conference, has said that more than 85% of Cardinals have expressed their opposition to Cardinal Kasper’s proposals. Prominent among Kasper’s critics has been Cardinal Müller, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the congregation which is principally responsible for assisting the Pope in his ministry of teaching and defending the Catholic faith. The CDF recently published a document setting out the traditional Catholic doctrine clearly and unambiguously and Müller has remarked that other Cardinals ‘speak personally, only for themselves.’ He insisted that the temptation to ‘flirt with public opinion’ must be resisted ‘by every bishop and by every priest’. Similar remarks have been made by Cardinal Raymund Burke, Prefect of the Apostolica Signatura, the Church’s highest court, who has insisted that it ‘will become ever clearer’ that Cardinal Kasper’s approach is an ‘error.’ Cardinal Piacenza, Prefect of the Sacred Penitentiary, also opposed Kasper’s approach and remarked that if the Cardinals wanted a debate on pastoral care they should discuss the various threats faced by the family, such as the ‘ideology of gender.’ Yet another Cardinal to speak out was Battista Re, considered one of Pope Francis’s greatest supporters during the conclave, who told fellow Cardinals that he was ‘completely against’ Kasper’s proposals and felt he had to speak up in order to give newer Cardinals courage to do so. The theme of courage also played a large role in the contribution of Cardinal Walter Brandmüller who urged Catholics to show courage in defending the indissolubility of marriage. “Neither human nature nor the Commandments nor the Gospel have an expiry date” he said “Courage is needed to enunciate the truth even against current customs. Whoever speaks on behalf of the Church must possess courage if he does not want his vocation to be a failure.” Whatever our vocation in life, courage is one of the most essential virtues for Catholics trying to live in accordance with their faith today. There are many examples of courageous Catholics living the faith today, many of whom we encounter in the pages of this newspaper. When confronted with the darkness present in our modern world, such as the disregard for unborn life symbolised by the hospital incineration scandal or the ever encroaching threats to our basic freedoms, we can take hope from the fact that there are still Catholics, at every level of the Church, who are still speaking out in fidelity to their vocations. We can also pray that those who have a duty to speak out, but do not, may be given the courage to do so. Source: Catholic Voice Newpaper (16th May 2014). |