Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Catholic News

Home

Home
Catholic
Religion News
Next bishop of Limerick, Ireland seeks new start

Next bishop of Limerick, Ireland seeks new start

Last updated on: January 10, 2013 at 9:02 pm by CNA Daily News

Next bishop of Limerick, Ireland seeks new start 2013-01-10T21:02:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Limerick, Ireland, Jan 10, 2013 / 02:02 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- The priest named as the next Bishop of Limerick called for a “new start” three years after the diocese’s previous bishop resigned in the face of severe criticism of his handling of sex abuse cases.

Pope Benedict XVI named Father Brendan Leahy, a 52-year-old theology professor at St. Patrick’s College Maynooth, as the Diocese of Limerick’s new bishop Thursday.

“Being appointed Bishop of Limerick is certainly not something I foresaw as part of my life’s journey, but I am very grateful to Pope Benedict for opening up for me a new stage in life among the people and places of the historical and renowned diocese of Limerick,” Bishop-designate Leahy said Jan. 10 at a gathering at Limerick’s St. John’s Cathedral.

“Confidence comes certainly not from me. I am only too conscious of the contrast between who I am and the task ahead of me. But I recognize that the Church is first and foremost based on a promise that does not deceive: Jesus’ promise: 'remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age,'” he said.

Bishop-designate Leahy was born in Dublin in 1960 and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Dublin in 1986. He is a member of the Focolare movement.

He has published several books on topics like the Mass, the Stations of the Cross and Pope John Paul II. He is an expert in the theology of Hans Urs von Balthasar and helped organize a well-received three-day theological symposium ahead of the International Eucharistic Congress in Dublin in 2012.

Those in attendance at the announcement of the bishop-designate’s appointment included apostolic nuncio to Ireland Archbishop Charles Brown, diocesan administrator Fr. Tony Mullins and former Bishop of Limerick Donal Murray, the Diocese of Limerick said.

Fr. Mullins welcomed the bishop-to-be.

“Fr. Brendan Leahy’s appointment as our bishop and shepherd comes at a time of great challenge. But every challenge presents us with a new opportunity to proclaim the good news of the gospel,” he said.

Bishop Murray, 72, resigned from the diocese in December 2009 after an Irish government report found he had acted “inexcusably” by not investigating serial sex abuser Fr. Tom Naughton when he was an auxiliary bishop of Dublin in the 1980s. The findings came amid continued reaction and controversy over the Catholic bishops’ response to the sexual abuse of minors.

Bishop-designate Leahy said Catholics in Ireland have been through “a very dark moment” but he affirmed that God is “not absent” and invites people to “look at things with new eyes.”

“That the Church is going through a period of great transition is not new news and yet it is good news,” he said.

“God is indeed at work in our lives. In response to God’s action, we must do all we can to make sure that Church settings are always good places to be, where genuine mutual love is experienced,” the bishop-designate continued. He noted the “robust measures” the diocese has in place to protect children.

Bishop-designate Leahy has studied at many institutions including the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. He has served as a corresponding member of the Pontifical Academy of Theology and is a visiting lecturer at the Sophia University Institute in Florence.

He is the chairman of the Archdiocese of Dublin’s Diocesan Ecumenical Committee and secretary of the Irish bishops’ Advisory Committee on Ecumenism .

Bishop-designate Leahy prayed for those who contribute to Limerick’s community and he thanked the “very committed” laity of his diocese, the vowed religious, clergy, and Christians of other denominations.

“In particular I greet people who feel they are hanging on in the Church by their finger tips and all who are struggling with their faith,” he said. “I invite you not to give up. This is a Year of Faith. It can be a new start for us all.”

He entrusted himself to the Virgin Mary and asked Catholics for their prayers.

The Diocese of Limerick has 171,000 Catholics in a population of 178,000. The diocese has 167 priests, with 89 active in ministry in 94 churches. There are 411 vowed religious in the diocese.

Europe

Uncategorized

Previous Post

January 10, 2013

Cultural event in NYC to explore meaning of freedom

Next Post

January 11, 2013 Bishops find progress in relationship with Catholic colleges

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as what?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Snow Wool A lamb Light