Pope Francis appoints bishop to lead two Irish Catholic dioceses

Duignan, a native of Athlone, County Roscommon, was born on July 15, 1970. He was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Elphin in 1994. He has served as the bishop of Clonfert for over two years. His episcopal consecration took place on Oct. 13, 2019, a few months after his appointment by Pope Francis.

The Diocese of Clonfert, located in parts of County Galway and County Clare, traces its history back to the sixth century, when St. Brendan (also known as Brendan of Clonfert) established the Clonfert abbey. The diocese was formally established in the year 1111.

Today, the diocese has a population of 36,000 Catholics across 24 parishes, making it one of Ireland’s smallest dioceses.

The Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh, and Kilfenora is much larger in population, with more than 105,000 Catholics.

Galway and Kilmacduagh dioceses were combined in 1883 after the bishop of Galway was made the apostolic administrator of Kilfenora.

Duignan is formally known as the bishop of Galway, Kilmacduagh and apostolic administrator of Kilfenora, as well as the bishop of Clonfert.

Duignan and Bishop Kelly concelebrated a Mass on Feb. 11, the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, at Galway Cathedral. Archbishop Jude Thaddeus Okolo, apostolic nuncio to Ireland, was the chief celebrant.

Duignan said: “Last week when Archbishop Okolo asked me on behalf of Pope Francis to become the bishop of Galway, Kilmacduagh and the apostolic administrator of Kilfenora along with being the bishop of Clonfert — it was like being asked again to be a bishop for the first time. A moment, where half of you feels like turning away, while the other half of you feels called to stay and do the Lord’s work.”

“I am very conscious of my own sinfulness, of my own flaws and weaknesses, my particular ways and shortcomings, my need to listen and to learn. At times, the thought has crossed my mind that the Holy Spirit must indeed have a sense of humor in trusting me with the care of not just one but with two distinct dioceses. Such however is now the reality I find myself in.”

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“I pray as I have done on many occasions in my life for the grace — as the words of Katherine von Schlegel’s great hymn ‘Be Still My Soul’ so beautifully puts it — ‘to leave to my God to order and provide.’”