Auxiliary to aid Bishop in Dublin diocese
A NEW Auxiliary Bishop has been appointed to the Archdiocese of Dublin, to support the Archbishop through ‘changing times’. It comes as Irish Bishops have called for a complete ceasefire in Gaza.
Pope Francis has appointed Father Donal Roche to help Archbishop Dermot Farrell at a time when clergy numbers are dwindling creating an increased need for lay people to get involved in the running of the Church.
Archbishop Farrell said: ‘In light of the rapidly changing needs of the Archdiocese, I asked Pope Francis to consider appointing an Auxiliary Bishop to assist me in the
‘The path ahead is uncertain’
ministry to a diocese that has a population of over 1.5 million, of whom a million identify as Catholics, spread over 197 parishes.’
He thanked the Pope for making the appointment, and said Fr Roche would bring extensive pastoral experience to the leadership of the Church in Dublin.
Fr Roche has served as a priest in Dublin for 38 years, since his ordination in his home parish of Mourne Road in 1986. He spent the first half of that time in schools in Coolock and Tallaght as priest-teacher and chaplain, before going on to serve in various parishes. Fr Roche said: ‘Everybody says these are challenging times for the Church, and that is true.
‘We have been through difficult times over the last 20 years or so and the path that lies ahead is also very uncertain. But we have a strength in the commitment and faith of the priests and people of the Archdiocese.’
A spokesperson for the Archdiocese said: ‘With fewer clergy and greater lay involvement in parishes, the new Auxiliary Bishop will be supporting the Archbishop in his role of leading the Archdiocese along the synodal pathway.’
Meanwhile, on the second day of the Spring General Meeting of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference in Maynooth, the bishops called for an urgent and complete ceasefire in Gaza: ‘In saying this, we join with many in our parishes, together with all people of goodwill, in demanding an immediate end to the daily horror of killing, wounding and destruction of property and infrastructure there,’ they said in a statement.
‘We call on the Israeli government to comply with basic human and international standards in ensuring that Palestinians have full and unimpeded access to food, water and basic safety requirements. What is happening in this region cannot be morally justified.’