This article is from page 18 of the 2014-11-25 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 18 JPG
WOMEN deacons will not be introduced this year, and cannot be introduced until a new Bishop of Killaloe is ordained.
The outgoing bishop – Archbishop Kieran O’Reilly SMA- had suspended the introduction of any deacons to the diocese following a public objection by parishioners and some priests to a men only advertisement for the role.
At the weekend the local Catholic bishop was announced as the successor to Archbishop of Cashel and Emly Dermot Clifford, and will continue in an administrative type role only in Killaloe during the coming months until he off cially takes over his new post in Thurles.
An administrator will then take over the running of the diocese of Killaloe until a new bishop is ordained. Communications Off cer with the diocese Fr Brendan Quinlivan said that the process is all clearly set out in Cannon Law.
“Any internal work that has already started will continue, but the administrator does not make any innovations that would be binding on the incoming bishop,” he said.
Archbishop O’Reilly is expected to be installed as Archbishop of Cashel and Emly in February.
Newly appointed Archbishop Kieran O’Reilly said he f rst heard of his appointment to the Dioscese of Cashel and Emly on Monday last week when the Papal Nuncio asked to meet with him.
“The moment the nuncio asked me it knocked me for six. It is not something you expect to happen. It is a bit like something has been taken away from you, something you had become very assured with and that you were working with and it takes a bit of getting use to,” he said.
The outgoing Bishop of Killaloe said that the next few weeks will be about letting go as he takes up an administer role in the diocese until his installation.
Adding that he was looking forward to serving the people of his new dioceses he said there is much he will miss about his f rst ever diocese. “In that time I have been privileged to work and serve with a deeply committed group of priests and people. I have encountered so many people with a great love for Jesus Christ and commitment for the life of the Church.
“I will always treasure the personal friendships I have made and give thanks to God for the support I have received here in the Diocese of Killaloe.
“I pledge to keep all of you in my prayers and gently request that you might do the same for me as I take up this new appointment,” he said.
The Cork native was ordained Bishop of Killaloe in August 2010 following the retirment of Bishop Willie Walsh.
Born in Cork city on August 8, 1952 he was the eldest of f ve children born to Seán and Theresa O’Reilly.
He was educated at the Presentation Brothers, Scoil Chríost Rí, Turner’s Cross and Coláiste Chríost Rí, Cork before joining the Society of African Missions in Wilton, Cork in 1970.
Bishop O’Reilly received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from St Patrick’s College, Maynooth in 1974 followed by a Bachelor of Divinity in 1977 and a Diploma in Mission Studies in 1978.
He was appointed Vicar General of the Society of African Missions from 1995 to 2001 and elected as the 11th Superior General of the Society of African Missions from 2001 to 2007.
He was re-elected to that position in 2007, before being appointed bishop elect by Pope Benedict XVI on May 2010. Meanwhile the search to f ll the vacancy in Killaole will now begin. Filling the role could take months or even years, as was the case in Limerick.
There are currently four diocese without bishops.
The Papal Nuncio will begin the search for possible contenders to f ll the top job in Killaloe, by contacting parish groups, schools and other interested bodies. He will then send a list of the most qualif ed, which could include some names he suggests to the Congregation of Bishops in Rome. The bishops will propose three names to the pope with a preferred candidate indicated, and Pope Francis will make the f nal decision, with an option of appointing someone not recommended by the bishops. Three names expected to be among the nominees are the three priests nominated over four years ago when Bishop O’Reilly was appointed – Fr Tom Hogan, Fr Des Hillery, and Fr Albert McDonnell. However an informed punt would back an outsider, as all bishops appointed in the last number of years have been appointed from outside their own diocese. Then, Bishop O’Reilly was the f rst priest from outside the diocese to f ll the position in over 200 years.