Vatican announces appointment changes in west dioceses

HIS Holiness Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Paul Dempsey, up until now Bishop of Achonry, as Titular Bishop of Sita and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Dublin.

Pope Francis has also made the following appointments, from today, in the ecclesiastical province of the Archdiocese of Tuam:

Archbishop Francis Duffy, Metropolitan Archbishop of the ecclesiastical province of Tuam, as Apostolic Administrator sede vacante of the Diocese of Killala; and, Bishop Kevin Doran, Bishop of Elphin, as Apostolic Administrator sede vacante of the Diocese of Achonry.

Furthermore, Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop John Fleming, Bishop of Killala, on the grounds of age.

The Vatican made the announcement this morning after Mass in the Cathedral of the Assumption, Tuam, concelebrated by Archbishop Duffy, together with His Excellency Archbishop Luis Mariano Montemayer, Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland, Bishop Fleming, Bishop Doran, Bishop Michael Duignan, Bishop of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora, and Bishop of Clonfert, and Bishop Dempsey.

Said Archbishop Duffy: “The announcement of this level of change in the episcopate in one province at the same time is quite significant.

“It creates the possibility of exploring a closer union between the Archdiocese of Tuam and the Diocese of Killala, and between the Dioceses of Elphin and Achonry, not unlike the process that is already underway in the Dioceses of Galway and Clonfert.

“Any such change would involve living communities and could not be simply structural or administrative. It would require careful discernment over some time, involving the whole people of God in the respective dioceses.”

Bishop John Fleming welcomed the appointment of Archbishop Francis Duffy as the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Killala and wished him well in his work.

Said Bishop Fleming: “I offer him my ongoing prayerful support as he undertakes the additional pastoral responsibility of shepherding the people of God in this diocese, as well as in the Archdiocese of Tuam.

“I also wish to thank the people, religious and priests of the Diocese of Killala for their prayers, goodwill, encouragement and unstinting support over the past 22 years of my ministry as bishop. As I look forward to my retirement, I will keep all of them in my thoughts and prayers.”