SW News:

Fr Niall Coll, who was named the new bishop of the Irish Diocese of Ossory by the Holy Father, received episcopal consecration at St Mary’s Cathedral in Kilkenny on Sunday, January 22. The principal consecrator was Archbishop Dermot Farrell of Dublin and the co-consecrators were Bishop Denis Nulty of Kildare and Leighlin, who is also the outgoing Apostolic Administrator of Ossory, and Bishop Alan McGuckian of Raphoe. The ceremony was attended by Charge d’Affaires of the Apostolic Nunciature Monsignor Julien Kabore. A large number of believers, including the family members of the bishop-elect, were present during the ceremony. 

In his homily, Fr Kieran O’Shea of Ossory quoted Irish poet T S Eliot who wrote “Home is where one starts from” and he then cited the Gospel passage from Matthew 4:12-23 in which Jesus goes home to Nazareth for a while after hearing of the arrest of St John the Baptist. He said it was in Nazareth that the ordinariness in everyday life was sanctified. “So, let Ossory, our Nazareth, be your home and your starting point. As priests and bishops, it is when we walk with our sisters and brothers, encouraging them to persevere amidst the signs of the times, when we enter the places they call home, when we carry the Cross with them and rejoice with them as at harvest time (Is 9:3), we unveil the Reign of God that is already at hand,” he said. 

Bishop Nulty said in a statement that he knew Bishop Niall during their student days at Maynooth, adding that he was well aware of his deep faith, immense capabilities and great energy for all aspects of the ministry. “As a theologian, his love of learning and his great appreciation of God revealed to us will ensure that he continues to guide the faithful of Ossory ever closer to the Lord,” he added. 

The principal consecrator said in his statement that currently, the Church is experiencing a great change. Although the faith remains unchanged, its expression has to seek new forms and structures, he said. By accepting the responsibility to lead Ossory, Bishop Niall “can be assured that the good Lord, who called him to this ministry, will also support him as he undertakes it,” said Bishop Nulty. 

At the end of the Consecration Mass, the new bishop thanked his consecrators, the priests, religious, and representatives of all 42 parishes and 13 pastoral areas as well as his parents, brother, sisters, brother-in-law and extended family. He also expressed gratitude to the Charge d’Affaires, his friends, seminary classmates, contemporaries, former colleagues, Bishop Adrian Wilkinson of the Church of Ireland and members of other faiths. 

Bishop Niall then introduced the congregation to his episcopal motto “Christus Jesus Spes Nostra”, which means Christ Jesus our hope. The bishop explained the significance of hope “in our hearts for ourselves and our families, hope for the Church at this time of great challenge and change, a painful time of pruning and renewal, especially in light of the abuse crisis, is urgently needed”. He explained how Pope Benedict XVI had a deep understanding of Europe and the West today and the intensity of the challenge which people of faith face. “It is in Christ Jesus our hope that we find this new life and the courage to persevere on our pilgrim journey of faith,” he added.