New Bishop to be ordained today

The Episcopal Ordination of Father Fintan Monahan as Bishop of Killaloe will take place at 3.00pm today in the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Ennis.

The Chief Ordaining Prelate will be Archbishop Kieran O’Reilly, Archbishop of Cashel and Emly, who will be assisted by Archbishop Michael Neary, Archbishop of Tuam and the Apostolic Nuncio, His Excellency Archbishop Charles Brown.

The Apostolic Mandate from His Holiness, Pope Francis, will be read by Father Albert McDonnell, Chancellor of the Diocese of Killaloe.  The sermon for this ordination ceremony will be preached by Canon Brendan Kilcoyne Parish Priest, Vicar Forane, Athenry Co. Galway.

Concelebrating the Mass will be over 20 bishops including: Archbishop Eamon Martin, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, Bishop Willie Walsh, Bishop Emeritus of Killaloe; priests of the Diocese of Killaloe; priests of the Archdiocese of Tuam and classmates of Bishop-elect  Monahan.

Other Christian denominations in the area will be represented at this Mass including Bishop Kenneth Kearon, Church of Ireland Bishop of Killaloe and Limerick; Rev. Shannon de Laureal, Leader of the Methodist Church, Midlands and Southern District; Pastor Chinwe of the Evangelical Church and Madge Rainsford, Chairman of the Baha’i Community Ireland.

Ennis Brass Band will perform outside the Cathedral before the Mass begins.  The choir for the ceremony will be made up of the choirs from Ennis, Nenagh and members of the Killaloe Diocese Music Ministry Programme as well as Youth Choirs from Clarecastle/Ballyea and Cistercian College Roscrea. Liturgical movement will be featured from students of Saint Anne’s Special School in Roscrea.

Life and Ministry of Bishop Fintan Monahan

• Fintan Monahan was born in Tullamore, Co Offaly, on 23 January 1967.  His parents are Tom and Peg Monahan and he has one brother, Seán, and one sister, Caitríona, who is married to Dominic.  From 1980-1996 the family lived in Carraroe, Co Galway where his father was principal teacher at Scoil Chuimsitheach Chiaráin, An Cheathrú Rua. In 1996 the family moved to Castlegar, Galway City, the native home of his mother.
• Primary education was in Tullamore and secondary education was in Carraroe before studying for the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Tuam in Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth in 1984.  In 1987 he completed a B.Sc. in NUI Maynooth, a B.D. in the Pontifical University in 1990, an S.T.L. in Biblical Theology in 1992 and a H.Dip. in Education in NUI Galway in 1993.
• Ordination to the priesthood was in Séipéal Mhic Dara, An Cheathrú Rua on 16 June 1991 by Archbishop Joseph Cassidy.  While studying for the H.Dip. in Education in Galway he was curate in An Tulach, Baile na hAbhann, Conamara from 1992-1993.  From 1993-2006 he taught Science, Irish and Religion at the diocesan college, Saint Jarlath’s College in Tuam, along with coaching basketball and hurling.
• In 2006 Archbishop Michael Neary appointed Father Monahan as chaplain to Saint Jarlath’s College and diocesan secretary. During that time he also worked in the area of communications, vocations promotion and served as editor of the Tuam Diocesan Magazine, New Dawn. In recent years he joined the Communications Council of the Irish Episcopal Conference.
• Bishop-elect Monahan is a fluent Irish speaker and enjoys the outdoor life, hill walking, jogging, cycling, swimming and gardening.
• Bishop-elect Monahan’s appointment as Bishop of Killaloe was announced by Pope Francis on 29 July.