The diocese of Derry has announced that Monsignor Eamon Martin has been appointed as the new Administrator of the Diocese following his election by the College of Consultors in the diocese.
The College of Consultors consists of the diocese's eight most senior clerics.
The Diocesan Administrator will administer the diocese until a new Bishop of Derry is appointed.
Mgr Martin's appointment follows the decision by Bishop Seamus Hegarty to resign on health grounds. His resignation was formally accepted by the Vatican on November 23.
A native of Pennyburn in Derry, he studied for the priesthood at Saint Patrick's College in Maynooth and was ordained on June 28 1987.
Following his ordination, he served as curate in Saint Eugene's Cathedral in Derry until 1989 from where he went on to teach at Saint Columb's College in Derry City where he was appointed College President in 2000.
He holds an impressive list of qualifications including a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematical Science from the National University of Ireland, Maynooth, A Bachelor of Divinity from the same university and a Masters in Theology from Cambridge University in England.
Mgr Martin was appointed Vicar-General of the diocese just 16 months ago. He had previously served as Executive Secretary of the Irish Conference of Bishops.
Accepting his new appointment Mgr Martin said, “I thank the College of Consultors for the trust they have shown in electing me as Diocesan Administrator for the Diocese of Derry. It is my prayer that I will live up to that trust.”
He also thanked Bishop Hegarty for his 17 years of service to the diocese saying, “I pray for him in his retirement, in particular for his health. My duty is to lead the diocese from now until a new Bishop is appointed. In recent years, the appointment of Bishops has taken a significant period of time and this may well be the case in Derry. During this time, I ask your prayers that, guided by the Holy Spirit, a suitable Bishop will be appointed.”
Derry is the country's fourth largest diocese and includes parts of Donegal, Tyrone, Derry and Antrim.
It is the seventh Irish diocese awaiting the appointment of a Bishop.