Reacting to today’s announcement Bishop Willie Walsh said: “I warmly welcome the appointment of Fr Kieran O’Reilly as bishop elect of our diocese of Killaloe and extend to him a céad mile fáilte on behalf of all the people of our Diocese.”“Our new bishop-elect brings a rich missionary experience which I have no doubt will enrich the lives of all of us. Fr Kieran takes on the role of Bishop at a difficult time for the church in Ireland. However it is an opportune time for a new evangelisation in our Irish church. The appointment of a priest from a Society whose priority is evangelisation may be quite providential. It is my hope and prayer that his particular experience of evangelisation in a younger African Church will bring new life and rejuvenation to an older Irish Church.”
“In addressing the role of his own Missionary Society, Fr Kieran recently said that issues of Justice, Peace and the integrity of the created world in which we live are now at the centre of the Mission agenda. It is a difficult and unrewarding task in our times to uphold such issues but to do so is firmly rooted in the conviction that Jesus Christ, in his saving mission, has given dignity and worth to each and every human being. This is the fundamental cornerstone on which we engage in mission today”
I am confident that such sentiments are equally applicable to the lives of all of us in Killaloe Diocese”, stated Bishop Walsh.
SIC: TCH