The Episcopal Ordination of Father Fintan Monahan as Bishop of
Killaloe, will take place on Sunday 25 September in the Cathedral of
Saints Peter and Paul, Ennis, Co Clare.
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.
Canon
Brendan Kilcoyne Parish Priest, Vicar Forane, Athenry Co. Galway will
preach the homily.
Family and friends of Bishop-elect Monahan will gather in the
beautiful surroundings of Saint Peter and Paul’s Cathedral for the Mass
which will be concelebrated by more than 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; as well as priests of the Archdiocese of Tuam,
the Diocese of Killaloe and classmates of Bishop-elect Monahan.
Other Christian denominations in the area will be represented at the
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.
The Mass will be webcast on the Killaloe Diocesan Website www.killaloediocese.ie
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, CaitrÃona, 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 Bishop-elect 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.