The installation of Fr Fintan Monahan as Bishop of
Killaloe could hardly have been a more inclusive affair, and that’s how
Ireland’s newest bishop wanted it – a big believer in episcopal
consultation, he made it clear in advance of his ordination Mass that he
wanted his ceremonial installation as bishop to draw together all the
diocese.
The bulk of the congregation in Ennis’s Cathedral of Ss
Peter and Paul were family and friends of the popular bishop, but the
ceremony was marked for the involvement of others he might not have
known so well, whether they were the young people of the Kilmore
Diocesan Youth Council who prepared the altar, children from St Anne’s
Special School in Roscrea who accompanied the Invocation of the Holy
Spirit with liturgical movement, or members of the Travelling and Polish
communities who formally greeted the new bishop after he had received
his ring, mitre, and crozier.
Presence
The chief ordaining priest at the ceremony was Bishop Fintan’s
predecessor in Killaloe, Cashel & Emly’s Archbishop Kieran
O’Reilly, assisted by the Archbishop of Tuam – Bishop Fintan’s previous
diocese – Dr Michael Neary and the papal nuncio, Archbishop Charles
Brown, in the presence of a host of other bishops and clergy, there to
lay hands on the new bishop and concelebrate his first Mass as bishop.
Among those present were Bishop Fintan’s parents Peg and
Tom, and his siblings Seán and Catríona, with his father and sister
reading the First and Second Readings, and if any aspect of the
ceremony is likely to stick in the mind more than the glorious music
from the six combined choirs, with accompany musicians, it will be the
challenging, rousing and sometimes hilarious homily from Bishop Fintan’s
old friend, Canon Brendan Kilcoyne of Athenry.
“We will not be led by small men,” he said, calling on the
new bishop to lead from the front. “You must have more than we need,”
he said.
As for the new bishop, he seemed ready to face his new
challenge, listening keenly, smiling firmly, and laughing often through
Fr Brendan’s homily.
Afterwards, in mapping out his major priorities for the
diocese, he admitted to failing to invite Pope Francis to Killaloe “if
he decides to come to Ireland” for 2018’s World Meeting of Families, but
he said he’d have another chance to speak to him in January during the
Irish bishops’ Ad Limina visit to Rome.
The queue to meet the new bishop after Mass could hardly have been longer: he already looks an inspired and popular choice.