Some months ago Bishop Liam MacDaid, on medical advice, wrote to Pope Francis requesting him to accept his early retirement as Bishop of Clogher due to ill-health, in accordance with Canon 401 § 2 of the Code of Canon Law.
It is announced this morning in Rome (at Noon, Rome time) that Pope Francis has accepted Bishop MacDaid’s request and that, accordingly, his retirement takes effect immediately.
Bishop Liam has always been very keen to communicate with the people of the diocese, whether through visits to parishes or through pastoral letters.
He is keen to ensure that the People of God throughout Clogher diocese should hear from him the background to his retirement, including some of the medical advice he has received, together with his reflections on diocesan life and that of the wider Church at this time.
With this in mind, he has written a pastoral letter to the priests and people of the diocese which will be read at all Masses this weekend.
Bishop MacDaid was appointed Bishop of Clogher by Pope Benedict XVI on 6 May 2010, in succession to Bishop Joseph Duffy who is now Bishop-Emeritus. He was ordained on 25 July 2010 in St Macartan’s Cathedral in Monaghan.
As for the future, the governance of the diocese is now assumed by the College of Consultors (in this case the Diocesan Chapter) which will meet in the coming days to elect a Diocesan Administrator.
The Diocesan Administrator will then lead the diocese, with limited powers, until a new bishop is appointed by Pope Francis.