To meet the evolving needs of the Church in the ecclesiastical Province of Tuam, it is necessary to envisage a gradual process of reorganisation, which will, it is hoped, give added impetus and vitality to the communities concerned.
Today, His Holiness Pope Francis has appointed the Archbishop of Tuam, Archbishop Francis Duffy, as Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Killala, and he has likewise appointed the Bishop of Elphin, Bishop Kevin Doran, as Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Achonry.
Due
to the retirement of Bishop John Fleming, by reason of age, and due to
the episcopal reassignment of Bishop Paul Dempsey, who will now become Auxiliary Bishop in the Archdiocese of Dublin, the Dioceses of Killala
and Achonry have become vacant Episcopal Sees entrusted to the pastoral
care of their respective Apostolic Administrator.
In due time, and following careful assessment and consultation, the
present Dioceses of Tuam and Killala on the one hand, and Elphin and
Achonry on the other, may be governed by one Bishop in each case, just
as the Dioceses of Galway and Clonfert are today governed by one
Bishop.
If this process evolves still further, the associated Dioceses
may then merge fully under their Bishop, and, in this way, the six
Dioceses in the Province of Tuam will eventually become three.
They say “in union there is strength”. Thus, with pooled resources and
combined endeavours, and trusting strongly in the grace of God, we can
look to the future with hope and confidence.