His Holiness Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Kevin Doran to minister simultaneously as Bishop of Achonry and Bishop of Elphin. The two Dioceses concerned, united in persona episcopi, will be pastorally administered by one Bishop. The news of this Episcopal appointment will be made public this morning at 11.00am.
Announcement delivered by Fr Vincent Sherlock after Mass in the Cathedral of the Annunciation and St Nathy, Ballaghaderreen:
"As Chancellor of the Diocese of Achonry, I am happy to make the following announcement:
His Holiness Pope Francis has appointed Most Rev Kevin Doran, Bishop of Elphin, as Bishop of Achonry and, at the same time, unites the Diocese of Achonry and the Diocese of Elphin “in persona episcopi” (in the person of the bishop). As we gather here, this appointment is also being announced in Rome.
There are two distinct but related elements to the announcement. Firstly, since 10 April 2024, Bishop Kevin has been Apostolic Administrator of Achonry, which is a temporary care-taker appointment. Pope Francis has now appointed him Bishop of Achonry. When the official decree (known as The Bull) comes from Rome in a few weeks time, Bishop Kevin will present it to the Diocesan College of Consultors. A 'Liturgy of Installation' will be celebrated here in the Cathedral, on a date which has yet to be confirmed within the next two months. Bishop Kevin remains also Bishop of Elphin.
The second element of the announcement is that the two dioceses of Achonry and Elphin are joined “in persona episcopi.” In other words, they are joined “in the person of the Bishop”. This follows on from the announcement made by the Papal Nuncio last year regarding a 'gradual process of reorganisation' in the Province of Tuam.
Perhaps the best way to explain this is to say that, in every Diocese the Bishop is called to be a sign and a means of unity. It is his responsibility to gather together the people of God. When two Dioceses are joined like this “in the person of the Bishop”, it tells us that the two Dioceses have a unique relationship which goes beyond just being close neighbours. Through his ministry of teaching, administration and celebrating the Eucharist and the other Sacraments, the Bishop is called to be a sign and a servant of that new and deeper communion. Each Diocese still retains is own unique identity, but gradually over the next few years, while respecting the culture and the history and the unique gifts of each, the two dioceses will become one diocese."
Address of Bishop Kevin Doran
It is good to be with you here in our Cathedral this Sunday morning. As the regular Sunday congregation in the Cathedral, you represent the people of God across the whole Diocese. If you have kept in touch with what has been going on over the past ten months, the news that Father Vincent has just shared with us will probably not come as a surprise.
Since I was appointed Apostolic Administrator of Achonry last April, I have carried out the work of a Bishop, and today’s announcement will not make a lot of difference to that. I have been conscious, however, of an understandable disappointment among the faithful, including the priests, that there was no longer a Bishop of Achonry. It was clear from the consultations which took place in September and October last year that there was a willingness to move towards the eventual union of our two Dioceses of Achonry and Elphin. Together with the College of Consultors, I made that known to the Apostolic Nuncio, who communicated it to Pope Francis.
Pope Francis has heard your voice.
Today’s announcement is significant for both the Diocese of Elphin and the Diocese of Achonry, because it puts the relationship of the two Dioceses on another level. It is consistent with what the Apostolic Nuncio told us in April 2024, when he announced the Pope’s plan for the reorganisation of the Province of Tuam. This marks the next step in our journey together.
As some of you may know, bishops normally choose an episcopal motto, taken from Scripture. Mine is 'One Body in Christ.' It comes from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans, where he says: "In Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us" (Rom. 12).
I gladly accept my responsibility as Bishop of the two Dioceses to work with you as we grow together into that unity to which we are called, and as we discover the gifts that God has given us to share. I have been Bishop of Elphin for over ten years, and it is less than a year since I became Apostolic Administrator here. It is you, the people of both Dioceses, who have shown me how to be a Bishop for you and I thank you for that.
I am very grateful to the people of the Diocese of Achonry - including the clergy, the religious and the Diocesan staff - who have welcomed me so warmly and encouraged me in my ministry as Apostolic Administrator. Those who work most closely with me in the Diocese of Elphin have also taken on additional responsibilities in recent months, in order to allow me the time and energy to be present in Achonry.
In recent weeks, I have asked ten people, five from each Diocese, to join an 'Implementation Group' to help identify the steps we need to take over the next couple of years, to bring our two Dioceses together in a way which respects the unique culture of each, but will also sow the seeds of renewal so that we can go into the future as one Diocese strong in faith and in mission.