A new Bishop for the Diocese of Raphoe will be announced by Pope Francis on Friday – and a serving priest in Donegal is believed to be Bishop Philip Boyce’s successor.
Sources say Buncrana-based Fr Francis Bradley is to be the Bishop-in-waiting ahead of Friday’s announcement by the Pope.
Bishop Boyce (above), who was appointed Bishop of Raphoe in 1995 turned 75 – the mandatory retirement age for Bishops – in January.
While Diocesan sources are remaining tight-lipped about the new appointment, Donegal Daily has learned that Fr Bradley, a native of Greencastle in County Tyrone, is the favourite to succeed Bishop Boyce.
Fr Bradley
Others believed to be considered for the position are Monsignor Kevin Gillespie – a native of Gweedore now based in the Vatican, who is a Papal Master of Ceremonies for Pope Francis, a role he previously served for Pope Benedict XVI – and Fr Paul Farren, who is the Administrator of St Eugene’s Cathedral in Derry city.
The 47-year-old Fr Bradley, based in Buncrana – which is in the Diocese of Derry – is the leading cleric, however.
A canon lawyer, Fr Bradley grew up in Gortin in County Tyrone and he was ordained in Rome in 1996.
He has previously served in the parishes of Cappagh, Galliagh and Steelstown before being appointed as the Administrator of the Derry Diocese. He took up the position of PP in Buncrana in October 2014.
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