Fr. Niall Coll from St. Johnston has been ordained as the new Bishop of Ossory in Kilkenny.
Bishop Coll, a proud Donegal clergyman, was ordained during a very moving ceremony yesterday attended by over 800 people including his parents Willie and Kathleen, his siblings, extended family, fellow Priests and Bishops, many friends, and other people from throughout Kilkenny and afar.
Niall’s Episcopal Ring was presented by his mother and his ‘Bishop’s Crozier’ by his father and sister.
The Principal celebrant was Archbishop Dermot Farrell of Dublin and the co-consecrators were Bishop Denis Nulty Bishop of Kildare & Leighlin who for these past two years served also as Apostolic Administrator of Ossory and Bishop Alan McGuckian SJ of Raphoe Diocese, Fr Niall’s home Diocese.
Bishop-elect Coll of @OssoryDiocese lies prostrate before God, in silence the consecrating bishops lay their hands upon his head, the Book of the Gospels are presented to the candidate who is anointed, recieves his Ring, Mitre & Pastoral Staff and led to the Cathedral Chair pic.twitter.com/ZPsPTlOhaY
— CatholicBishops (@CatholicBishops) January 22, 2023
Bishop Coll is a skilled Theologian who has served at third level in both St Patrick’s College Carlow and St Mary’s University College in Belfast. He taught at second level in St Eunan’s College, Letterkenny and Pobalscoil na Rosann.
As a young priest he served as a curate in Dungloe and more recently he has been the Parish Priest of both Drumholm (Ballintra) and Tawnawilly (Donegal and Clar).
For his motto, Bishop Coll has adopted the phrase ‘Christ Jesus our hope’.
Bishop Coll is the 96th Bishop of Ossory and the first Ulsterman to serve in the office.
