A new chapter beckons for Bishop Alan McGuckian as he is set to leave the Raphoe Diocese for a new appointment in Belfast.
Pope Francis has appointed Bishop McGuckian as the new resident Bishop of the Diocese of Down and Connor – a diocese he faithfully served for many years.
The County Antrim native made history as the first ever member of the Jesuit Order to be appointed a Bishop in Ireland.
He was ordained Bishop at St. Eunan’s Cathedral Letterkenny in August 2017 and was delighted to be assigned to the Raphoe Diocese due to his long associations and affections with County Donegal.
In the past six and a half years, he has become a popular figure across the diocese and in various community groups. His plan to make the diocese open and adaptable to change places Parish Pastoral Councils at the heart of the connection between priests and the people.
Bishop McGuckian’s appointment was announced at a mass celebrated in Saint Peter’s Cathedral in Belfast this morning.
Bishop Donal McKeown, Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Down and Connor, said that Bishop McGuckian is coming back to his native soil – the diocese where he was born and went to school and the diocesan family where he served as part of the Jesuit community in Belfast for 12 years.
While in Belfast, he worked as chaplain to Ulster University and as director of the Living Church Office of this diocese.
Bishop McKeown said: “He knows the people, the languages and the geography of this diocese, having already played a major role in developing its strategic pastoral direction. After just a little over 12 months of an interregnum since the departure of Archbishop Noel Treanor to Brussels, the second largest diocese in Ireland now has a resident bishop. Bishop Alan, welcome back home.”
Archbishop Eamon Martin has welcomed Pope Francis’ appointment of Bishop Alan McGuckian today and said he will be missed in the Diocese of Raphoe.
“Since his appointment as Bishop of Raphoe, Bishop Alan’s strong pastoral instinct has been manifest in his witness to the Gospel and his care for people, religious and clergy.
“Alan has also contributed greatly to the work of the Bishops’ Conference as a member of its Standing Committee, as the representative to the International Commission for English in the Liturgy, as chair of the Council for Justice and Peace / Northern Ireland Catholic Council for Social Affairs, as a member of the Council for Pastoral Renewal and Adult Faith Development, and as liaison Bishop with Pax Christi Ireland.
“Last October, along with Bishop Brendan Leahy of Limerick, Bishop Alan willingly accepted the responsibility of representing the Bishops’ Conference at the Synod on Synodality in Rome. As the life of the Church continues to be renewed by the synodal process, Bishop Alan’s guidance and witness will be welcomed. In addition, Bishop Alan is a member of the Holy Land Coordination Group, an international group of bishops who visit the Holy Land each year with a message of peace and to pray in solidarity with local Christians – an essential message needed now more than ever in our world.
“Bishop Alan brings a deep spirituality, pastoral instinct and a gift for facilitative leadership to his new Episcopal ministry. As he takes up this new appointment, I pray that the Holy Spirit will guide Bishop Alan’s decisions and help him to embrace the pastoral challenges and opportunities that will lie ahead for him.
Archbishop Eamon Martin added that Bishop Alan’s appointment is providential at this time of political renewal in Northern Ireland. “He will no doubt bring many gifts to enable peaceful relationships to grow and flourish in his new diocese – amongst the various Churches and faith communities, as well in political and civic life.”