Former Bishop of Killaloe, Dr Kieran O’Reilly will be officially installed as the new Archbishop of Cashel and Emly today. The Mass of Installation will be held in the Cathedral of the Assumption, Thurles at 3pm.
Before the ceremony, Archbishop O’Reilly will be greeted by Monsignor Christy O’Dwyer, dean of the Diocesan Chapter and 12 men and women representing the deaneries of the diocese. Archbishop Dermot Clifford will then formally welcome his successor, Archbishop O’Reilly, to the diocese.
The Apostolic Mandate Papal Bull of Appointment from His Holiness, Pope Francis, will be read for the people by His Excellency Archbishop Charles J Brown, Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland.
Archbishop O’Reilly will then take possession of the Chair, or Cathedra, in the Cathedral. Archbishop Clifford will present Archbishop O’Reilly with the Book of the Gospels and the pastoral staff, symbols of the office of the new Archbishop.
Archbishop O’Reilly will bless water coming from each parish of the diocese and then sprinkle the people with holy water and bless them. Mass then proceeds as normal, with Archbishop O’Reilly being the principal celebrant and preacher. He will be assisted by Archbishop Clifford and Archbishop Brown.
All bishops and priests in attendance will be invited to concelebrate the mass.
The post of Bishop of Killaloe will officially become vacant on Sunday and it is expected that the local college of consultors will meet on Monday to elect an administrator for the diocese.
Dan Danaher
A native of Ennis, Colin McGann has been editor of The Clare Champion since August 2020. Former editor of The Clare People, he is a journalism and communications graduate of Dublin Institute of Technology.