Scariff priest ordained to episcopacy

A 200-strong delegation from Clare travelled to Vatican City last week to support Scariff native Monsignor Eugene Nugent as he was ordained to the episcopacy, the general body of bishops that governs the Catholic Church, in Rome.

At the ecclesiastical ceremony, which was held at St Peter’s Basilica in Rome, the Gurtaderra man was appointed to the position of Archbishop of Domnach Seachnaill (Dunshaughlin) County Meath, as Papal Nuncio to Madagascar and also Apostolic Delegate in La Réunion and the Comoros Islands.
Archbishop Nugent was ordained by the Cardinal Secretary of State, Tarciso Bertone, together with two other newly appointed archbishops last Thursday at 4.30pm.
Among those that travelled to the momentous event were Archbishop Nugent’s brothers Eamonn (Gurtaderra, Scariff) and Pat (Taylor’s Hill, Galway), sisters Mary Raftery (Corofin), Angela Murphy (Rathoath, County Meath), Marguerite Greaney (Craughwell, Galway) and their families. Extended family, friends, neighbours and members of the clergy from the Killaloe Diocese were also present for the occasion.
Speaking about his brother’s ordination, Eamonn explained, “It was like something I never witnessed before and like nothing I ever experienced in my life. Naturally, all of his family is very proud of him and there was a large turnout of relatives at the event, some that we’d never seen before who had come from Australia, the United States and Korea”.
John F Kelly, now retired, who was the principal of Scariff Community College when Archbishop Nugent was a pupil there, read the first reading at the ordination ceremony, while the Sistine Choir provided the music for the liturgy.
It was described as a very moving, dignified and special occasion for Archbishop Nugent and his family and those present attended a special reception in Rome after the event.
Archbishop Nugent was then the chief celebrant at a mass of thanksgiving held in the Basilica of Mary Majors in Rome, followed by a reception in the Pontifical Irish College in Rome. Furthermore, on Saturday last, he and his immediate family attended a private audience with Pope Benedict XVI at 11am.
Speaking about meeting the Pontiff, Eamonn said, “It was very informal and very moving. He met with Eugene and 16 of the immediate family. It was pretty much hello and how are you and himself and Eugene had a few words”.
Archbishop Nugent is due to return to his home parish in Scariff this week and he will say mass in Scariff Church on Friday, April 9 at 7.30pm.
He has also been invited to lead the liturgy in Ennis, where he first served from 1984 to 1987. Archbishop Nugent will be joined by Bishop Willie Walsh at noon mass in Ennis Cathedral on Sunday, April 11.