RONAN FAGAN
A “threshold moment” in his life, Athlone native, Michael Duigan, was installed as Bishop of Galway on Sunday afternoon at an episcopal celebration in the Cathedral of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven and St Nicholas, Galway.
An historic occasion, Bishop Duignan has served as Bishop of Clonfert since 2019 and in February of this year it was announced by Pope Francis that he would remain in that role while also becoming the new Bishop of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Apostolic Administrator of Kilfenora.
During a solemn and reflective ceremony, Bishop Duignan noted in his homily that he was both “honoured and humbled” to be installed as Bishop of Galway as he addressed the swelled congregation in meaningful thought.
“I am both honoured and humbled to be formally received and welcomed in this way by the priests and people of the Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora. Established by Pope Gregory XVI in 1821, Galway is the youngest diocese in Ireland, the first bishop appointed being George Joseph Plunkett Browne. Coincidently, before his appointment, he was the parish priest of my home parish in Athlone.
“I am conscious that today marks yet another historic milestone for the people of faith in these parts. For, as we have heard in his letter to us, Pope Francis has appointed, for the first time, one Bishop to serve the Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora and the venerable and ancient Diocese of Clonfert.
“This is a historic development, not just for the Church communities in the parts of the counties of Galway, Clare, Mayo, Roscommon and Offaly that comprise the two dioceses but also for the Catholic Church on the island of Ireland as a whole.
Not only have we entered this “threshold moment”, but with the reading of Pope Francis’s Letter and the seating on the chair, we have already crossed over and our new journey together has begun,” Bishop Duignan asserted.
Central to Bishop Duignan’s homily were his thoughts pertaining to the future of the Catholic faith one which he believes offers new possibilities and new opportunities.
“For a variety of reasons, many no longer believe the message. Many of our parishes are struggling to support a vibrant faith community. Despite the great work conducted by generations of priests, religious and lay people, we can no longer ignore the fact that much of what the church has built up over the last two centuries is crumbling before our eyes.
“The more and more I see, the more and more I am convinced that much of our infrastructure, systems and pastoral practices that were beneficial in the past, now hinder rather than help the life of faith.
“Perhaps the Lord is asking us to throw out our nets in a different direction. As individuals and as a community, we now need to focus on rediscovering that joy that is the living presence of the risen Christ among us.
“We need to sense anew that, this joy, like all joy, is a joy that calls out to be boldly talked about and respectfully shared with our fellow travellers on life’s journey.
“It is clear that in the future, we will be a smaller faith community, but with the help of God we will be a more faith-filled, vibrant, welcoming, grounded community, one that is aware of our individual human weakness while, at the same time, ever striving to overcome such weakness with the merciful healing help of God.
“A faith community that builds bridges not barriers and that reaches out in compassion to aid those who find themselves in need.
“A faith community that is less afraid of those who see life differently from us.
“A faith community that finds its appropriate place within Irish society and an Irish society that finds a fair place for people of faith.
“A faith community, that is filled with the sound of young voices and that is inspired by their idealism and urged on by their energy.
“A faith community, where people, priests and bishop walk side by side in a truly synodal manner as companions on the great adventure that is the Christian way of life.
“I pray that we will commit ourselves to action and work towards a future of new possibilities and new opportunities,” Bishop Duignan concluded.
The eldest of six children, Bishop Duignan, a former student of Cloonakilla National School and St Aloysius College, Athlone, was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Elphin in July 1994.
Since then he has served in a variety of roles, including as chaplain to Sligo IT, secretary to the Diocese of Elphin, and head of religious education and chaplaincy programmes at Saint Angela’s College, Sligo among others.
