Bealnamulla native, Fr. Michael Duignan, will be ordained Bishop of Clonfert in St. Brendan’s Cathedral, Loughrea, on Sunday afternoon. Fr. Duignan replaces outgoing Bishop John Kirby (also a native of Athlone ) who has retired from the position to which he was appointed in April 1988.
Fr. Duignan received news of his ascension to the position of Bishop of Clonfert in July, an appointment which has been received with immense joy in the community of Bealnamulla.
The eldest of a family of six, the Bishop-elect attended Cloonakilla National School, Bealnamulla and St. Aloysius College, Athlone, Co Westmeath.
In 1993, Fr. Duignan was ordained a deacon in the Basilica of Santa Prassede, Rome and in July 1994, was ordained a priest in the Church of Saints Peter and Paul, Athlone by Most Rev. Dominic Conway, Bishop of Elphin.
The ordination ceremony will be broadcast live on www.loughreacathedral.ie and www.churchservices.tv on Sunday afternoon with Fr. Duignan celebrating his first mass as Bishop of Clonfert on Monday night.
