Bishop Liam MacDaid
The Bishop of Clogher, the Most Rev Liam MacDaid is to retire due to ill-health, it was announced today.
Pope Francis has accepted Bishop MacDaid’s request, made some months ago on medical advice. His retirement takes effect immediately.
In a statement, the Diocese of Clogher said: “Bishop Liam has always been very keen to communicate with the people of the diocese, whether through visits to parishes or through pastoral letters. He is keen to ensure that the People of God throughout Clogher diocese should hear from him the background to his retirement, including some of the medical advice he has received, together with his reflections on diocesan life and that of the wider Church at this time.”
With this in mind, the 71-year-old Bundoran native has written a pastoral letter to the priests and people of the diocese which is being read at all Masses this weekend.
Bishop MacDaid was appointed Bishop of Clogher by Pope Benedict XVI on 6 May 2010, in succession to Bishop Joseph Duffy who is now Bishop-Emeritus. He was ordained on 25 July 2010 in St Macartan’s Cathedral in Monaghan.
As for the future, it was confirmed that the governance of the diocese is now assumed by the College of Consultors (in this case the Diocesan Chapter. Members will meet in the coming days to elect a Diocesan Administrator who will then lead the diocese, with limited powers, until a new bishop is appointed by Pope Francis.
Paying tribute to Bishop MacDaid, Archbishop Eamon Martin described him as “a valued member of the Episcopal Conference” over the past six years.
“His gentle pastoral wisdom, his warm concern for others and his genuine dedication to furthering the mission of the Church was evident in his fidelity to the work of the Conference,” he said.
Archbishop Martin also acknowledged Bishop MacDaid as “a compassionate and tireless advocate for greater road safety awareness across the island, and in particular amongst young people.”
For more see Wednesday’s Fermanagh Herald.
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