The south Monaghan man, who has strong links to Fermanagh, admits that he was ‘shocked’ when he was elected but is looking forward to the challenge. 

The appointment was made by Pope Francis last Saturday and theepiscopal ordination of bishop-elect Duffy will take place in St Macartan’s Cathedral, Monaghan on Sunday February 10th 2019 at 3pm.

Well known throughout the county, Mgr Duffy’s first experience of priesthood in Fermanagh was filling-in temporarily in Maguiresbridge just after he was ordained in 1976.

Recalling his connection to Fermanagh, Mgr Duffy said, “Bishop Patrick Mulligan sent me to Maguiresbridge because he knew of my connections with a former PP of Aghalurcher in the early 1900s, a grand-uncle of mine called Canon Thomas Duffy.

“I have happy memories of there – I went around the place on a bicycle! That following September I was appointed CC in Enniskillen. I was part of a team of five priests, including the former bishop Joseph Duffy. It was a great learning experience, there was a great variety of work in a busy town parish and at a time of political tension too.”

After two years there, Mgr Duffy moved to Castleblayney but returned to Fermanagh 25 years later as Parish Priest in Ederney. 

“I was after returning from four years working in Kitui Diocese in Kenya where I saw a different version of church, a more youthful church in the shape of what Vatican II envisaged.

“I had also had a year’s sabbatical. So, I was full of energy and Ederney suffered the consequences! It was a great four years and I was very sorry to leave it. The establishment of the “Parish Together” was a great support and I truly enjoyed working with that team and with all the people of the parish.”

Looking forward to his new role, Mgr Duffy explains that he will enjoy ‘interacting with people in all parishes across the diocese, in whatever situation life finds them’ but he admits there will be challenges.

“The biggest challenge is the shortage of priests and the absolute necessity for us as a church to welcome lay people to an active role in pastoral ministry in all the parishes of the diocese. 

While this is not Kenya, I saw a church there where lay people took an active and faith-filled part in the life of the local church, both in terms of prayer, leadership and administration. Building that model here in Ireland is a big challenge but it is necessary,” said Mgr Duffy.

Mgr Duffy also believes that there is ‘great generosity among young people’ who should be encouraged back to the church.

“The challenge for us in this century is to walk with young people and to enable them see that our faith community is a place where they can live out the Christian calling to follow Christ and to be his disciples in the world today.”