PRIESTS and people of Clogher Diocese have been welcoming the news that a new Bishop of Clogher has been appointed two years after the previous bishop retired due to ill-health.
The new bishop, Monsignor Larry Duffy, (67), originally from south Monaghan, has strong links to Fermanagh having served in Enniskillen as a curate and as a parish priest of Ederney Parish, Culmaine.
The post has been empty since 2016 when Bishop Liam McDaid retired, and Lisnaskea’s Monsignor Joseph McGuinness has since been fulfilling the role of administrator.
The appointment of Mgr Larry Duffy was made by Pope Francis on Saturday and the Episcopal ordination of Bishop-Elect Duffy will take place in St Macartan’s Cathedral, Monaghan on Sunday February 10th 2019 at 3pm.
Bishop elect Duffy admitted that he was shocked when he first heard the news, adding that it would have ‘surprised many.’
Former principal of St Michael’s College, Canon Macartan McQuaid worked with Mgr Duffy at different times and welcomed the news.
“He is a very lovely man to meet – friendly and is very into sport and the community. He is being appointed as a bishop at a difficult time – Irish society has changed dramatically in recent decades but no better man than Larry to take up the role and encourage people.
“He will make a positive contribution to people, and will show that the church is for the well being of society and he will communicate that message very strongly.”
Lisnaskea PE Canon Mullin, who served with Mgr Duffy in Enniskillen also welcomed the news saying ‘it’s great to have a bishop.’
“When he was ordained, he was sent to Enniskillen and we were together for a few years in Enniskillen. It is a big responsibility and a challenging post but he is a very good fella, and is very good with people. He is open minded, and he moves easily with people.”
The Diocesan Administrator Joseph McGuinness has been in the role for over two years, and at Mgr Larry Duffy’s appointment, Mgr McGuinness welcomed the news saying that it was ‘news of great joy,’ and something that the ‘priests and people of the diocese have been waiting to hear for a long time.’
Canon McQuaid continued by saying ‘Mgr McGuinness did excellent work during his time as administrator.’
“Many of the people and priests of the diocese expected that he might have been the one to have been appointed but nobody ever knows how Rome works. It would not surprise me if Mgr McGuinness is called upon to be bishop elsewhere in the near future because he is a very capable man.”
The Parish of Culmaine, Ederney warmly welcomed the announcement that their former parish priest from 2003-2007, has been appointed to be ordained the new Bishop of Clogher.
Liam Monaghan, principal of St Joseph’s Primary School in Ederney, where said, “I am delighted to see Mgr Duffy appointed as the Bishop of the Diocese.
“He was a very popular priest here and had great leadership and vision which I am sure he will bring with him when leading the Clogher Diocese in what is a challenging time for the church. We find that he is very much mirroring the approach of Pope Francis, and we are sure he will bring that to his new role as bishop.”
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