Pope Benedict XVI appoints Monsignor Noel Treanor to succeed Most Reverend Patrick Walsh as Bishop of the Diocese of Down and Connor
The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, has appointed today the Right Reverend Monsignor Noel Treanor to succeed Most Reverend Patrick Walsh as Bishop of the Diocese of Down and Connor. Mgr Treanor is presently Secretary General of the Commission of the Bishops’ Conference of the European Community (COMECE).
Bishop Patrick Walsh will continue to govern the Diocese of Down and Connor as Apostolic Administrator until the new Bishop takes formal possession of the diocese.
Notes for Editors
- Curriculum Vitae for Bishop-elect Noel Treanor:
Monsignor No l Treanor was born on 25 December 1950 at Silverstream, Co Monaghan, in the Parish of Tyholland in the Diocese of Clogher.
He attended St Brigid’s National School, Leitrim, and completed his early education at St Mary’s CBS, Monaghan. He began in 1968 his study of Arts and Philosophy at St Patrick’s College, Maynooth, and later, in 1971, the study of Theology, achieving his Licence in Sacred Theology, with special commendation, in 1977.
Ordained priest on 13 June 1976 in the Cathedral of St Macartan, Clogher Diocese, he was sent by his Bishop to the Irish College in Rome to pursue his studies of theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University. Recalled in 1980 by the new Bishop of the Diocese, Most Rev Joseph Duffy, he was appointed assistant in the Cathedral parish, with charge of the local Catholic Marriage Advisory Council.
From 1981 to 1985 he again pursued the study of theology in Rome, while at the same time serving as Prefect of Studies at the Irish College.
Having returned to his Diocese in 1985, he was appointed Director of Adult Education. He also organised the Diocesan Assembly of the clergy that was held in 1986 to promote pastoral renewal within the Diocese.
The next appointment was a curacy in Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, where he also provided service at the general hospital and was active as confessor at Lough Derg pilgrimage centre.
In 1989 he was sent to Brussels to work with COMECE. While deeply involved in the expanding endeavour of this Church body to project Christian values into the European process, he has continued to engage in pastoral work through contact with the English-speaking community in the city-centre. He has also published and lectured widely on European construction issues, the Church and Europe, and Church-State matters.
On 31 March 1993 he was unanimously appointed Secretary General of COMECE for a three-year term and has been reappointed for several successive terms since then. On 18 May 1994 he was nominated Chaplain to His Holiness.
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Details for the Diocese of Down and Connor
– The Diocese of Down and Connor includes County Antrim, the greater part of County Down and part of County Derry.
– Catholic Population 317, 622
– 88 Parishes, 151 Churches
– Patrons of the Diocese: St Malachy (3 November) and St MacNissi (4 September)
ENDS
Further information:
Martin Long, Director of Communications (086 172 7678)
Kathy Tynan, Communications Officer (086 817 5674)
