You, or a representative, are invited to attend the Mass of Installation for the new Archbishop of Cashel and Emly, Archbishop Kieran O’Reilly. Details:
Date and time Sunday 8 February 2015 at 3:00pm
Venue Cathedral of The Assumption, Thurles, Co Tipperary
In attendance Laity, religious, clergy, family and guests
Features of the Installation Ceremony, Celebrants, Preacher and in attendance
Before the ceremony, Archbishop O’Reilly will be greeted by Monsignor Christy O’Dwyer, Dean of the Diocesan Chapter and twelve men and women representing the Deaneries of the Diocese. This welcome will take place in the Cathedral courtyard in Thurles.
Archbishop Dermot Clifford, will then formally welcome his successor, Archbishop O’Reilly, to the diocese. The Apostolic Mandate (Papal Bull of Appointment) from His Holiness, Pope Francis, will be read for the people by His Excellency Archbishop Charles J Brown, Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland. Archbishop O’Reilly will then take possession of the Chair (or Cathedra) in the Cathedral. Archbishop Clifford will present Archbishop O’Reilly with the Book of the Gospels and the pastoral staff, symbols of the Office of the new Archbishop. Archbishop O’Reilly will bless water coming from each parish of the Diocese (Holy Wells) and he will then sprinkle the people with holy water and bless them. Mass then proceeds as normal with Archbishop O’Reilly being the principal celebrant and preacher. He will be assisted by Archbishop Clifford and Archbishop Brown. All bishops and priests in attendance will be invited to concelebrate the Mass.
Media accreditation and arrangements
As space is limited, journalists wishing to attend should contact the Catholic Communications Office, Maynooth, for accreditation. A dedicated media centre will be open in the parish centre and this will be situated across the road from the front gate of the Cathedral. In the Cathedral a designated reserved area for photographers and cameras will be made available, and media personnel in attendance should operate discretely in order to respect the sanctity of the Mass. Media are asked not to use photography and/or filming during the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
At 2.00pm on Sunday 8 February, Martin Long of the Catholic Communications Office will be available to brief journalists at the dedicated media centre. The media centre will be open from 2.00pm until 6.00pm. Copies of the Mass booklet – which contains the biography of Archbishop O’Reilly, an explanation of his Episcopal Coat of Arms, the homily, and welcoming remarks of the new archbishop – will all be available in the media centre.
Following the conclusion of the Mass, and at the front door of the Cathedral, Archbishop O’Reilly will greet in person everyone who attended the Mass. Media representatives will have an opportunity for photographs and brief interviews at this time.
Notes to Editors
- Photographs from the Installation Ceremony will be available to media by contacting the designated photographer John McElroy on +353 (0) 87 241 6985. The website for the Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly is www.cashel-emly.ie.
- Please see below information on the life and ministry of Archbishop O’Reilly and an explanation of the Installation Ceremony:
Life and Ministry of Archbishop Kieran O’Reilly
On 16 May 2010 Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI announced Father Kieran O’Reilly SMA as Bishop of Killaloe to succeed Bishop William Walsh. Bishop O’Reilly was born in Cork on 8 August 1952 to Seán and Theresa O’Reilly. Educated at Scoil Chríost Rí and Coláiste Chríost Rí, he entered the Society of African Missions in Wilton, Cork in 1970. Bishop O’Reilly was ordained for the Society on 17 June 1978. He served in Liberia for two years in the Archdiocese of Monrovia before studying for a licentiate in Sacred Scripture at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome. From 1984 to 1989 he lectured in Scripture at the Major Seminary of Saints Peter and Paul, in Ibadan, Nigeria. From 1989 – 2010 he served on the Irish and International Councils of the Society of African Missions. In May 2010 he was appointed by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI as Bishop of Killaloe. In May 2014 Pope Francis appointed Archbishop O’Reilly as a member of the Vatican’s Congregation for Religious and Societies of Apostolic Life. At the time of the announcement of his appointment as the next Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly, Bishop O’Reilly was serving as Bishop of the Diocese of Killaloe. He also serves as the Episcopal Secretary to the Irish Episcopal Conference.
The ceremony of Installation
When the announcement of the appointment of a new bishop is made, before he can exercise the rights and duties of his office, he must be installed officially as the diocesan bishop of his new diocese. The official term for this is taking “canonical possession” of a diocese (cf. canon 382 §§1-4). Since Archbishop O’Reilly is already a bishop, he must take canonical possession of the diocese within two months of the date of appointment. That is why the ceremony takes place today, Sunday 8 February 2015. The installation ceremony is a solemn liturgical ceremony usually celebrated in the Cathedral church of the diocese. Before the ceremony begins, the concelebrating clergy process into the Cathedral. This is followed by a moment of prayer, invoking the intercession of the Saints, especially those of the Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly. This act of prayer, uniting the Christian Faithful with the company of heaven, reminds us of our need for God’s assistance as we seek to give witness to the Gospel in the modern world.
ENDS
For media contact: Catholic Communications Office Maynooth: Martin Long +353 (0) 86 172 7678 and Brenda Drumm +353 (0) 87 310 4444
