The Holy Father Pope Francis has appointed Archbishop Eamon Martin, Metropolitan Archbishop of the ecclesiastical province of Armagh, as Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Dromore with immediate effect, from today, Monday 15 April 2019.
In response to the news Bishop Philip Boyce OCD (79), who has served the Diocese of Dromore as its Apostolic Administrator from 26 March 2018 until today, said, “I am very happy to welcome Archbishop Eamon Martin as the new Apostolic Administrator of Dromore. I wish to thank the people and clergy for their prayers, goodwill, encouragement and unstinting support over the last year. While I am looking forward to my retirement, I remain available to pastorally support Archbishop Martin, and Dromore, in any way that I can.”
Archbishop Eamon Martin said, “The Holy Father has asked me to take over the role of Apostolic Administrator from Bishop Boyce whilst continuing with my role as Archbishop of Armagh. I am humbled by Pope Francis’ request and grateful for his confidence in me. It will be an honour for me to serve the people, priests and religious of Dromore during this transitional time for the diocese. Please pray for me as I take up this new responsibility.”
Archbishop Martin will celebrate the annual Mass of Chrism for the priests and people of the Diocese of Dromore at 10:30am this Holy Thursday in the Cathedral of Saint Patrick & Saint Colman, Newry, and the Easter Sunday Mass at 10.00am, also in the cathedral.
Please see below the letter of Archbishop Eamon Martin to the people, clergy and religious of the Diocese of Dromore which has been published today.
Notes for Editors
- Archbishop Eamon Martin was born on 30 October 1961 in Pennyburn, Derry. Archbishop Martin was ordained a priest in Saint Eugene’s Cathedral, Derry, by the late Bishop Edward Daly on 28 June 1987. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI appointed him as Coadjutor Archbishop of Armagh on 18 January 2013. On 8 September 2014 Archbishop Martin became the 116th successor of Saint Patrick, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland. Archbishop Martin is the Metropolitan Archbishop of the province of Armagh and this area includes the dioceses of Armagh, Ardagh & Clonmacnoise, Clogher, Derry, Down & Connor, Dromore, Kilmore, Meath, and Raphoe.
- The Diocese of Dromore has a Catholic population of 90,000. The diocese has 22 parishes with 25 priests in active ministry.
- An Apostolic Administrator is appointed to temporarily govern a diocese when special circumstances warrant such an appointment. He governs in the name of the Holy Father.
- The appointment of Archbishop Eamon Martin as Apostolic Administrator has taken place by Decree issued 15 April 2019 which grants him the rights, faculties and responsibilities attributed to a diocesan bishop that are applicable in accordance with canon law.
- Letter of Archbishop Eamon Martin to the people, clergy and religious of the Diocese of Dromore on his appointment as Apostolic Administrator:
Dear brothers and sisters in the diocese of Dromore,
Last year, on Monday of Holy Week (26/3/2018), following the resignation of Bishop John McAreavey, Pope Francis appointed Bishop Philip Boyce OCD, as the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Dromore.
One year on from that announcement, the Holy Father has asked me to take over the role of Apostolic Administrator from Bishop Boyce. I thank Bishop Boyce for so willingly giving up a full year of his retirement to step in at short notice and accept governance responsibility for the Diocese of Dromore.
I am humbled by this request from Pope Francis and grateful for his confidence in me. Whilst continuing my roles as Archbishop of Armagh and President of the Irish Episcopal Conference, it will now also be an honour for me to serve you – the people, priests and religious of Dromore – during this transitional time for the diocese. I aim to provide as much stability as possible for Dromore as we await the Holy Father’s decision regarding the appointment of a new bishop in the future.
One of my first priorities in the diocese will be to receive a full briefing on safeguarding issues and to be updated on any statutory investigations into these matters. I shall, of course, fully cooperate with developments in this regard.
I will also strongly encourage the positive pastoral initiatives and administrative developments already underway in the diocese to ensure that the parishes of Dromore remain vibrant, missionary and in a state of readiness for the future.
Although in many ways as Archbishop of Armagh I am already your “next door neighbour”, I look forward to getting to know you better and to learning and appreciating the unique characteristics of this historic diocese of Dromore.
I am looking forward to my first visits to the Cathedral of Saint Patrick & Saint Colman in Newry for the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday at 10.30am and for Easter Sunday Morning Mass at 10.00am. I will be praying for you there. Please pray for me.
Thank you and may God bless you all.
ENDS
For media contact: Catholic Communications Office Maynooth: Martin Long +353 (0) 86 172 7678 and Brenda Drumm +353 (0) 87 310 4444.
