Brendan Kelly (bishop)
Brendan Kelly | |
|---|---|
| Bishop Emeritus of Galway and Kilmacduagh Apostolic Administrator Emeritus of Kilfenora | |
| Church | Roman Catholic |
| Diocese | Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora |
| Appointed | 11 December 2017 |
| Installed | 11 February 2018 |
| Term ended | 11 February 2022 |
| Predecessor | Martin Drennan |
| Successor | Michael Duignan |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 20 June 1971 by Michael Browne |
| Consecration | 27 January 2008 by Seán Brady |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 20 May 1946 Derrybrien, County Galway, Ireland |
| Parents | Seán and Annie Kelly |
| Previous post(s) | Bishop of Achonry Vicar general of the Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora Vicar forane for the Kilfenora deanery Parish priest of Spiddal and Lisdoonvarna/Kilshanny Chaplain to the L'Arche community Teacher at Our Lady's College, Gort and Coláiste Éinde |
| Alma mater | University College Galway St Patrick's College, Maynooth |
| Motto | De réir d’fhocail (According to your word) |
| Coat of arms |  |
| Styles of Brendan Kelly | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Reference style | The Most Reverend |
| Spoken style | Your Grace |
| Religious style | Bishop |
Brendan Kelly (born 20 May 1946) is an Irish former Roman Catholic prelate who served as Bishop of Galway and Kilmacduagh and Apostolic Administrator of Kilfenora between 2018 and 2022.
Early life and education[edit]
Kelly was born in Derrybrien, County Galway on 20 May 1946, the second of nine children to Seán Kelly, a primary school teacher, and his wife Annie. He attended primary school at Craughwell National School and secondary school at St. Mary's College, before studying for the priesthood at St Patrick's College, Maynooth, completing a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy in 1967 and a Bachelor of Divinity in 1970.[1]
Kelly was an ordained a priest for the Diocese of Galway and Kilmacduagh on 20 June 1971.[1]
Presbyteral ministry[edit]
Following ordination, Kelly's first pastoral appointment was as curate in Kinvara, before being appointed as teacher at Coláiste Éinde, Salthill in 1972. It was during this appointment that he completed a higher diploma in education from University College Galway in 1973. Kelly was subsequently appointed as teacher at Our Lady's College, Gort in 1980, and later the president of the college in 1986 until its amalgamation into Gort Community School in 1995.[2]
He undertook a sabbatical year to serve as chaplain to the L'Arche community in Cuise-la-Motte, France, before returning to Ireland in 1996, when he was appointed as the parish priest in Lisdoonvarna/Kilshanny.[3]
Kelly was named a canon of the cathedral chapter and vicar forane of the Kilfenora deanery on 19 June 2002. The following year, he was appointed as the parish priest in Spiddal. Kelly was appointed as the vicar general of the diocese by Martin Drennan in 2005, and a Chaplain of His Holiness by Pope Benedict XVI on 6 March 2006.[3]
Episcopal ministry[edit]
Bishop of Achonry[edit]
Kelly was appointed as Bishop-elect of Achonry by Pope Benedict XVI on 20 November 2007.[3][4][5][6] He admitted his surprise and pleasure at his appointment, and promised to concentrate his initial efforts on becoming acquainted with the clergy and laity of the diocese,[7] while the Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, Seán Brady, described him as "a man of prayer, filled with love for the Word of God and the pastoral care of people".[8]
Kelly was consecrated by Brady on 27 January 2008 in the Cathedral of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Nathy, Ballaghaderreen.[9][10]
Bishop of Galway and Kilmacduagh[edit]
Kelly was subsequently appointed Bishop-elect of Galway and Kilmacduagh and Apostolic Administrator-elect of Kilfenora by Pope Francis on 11 December 2017.[11][12][13] He was installed on 11 February 2018 in the Cathedral of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven and St Nicholas, Galway.[14][15]
In accordance with canon law, Kelly submitted his episcopal resignation to the Dicastery for Bishops on his 75th birthday on 20 May 2021.[1] Following the announcement by Pope Francis on 16 November 2021 that the Dioceses of Clonfert and Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora would be united in persona episcopi, the first-ever union of its kind in Ireland[a], he remained until the appointment of his successor, Michael Duignan, on 11 February 2022.[16][17][18]
Notes and references[edit]
Notes[edit]
- ^ Irish dioceses have been merged in the past–for example, Galway and Kilmacduagh in the 19th century–by leaving positions vacant and naming apostolic administrators rather than uniting two dioceses under a single ordinary.
References[edit]
- ^ a b c McGarry, Fiona (29 June 2021). "Bishop Brendan Kelly turns in his crozier". The Clare Champion. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
- ^ "History of Gort CS". Gort Community School. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
- ^ a b c "Pope Benedict XVI announces that Monsignor Brendan Kelly is to be the new Bishop of the Diocese of Achonry". Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference. 20 November 2007. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
- ^ "Spiddal parish priest is new bishop of Achonry". The Sligo Champion. 22 November 2007. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
- ^ Ní Fhlatharta, Bernie (22 November 2007). "Senior Galway cleric is new Bishop of Achonry". Connacht Tribune. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
- ^ O'Neill, Neill (27 November 2007). "New Bishop of Achonry". The Mayo News. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
- ^ "Galway priest new bishop of Achonry". Galway Independent. 21 November 2007. Archived from the original on 11 July 2011. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
- ^ "Archbishop Seán Brady welcomes the appointment of Monsignor Brendan Kelly as Bishop of Achonry". Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
- ^ "Episcopal Ordination of Bishop-elect Monsignor Brendan Kelly for the Diocese of Achonry, Sunday 27 January 2008". Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
- ^ "Episcopal Ordination of new Bishop of Achonry". The Sligo Champion. 1 February 2008. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
- ^ "Brendan Kelly appointed Bishop of Galway". Connacht Tribune. 11 December 2017. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
- ^ McGann, Colin (11 December 2017). "New Bishop of Galway appointed". The Clare Champion. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
- ^ "Pope appoints Dr Brendan Kelly as new Bishop of Galway". Raidió Telefís Éireann. 11 December 2017. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
- ^ "Media information for the Installation of Bishop Brendan Kelly as the new Bishop of Galway". Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference. 6 February 2018. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
- ^ "Brendan Kelly installed as new Bishop of Galway". Raidió Telefís Éireann. 11 February 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
- ^ Conneely, Ailbhe (16 November 2021). "One bishop for two separate dioceses in Galway area". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
- ^ Mannion, Teresa (11 February 2022). "One bishop for two dioceses in Galway". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
- ^ "Pope Francis appoints new Bishop of Galway". Tuam Herald. 11 February 2022. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
External links[edit]
- Bishop Brendan Kelly on Catholic-Hierarchy.org
- Bishop Brendan Kelly on GCatholic
