Parish Newsletter

Masses Today

6.30 Tom McDonagh, (Anniv).
12.00 Philomena Naughton, (Anniv).
6.30 Jack Melvin, (1st Anniv).

AS I WAS SAYING.....

So our new bishop here is Martin Drennan. As a south Kilkennyman, he comes to Galway with an impeccable pedigree! Actually the only time I met the man was at the retreat he gave to the priests of Galway diocese in the Summer of 2003. While he wasn't the most flamboyant speaker I ever listened to, his material was excellent. As you would expect of a Scripture scholar, (he taught Scripture in Maynooth for 12 years) his material never strayed very far from the landscape of Palestine. His humour, however, belongs decidedly to Piltown rather than Palestine: dry, sardonic and often self-deprecating. And he uses it to good effect too!

Our new bishop would be seen to occupy the 'conservative wing' of the Catholic Church. (But, in reality, does any other wing exist at present?) I don't think he would argue at all with that observation. I guess he would regard the term 'conservative' as a badge of honour rather than a term of derision. But from the very little I know of him, I think Martin will do very well here in Galway. A tall, almost ungainly and unassuming man, I feel sure he will be at home among the priests and people of Galway. It would seem that, down the years, he has devoted most of his energies to the 'maintenance and care' of priests and those preparing for priesthood. Given our present circumstances, he has much to contribute. Those who know him well comment invariably on his thoroughness and his integrity, qualities that I am sure will quickly become obvious to all as he eases himself into his new role.

It should be said, however, that Bishop Martin's appointment follows a pattern that is now almost normative in the Irish Church: the appointment of 'outsiders' to vacant episcopal posts. My quarrel, by the way, is with the process rather than the person! Because, ideally, I believe, the local Church should provide its own leadership, and that this leader should emerge after widespread local consultation, among clergy and lay people. (Direct election may be too crude an instrument). The local man will obviously have an intimate knowledge of the personnel and traditions of a particular diocese, an invaluable asset when it comes to making local appointments, and so on. I believe the imposition of 'an outsider' should be resorted to only in the event of serious divisions existing among the clergy of the diocese concerned. In the course of my 24 years in Galway, I never saw any evidence of such divisions existing in the diocese here. Nor have I noticed any marked lack of local episcopal material!

However, all that is now 'water under the bridge' for another generation. (And, after all, if it HAD to be 'an outsider', isn't it best that it be a Kilkennyman? At least he'll be out of town a few Sundays during the Summer!) Martin Drennan is now among us as leader and animator. His track record suggests he will embark on his new pastoral mission with enthusiasm, integrity and a sensitivity informed by the scriptures. He will be made very welcome. And, as Martin takes up the shepherd's staff, the parishioners of St. Augustine's wish our fellow parishioner from Cross Street (and now former bishop James) a long and happy retirement. To both men, Ad Multos Annos!

-Dick Lyng.

BY THE WAY...

LETTER OF FAREWELL

My dear Priests, Brothers, Sisters and People,

You are aware that His Holiness, Pope Benedict, has accepted my resignation as Bishop of the diocese - submitted in accordance with Church law when I reached the age of 75.

I am delighted with, and very much welcome, the appointment of Bishop Martin Drennan as my successor, announced last Monday. Bishop Drennan is a native of Kilkenny. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Ossory in 1968. In 1986 he was appointed Professor of Sacred Scripture at Maynooth and in September 1997 was ordained an Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin, where he has served for the past eight years.

Two years ago Bishop Drennan conducted our diocesan priests' retreat at Knock and there we saw something of the depth of his spirituality; many of our priests already know his academic ability from their time as students in Maynooth. When this spirituality and academic ability are combined with his pastoral experience while Auxiliary Bishop in Dublin, we have in Bishop Martin Drennan an ideal choice to meet the challenges facing our diocese in the coming years. I know that in his ministry he can be assured of your prayers, loyalty and whole-hearted co-operation. For my own part as Bishop, I have experienced that prayerful loyalty and co-operation over the past twelve years and, for that, I say a genuine and heartfelt thanks to God and to each and every one of you today, Priests, Religious and People.

Bishop Drennan will be installed as Bishop of the diocese at a ceremony in Galway Cathedral on Sunday, July 3rd. I pray that Our Lady will keep him under her care, close to the Good Shepherd who continually leads us forward towards eternal life.

Fé choimirce na Maighdine céanna sibh uilig.

+James McLoughlin Bishop of Galway & Kilmacduagh & Apostolic Administrator of Kilfanora.

Other items of some interest...

IN PRAISE OF SPIDERS

(The following, apparently, was written with Chesterton's well-known poem , 'The Donkey' in mind!)

Most ladies, like Muffet, are convinced they will snuff it
If a spider comes in their vicinity,
From which they determine a spider is vermin
And damn it from here to infinity.

Myself, I confess it,
I frequently bless it,
This outcome of lengthy mutations;
Like Robert the Bruce, I've discovered a use
For a creature of purpose and patience.

I bought from a vet and keep as a pet
A specimen large, black, and hairy,
Who is friendly and kind, and daily I find,
Has a number of functions that vary.

With ladies who boss me or wilfully cross me,
He turns their aggression to choking,
While ladies I fancy, like Judy and Nancy,
Throw their arms round my neck, and need stroking.

-Paul Griffin