New Bishop of Kilmore promises to get out and about amongst the faithful

by | 22 Sep, 2020 | News

In his first address as Bishop of Kilmore, newly consecrated Bishop Martin Hayes has promised to be a bishop who will get out and about among the faithful of the Diocese of Kilmore.

Bishop Hayes was speaking after his consecration as Bishop of Kilmore in the Cathedral of Saint Patrick and Saint Felim in Cavan on Sunday 20 September.

While the consecration Mass was restricted in numbers attending due to Covid-19, thousands of people from across the diocese and beyond tuned in to watch the Mass on the cathedral website.

Bishop Hayes began by thanking those physically present and “all of you who were tuned in from around Ireland and the globe – England, Scotland, Holland, Germany, the USA and Australia and, in particular, those from Kilmore and Cashel & Emly.  Thank you for being with us and for being with me on my journey.”

Bishop Hayes with Archbishop Jude Thaddeus Okolo, Archbishop Eamon Martin and Archbishop Kieran O’Reilly

He went on to thank all those for being part of the ceremony especially Archbishop Eamon Martin and his co-consecrators Archbishop Jude Thaddeus Ovolo, Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland, and, Archbishop Kieran O’Reilly, Archbishop of Cashel and Emly. He also acknowledged the hard working planning group who have been meeting throughout the summer months and led by Monsignor Liam Kelly whom he also thanked for his “tremendous dedication to Kilmore diocese and for your time given generously to ensure a smooth transition as I take up my new responsibilities.”

The new bishop went on to reflect on the impact of Covid-19. He said, “We have had to change our plans – I had hoped to have all the cousins, friends, and parishioners of Kilmore here – and now, in caring for everyone’s health, we are reaching out to you online.  In fact, we are connecting with more people as we celebrate our bonds with family, friends, and parishioners at home.

“We remember those who have died due to COVID-19, all the bereaved and all who are sick at this time.  In these difficult times, we find ourselves at ‘home’ – ‘appreciating even more where we have come from’ – home being ‘the domestic Church’.

“Of course, COVID-19 is a world-wide phenomenon, we are all in the same situation, struggling to contain the virus and so there is a sense of solidarity in keeping each other safe – we are in this together, learning from each other, though struggling to find a ‘new normal’.”

Bishop Hayes went on to say, “In truth we are all in a time of transition; our old order has not just been disturbed, we have been thrown into chaos, there is no going back to the old order and so we are in disorder.  Yes, we are having conversations, discussions, formulating plans and roadmaps, changing them, rewriting them, floundering, coming up with new plans – we are realising that we are not totally in charge of our own destiny.

“The chaos brought about by COVID-19 has affected all our plans, my plans, yet I have been hearing a voice saying, ‘it will all work out’!

“There have been times that I asked, does that voice know what it is saying?  Indeed, as I reflect upon how my life has changed in the past few months, I have asked myself do I know what is ahead?  The answer is ‘No’!  Is it going to work out for me, for us?  Yes.  It is a process.  Where are we going?  I am not sure.  We are at a crossroads, a crossroads – we have been called to reflect upon life, our priorities and we have had to make decisions.  We are awaiting and entering a time of reorder in our world, as the people of planet Earth – our Common Home, as referred to by Pope Francis in Laudato Si’ and celebrated during September, the Church`s annual `Month of Creation`.  We go forward into the unknown, into this disorder or liminal space trusting in the Cross of Jesus Christ, the same Jesus Christ who has been with us from the beginning and who came among us to be with us, as one of us, in response to God’s love for all of us.”

Speaking about his welcome to Kilmore Diocese, Bishop Hayes said, “I know that I am among a people of faith and friendship in our parishes in the counties of Cavan, Leitrim, Fermanagh, Sligo and Meath.  I want to assure my family and friends that while Kilmore may be a little further up the road, indeed, the weather may be a little colder – actually, one lady in Tipp told me to bring an extra layered jumper – however, I am assured of warm hearts in the welcome that I have already received.  I have been nurtured in Newhill, grown up in the wider family of Cashel & Emly and now I arrive in the family of Kilmore as Chief Shepherd conscious that I need your support and prayers.”

Speaking about his mission, Bishop Hayes said, “God loves us first; it is not a case of us trying to love God or earn God’s love.  God loves us through the wonder of all creation, from the moment of our conception, in the love of family and friends and we can be assured, in accord with my chosen motto that ‘Good Lord’, “your steadfast love endures” (Ps. 136:6).  The love of God is a constant within the depths of each one of us amid all that is happening around us; it is that spark of the Divine that is within each of us, that voice that says ‘all will be well’ (Julian of Norwich).  After all, each one of us is ‘made in the image and likeness of God’ (Genesis 1:27).  Thomas Merton speaks of, “the gift of my Creator’s Thought and Art within me” (in his poem Hagia Sophia) and alerts us to seeing God in the stars at night and in the light within each person we meet.

“We are on a journey together, a pilgrim people, sustained by Jesus Christ in the Eucharist: we need to continue to meet in faith, to encourage each other, to hear God’s Word, to have  conversations about that Word and to be nourished by Jesus who gave of Himself completely for us.   Yes, COVID-19 presents challenges and obstacles for all of us here in getting out to meet each other to celebrate our faith in the diocese of Kilmore.  It is my intention to get out among you in our parish communities and I look forward to finding my feet among you.  I know of the tradition of faith rooted in the scriptures and expressed in the pastoral planning as promoted by my predecessor Bishop Emeritus Leo O’Reilly will provide the foundation for whatever happens as we remember to depend absolutely upon God’s loving presence among us.”

ENDS 

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