Last Saturday, 27 July, in the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, Ennis, Co Clare, in the Diocese of Killaloe, Monsignor Séamus Horgan was ordained Titular Archbishop of the ancient See of Árd Sratha in Co Tyrone. Originally ordained a priest of Killaloe, Archbishop Horgan has just completed his mission as counsellor with the Apostolic Nunciature in Washington DC and will soon take up his appointment as Apostolic Nuncio to the world’s newest nation, South Sudan.
The liturgy celebrated the local nature of the life of the Church and the Church’s universal nature, as participants were drawn from various countries. Attendees at the Episcopal Ordination in Ennis included Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State; Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelisation; Cardinal Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States; Archbishop Luis Mariano Montemayor, Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland, and Bishop Fintan Monahan, Bishop of Killaloe. Along with Irish bishops, there were nuncios from Kuwait, Nigeria, Bangladesh and Ghana as well as colleagues from Rome. Civic society was represented by the mayor, members of the local authority and by Ms Frances Collins, Ireland’s Ambassador to the Holy See.
A significant local congregation attended the Mass for Archbishop Horgan, who began his ministry in the Diocese of Killaloe and joined the Diplomatic Service of the Holy See in 2005. In his homily, Cardinal Parolin spoke about the challenges Archbishop Horgan will face in South Sudan, invoking the spirit of Irish saints Patrick and Columbanus as models of evangelisation for the new nuncio in his challenging mission.
The ordination rite was deeply moving, marked by the Cathedral Choir’s angelic singing and a profound silence during the laying on of hands. Archbishop Horgan was anointed with sacred chrism, received his pontifical insignia, and was welcomed into his new role as Titular Archbishop of Árd Sratha, a diocese with ancient roots.
The Eucharistic Liturgy featured traditional music, and the celebration continued with Archbishop Horgan blessing the congregation. Post-ceremony festivities included traditional Irish music and dance, with Cardinal Parolin engaging with young people and gifting them rosary beads from Pope Francis.
The day concluded with a community gathering with attendees receiving prayer cards symbolising the significance of the occasion, invoking saints that connected Archbishop Horgan’s past, present, and future missions, embodying Christian hope and perseverance as he embarks on his new ministry as the Holy Father’s representative in South Sudan.
To read full text and view photos from the ordination click here.
ENDS
