A JESUIT priest has been appointed as new Bishop of Raphoe.
The appointment of Antrim priest Fr Alan McGuckian came after Pope Francis accepted the resignation of the long-standing Bishop of Raphoe Philip Boyce.
The announcement coincided with his introduction to the priests of Raphoe following Mass for St Columba’s Day at St Eunan’s Cathedral in Letterkenny, Co Derry.
In a marked departure for the Irish Catholic church, Fr McGuckian (64) will become the first ever member of the Jesuit Order to be appointed a bishop in Ireland.
A native of Cloughmills in Co Antrim, Fr McGuckian is a brother of well-known businessman, John B McGuckian, a former chairman of Ulster Television and of the Industrial Development Board.
Fr McGuckian studied Irish and Philosophy at Queen’s before training for the priesthood with the Jesuits. He took further degrees in Latin and Spanish (UCD), Philosophy, and Divinity in Dublin and Canada before his ordination in June 1984.
He has worked as a teacher at the Jesuit’s Clongowes Wood College in Co Kildare and as director of the order’s communications’ office in Dublin.
Since 2012, he has been director of the Diocese of Down and Connor’s Living Church office in Belfast. The office works to develop greater “co-responsibility” between laity and clergy in Down and Connor.
The youngest of six children, two of Fr McGuckian’s brothers, Fr Bernard and Fr Michael are also Jesuit priests. His sister, Mary Dynan lives in Newry while his other brother, John lives in Cloughmills. Fr McGuckian’s older sister, Paula Haughey died in 2013.
An Irish language enthusiast, Fr McGuckian is a frequent visitor to the Donegal Gaeltacht, in particular Rann na Feirste in the west of the county.
He has served as editor of the Irish language magazine, “An Timire” and as an editor with the Jesuit’s Irish language publishing organisation, “Foilseacháin Ábhair Spiordálta.”
More recently, he has served as chaplain to many Gaelscoileanna in Down and Connor and to Ulster University in Jordanstown and Belfast.
Welcoming his appointment head of the Catholic church in Ireland, Archbishop Eamon Martin said Fr McGuckian would bring “rich experiences and gifts” to his new ministry.
“Father McGuckian’s background in education and communications, as well as his recent immersion in pastoral planning and development with the Diocese of Down and Connor, indicate just some of the rich experiences and gifts that he will bring to his new ministry. I pray that St Columba and St Eunan will intercede for him as he takes up his new duties as bishop.”
Bishop of Down and Connor, Noel Treanor said Fr McGuckian would bring tremendous gifts to his new appointment.
Head of the Jesuit Order in Ireland, Fr Leonard Moloney SJ said Fr McGuckian brought a “spirit of dynamic service and generous commitment” to his various ministries.
“I have no doubt that he will now bring these same gifts to his new office in pastoral care or the priests and people of the diocese of Raphoe,” Fr Moloney said.
Fr McGuckian will be consecrated as bishop of Raphoe at St Eunan’s Cathedral in Letterkenny on August 6.
