Press release
Pope Francis appoints Father Niall Coll as Bishop of Ossory
His Holiness Pope Francis has appointed Father Niall Coll, a priest of the Diocese of Raphoe, as the new Bishop of the Diocese of Ossory. The news of this Episcopal appointment was made public this morning at 11.00am Irish time.
- Life and Ministry of Bishop-elect Niall Coll
Niall Coll was born on 25 August 1963 in Letterkenny, Co Donegal.
During his ministry, Bishop-elect Niall Coll, in conjunction with his priestly appointments, has conducted retreats for clergy, is a contributor to various publications, including Doctrine and Life, The Furrow, The Irish Theological Quarterly and The Tablet, and in addition was the Editorial Director of the Catholic School ethos journal Le Chéile.
“I come to Ossory at a time of great challenge to faith, a time when Irish society is increasingly secular and individualistic,” Bishop-Elect Coll said this morning.
“The four-century and more long dominance of the Tridentine pattern has left Catholics almost everywhere unfamiliar with and thus unskilled in discerning and negotiating possibilities for change in church life. But, trusting in the power of the Holy Spirit, discern and change we must, in line with Pope Francis’ emphasis on the need for ‘synodality’. I look forward to working with the priests, people and Religious of the diocese of Ossory to enhance the work already underway here to develop a sustaining theological and pastoral vision, one able to invite, inform and enthuse a new generation of Christian witnesses.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Monsignor Julien Kabore for his kindness and assistance and Bishop Denis Nulty, the Apostolic Administer, for his kindness and encouragement to me since he learned of my appointment. Finally, a word of thanks to Father Richard Scriven Adm and all here present this morning I know many of the Diocesan Groups are here present… most especially the Cathedral parishioners and the students of the city catholic secondary schools – Those from Saint Kieran’s College, the Presentation Secondary School, The Loreto, and CBS Kilkenny and the school leavers class from the Mother of Fair Love Special School and those young students from the CBS Primary and Presentation Primary schools of this Cathedral parish.”