New Archbishop of Tuam to be installed on Sunday

THE incoming Archbishop of Tuam will be officially installed in the position at a ceremony in Tuam Cathedral on Sunday. Bishop Francis Duffy bid his farewells to his former diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnois at the weekend. His appointment as the successor to retiring Archbishop of Tuam Michael Neary was announced by Pope Francis in late 2021.

Tuam’s new Archbishop was welcomed to the Archdiocese at a morning Mass last November – a surprise for the small number of parishioners in attendance. And numbers attending Sunday’s ceremony will be down considerably on what would usually be expected for such an event. Restrictions relating to Covid will mean that a very large crowd won’t be possible for the installation.

The office says that unfortunately due to current public health restrictions numbers are limited to invitations. However, the Archdiocese office has confirmed that the ceremony taking place at 2.30pm will be streamed live and they are encouraging parishioners to watch from their homes or listen on parish and GBFM radio and feel part of the event.

Francis Duffy was born in 1958 and is a native of the parish of Templeport, Co Cavan. He studied for the priesthood at Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth and was ordained a priest for the diocese of Kilmore on June 20, 1982, in Saint Mogue’s Church, Bawnboy, Co Cavan.

Archbishop Neary tendered his resignation to Pope Francis in April, having served 27 years as the head of the Tuam Archdiocese. Dr Neary, who celebrated his 75th birthday last year, was obliged to stand down in line with the requirement for all bishops to do so on reaching the age of 75.

In his final Christmas message, Archbishop Neary reflected on his time as Archbishop of Tuam. He again welcomed his successor Archbishop Duffy and assured that he will continue to be available to assist him in any way he chooses.

Archbishop Neary also gave a heartfelt thanks to everyone in the Archdiocese during his time here.

“I express a warm word of appreciation to the people of the Archdiocese of Tuam – the lay faithful of all ages, the religious, the deacons and the priests – for the way in which you have assisted and supported me in my ministry over 50 years as a priest, almost 30 as a bishop, and most especially over the past 27 years when it was my privilege to serve as your Archbishop,” said Dr Neary.