Bishop Niall Coll outlines vision for Raphoe Diocese ahead of installation

Bishop Niall Coll, who will be installed as the new Bishop of Raphoe on Sunday, has outlined his vision for the Diocese.

The St Johnston native, who was parish priest in both Tawnawilly and Drumholm before being appointed as the Bishop of Ossory in late 2022, will take lead of the See of Raphoe at St Eunan’s Cathedral on Sunday.

“One aspect that became very clear to me in Ossory is that our parishes need to be better equipped to catechise people of all ages,” Bishop Coll said. “The parishes need to become catechumenal hubs, places where adults, young and not so young, can explore the faith together and receive solid instruction.”

Bishop Coll is calling for parishes in the Diocese of Raphoe to become centres where people of all ages can be gradually introduced to the Christian faith, rather than assuming faith is already there. In practice, “catechumenal hubs” would focus on ongoing formation, welcome and accompaniment, especially for those exploring or rediscovering belief.

The Raphoe Diocese has a Catholic population of 83,050 and consists of 33 parishes and 71 churches. 

The Diocese entered a period of sede vacante following the transfer of Bishop Alan McGuckian SJ to the Diocese of Down and Connor in 2024. In the interim, Monsignor Kevin Gillespie stepped in as Diocesan Administrator.

Now, Bishop Coll will become the 44th Bishop of Raphoe since the first, Gilbert O’Caran, was appointed in the 1100s.

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Bishop Coll said that joining the Raphoe Synodality Group conversation will be a priority. He said: “Pope Leo XIV has already signalled, at the beginning of his pontificate, how important this synodal way of working is for the life of the Church everywhere, and I see it as an essential part of our shared journey in Raphoe.”

Archbishop Eamon Martin, the leader of the Catholic Church in Ireland, will be present on Sunday alongside fellow Principal Celebrants: His Excellency Archbishop Luis M Montemayor, the Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland; Bishop Alan McGuckian SJ, Bishop of Down and Connor; and Bishop Philip Boyce, Bishop Emeritus of Raphoe.