Monsignor Dermot Farrell said it was with ‘enormous suprise’ that he received the invitation to become Bishop of Ossory and that he was ‘humbled’ by being asked to serve as Bishop.
“It was with enormous surprise that I received Pope Francis’ invitation to serve the priests and people of the Diocese of Ossory as bishop,” Msgr Farrelll said in a statement.
“I am humbled by this call from the Church. Embracing this new role means that I will have a great deal to learn in the years ahead.”
“It is going to take time. I will need the help and guidance of all the people in the parishes, my sisters and brothers in ministry, and our sisters and brothers in the other Christian churches and communities,” he added.
Monsignor Farrell was born in 1954 and was the Parish Priest of Dunboyne and Kilbride in the Diocese of Meath.
He completed an eight year period of seminary formation at Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, which included degrees in science and theology. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Meath by Bishop John McCormack in 1980.
Diocese of Ossory
He spoke about his connections with the Ossory Diocese.
“From my time working at Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth. I had contact with many people from the Diocese,” he added.
The Catholic population of Ossory is 84,729.
There are 42 parishes in the diocese and 89 churches. There are 42 parishes in the diocese and 89 churches.
The last Bishop of Ossory Bishop Seamus Freeman SAC resigned from the position due to ill health in July 2016.
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