Bishop of Clogher retires due to ill health

The Holy Father Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Liam MacDaid, Bishop of Clogher, due to ill health.

It follows medical advice received by Bishop MacDaid some months ago, who then wrote to Pope Francis requesting him to accept his early retirement as Bishop of Clogher in accordance with Canon Law.

The Diocese of Clogher encompasses all of County Monaghan, most of County Fermanagh and portions of Counties Tyrone, Donegal, Louth and Cavan. It comprises 37 parishes and has a Catholic population of some 88,000.

A native of Bundoran, Co Donegal, a statement from the Bishop's office said that Bishop MacDaid had always been “very keen” to communicate with the people of the diocese, whether through visits to parishes or through pastoral letters. “He is keen to ensure that the People of God throughout Clogher diocese should hear from him the background to his retirement, including some of the medical advice he has received, together with his reflections on diocesan life and that of the wider Church at this time.”

With this in mind, he has written a pastoral letter to the priests and people of the diocese which will be read at all Masses this coming weekend.

Bishop MacDaid was appointed Bishop of Clogher by Pope Benedict XVI on 6 May 2010, in succession to Bishop Joseph Duffy who is now bishop-emeritus. He was subsequently ordained on 25 July 2010 in Saint Macartan’s Cathedral in Monaghan.

As for the future, the governance of the diocese is now assumed by the College of Consultors, in this case the Diocesan Chapter, which will meet in the coming days to elect a Diocesan Administrator.

The Diocesan Administrator will then lead the diocese, with limited powers, until a new bishop is appointed by the Holy Father Pope Francis.