South east gets new bishop

A former primary school teacher and member of the Bunratty Castle Entertainers who was ordained a priest in 1994 has been named the Catholic bishop of Waterford and Lismore.

Clare native Fr Alphonsus Cullinan, 55, has been appointed by Pope Francis to replace Bishop William Lee, who announced his retirement last year on health grounds. Fr Cullinan is currently parish priest in Rathkeale, Co Limerick.

He worked as a primary teacher for six years in Castleconnell, Co Limerick, and, since being ordained in 1994, was a curate in Limerick City and chaplain at the regional hospital. He has also been chaplain at Limerick Institute of Technology and studied for a doctorate in moral theology in Rome.

Following his qualification as a teacher in 1981, he worked in the primary school in Castleconnell for six years and was a “part-time member” of Bunratty Castle Entertainers. He taught English for two years in Valladoid, Spain, before entering St Patrick’s College in Maynooth in 1989 to study for the priesthood.

The incoming bishop met with parishioners yester- day morning after Mass in the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity in Waterford City. The event was attended by the papal nuncio, Archbishop Charles Brown, emeritus Bishop William Lee, and Monsignor Nicholas O’Mahony who has worked as diocesan administrator since Bishop Lee’s retirement.

The primate of all-Ireland Archbishop Eamon Martin congratulated Fr Cullinan on his appointment.

“He brings to his new role a wealth of experience as a teacher, a parish priest, and of chaplaincy in both hospital and further education settings. His pastoral insights will be of immense value not only in his leadership role among the people, priests, and religious of Waterford and Lismore, but also as a member of the Irish Bishops’ Conference.”

Fr Cullinan congratulated retired Bishop William Lee “on his shepherding of this diocese for 20 years” and looked forward to his friendship and advice in the coming years.

He said he was looking forward to meeting Pope Francis in September and thanked the papal nuncio for his help. He described Waterford and Lismore as “an historic diocese” with a Christian heritage going back to the earliest days of Christianity on this island.

“Up to last week, I had under my care the 4,000 or so souls in my parish. Now I am moving to the other side of Munster and am called to be the shepherd of over 150,000 souls. I don’t have any illusions about the difficulties of the job which I have been given and I know my own unworthiness and limitations.”

Mountains are made for climbing, he said, “and I am not the only one with a mountain to climb”.

“There are so many people with troubles of their own — illness, loss, worry about children, about making ends meet, depression, loneliness, lack of meaning in life, being marginalised; the list of human suffering and pain is long.”