Francis Joseph MacKiernan

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The Most Reverend

Francis J. MacKiernan
Bishop of Kilmore
ChurchRoman Catholic Church
ProvinceArmagh
DioceseKilmore
Appointed11 October 1972
Term ended16 October 1998
PredecessorAustin Quinn
SuccessorPhilip Leo O'Reilly
Orders
Ordination17 June 1951
Consecration10 December 1972
by William Conway
Personal details
Birth nameFrancis Joseph MacKiernan
Born3 February 1926
Stradrinan, Aughawillan, County Leitrim
Died23 December 2005 (aged 79)
Cavan General Hospital, Cavan
BuriedCrypt of the Cathedral Church of St Patrick and St Felim, Cavan
NationalityIrish
DenominationRoman Catholic
Alma materSt. Patrick's College, Cavan
St Patrick's College, Maynooth

Francis Joseph MacKiernan (1926–2005) was an Irish prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as the Bishop of Kilmore from 1972 to 1998[1] and chaired the coordinating committee for the visit of Pope John Paul II to Ireland.

Early life and ministry[]

He was born in Stradrinan, Aughawillan, County Leitrim on 3 February 1926.[1] He attended Aghawillin National School where he contributed tales to the 1938 Dúchas folklore collection.[2] After his training for the priesthood at St. Patrick's College, Cavan (1939–1944) and St Patrick's College, Maynooth, he was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Kilmore on 17 June 1951.[3][4]

His first pastoral appointment was as a curate at St Malachy's Church, Belfast in 1951.[3][4] The next year, he was appointed to the staff of St Patrick's College, Cavan, where he taught Latin, Greek and Christian doctrine, a position he held for ten years. During this time, Francis was known for his brutality when dealing with pupils. He was the founding president of St Felim's College, Ballinamore, a position he held from 1962 to 1972.[3][4]

Episcopal career[]

He was appointed the Bishop of Kilmore by Pope Paul VI on 11 October 1972.[1] His episcopal consecration took place on 10 December 1972, the principal consecrator was Cardinal William Conway, Archbishop of Armagh, and the principal co-consecrators were Archbishop Gaetano Alibrandi, Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland and Bishop Neil Farren of Derry.[1]

In 1979, he was chairman of the National Committee which organised the visit of Pope John Paul II to Ireland. He was chairman of the Episcopal Commission for Education for many years and played a key part in the setting up of the present structures for the boards of management of primary schools.[4]

He celebrated the silver jubilee of his episcopal ordination at the Cathedral Church of St Patrick and St Felim, Cavan on 14 December 1997, with Cardinal Seán Brady, Archbishop of Armagh, reading the homily.[5]

After twenty-six years service to the Diocese of Kilmore, he resigned on 16 October 1998 and assumed the title Bishop emeritus of Kilmore.[1] He died after a short illness in Cavan General Hospital on 23 December 2005, aged 79. Following his funeral at the Cathedral Church of St Patrick and St Felim in Cavan on 28 December 2005, his remains were buried in the cathedral crypt.[1][3][4][6]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f "Bishop Francis Joseph MacKiernan". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved 11 December 2011.
  2. ^ "Francis Mc Kiernan". duchas.ie. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Bishop Francis J. MacKiernan 1926- 2005". St Patrick's College, Cavan. Retrieved 11 January 2012.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e "Kilmore diocese bids farewell to its faithful servant". CiNews. 31 December 2005. Archived from the original on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 11 January 2012.
  5. ^ "Bishop McKiernan's Silver Jubilee of Episcopal Ordination". Retrieved 11 January 2012.
  6. ^ "Retired Bishop of Kilmore dies in hospital". The Irish Emigrant. Retrieved 11 January 2012.
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
Austin Quinn 		Bishop of Kilmore
1972–1998 		Succeeded by
Philip Leo O'Reilly
Retrieved from ""