The Most Reverend

Denis Nulty

KC*HS
Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin
ChurchRoman Catholic
DioceseKildare and Leighlin
Appointed7 May 2013
Installed4 August 2013
PredecessorJames Moriarty
Orders
Ordination12 June 1988
by Michael Smith
Consecration4 August 2013
by Diarmuid Martin
Personal details
Born (1963-06-07) 7 June 1963
Slane, County Meath, Ireland
Previous post(s)Apostolic administrator of Ossory
Parish priest of St Mary's, Drogheda
Vicar forane of the Duleek deanery
Chairperson of the council of priests of the Diocese of Meath
Alma mater
MottoServe the Lord with gladness
Coat of armsDenis Nulty's coat of arms
Styles of
Denis Nulty
Reference styleThe Most Reverend
Spoken styleYour Grace
Religious styleBishop

Denis Nulty KC*HS (born 7 June 1963) is an Irish Roman Catholic prelate who has served as Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin since 2013.

Early life

Nulty was born in Slane, County Meath, on 7 June 1963, the youngest of five children to Den Nulty and his wife Nan (née Balfe).[1]

He attended primary school at St. Patrick's National School, Slane, and secondary school at St Patrick's Classical School, Navan, before studying for the priesthood at St Patrick's College, Maynooth, in 1981, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts in 1984 and a Bachelor of Divinity in 1987.[1]

He was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Meath on 12 June 1988.[2]

Presbyteral ministry

Following his ordination, Nulty served for ten years as a curate in the cathedral parish of Mullingar, as well as chaplain to the local Accord centre and spiritual director at St Finian's College.[3] He became the youngest parish priest in Ireland when he was appointed to St Mary’s parish, Drogheda, in August 1998.[4]

Nulty completed further studies in All Hallows College, Dublin, and obtained a Master of Arts in Management for Pastoral and Voluntary Services from Dublin City University in 2006.[1]

He was also appointed chairperson of the diocesan council of priests in 2005, and later as vicar forane for the Duleek deanery in September 2006.[5]

Episcopal ministry

Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin

Nulty was appointed Bishop-elect of Kildare and Leighlin by Pope Francis on 7 May 2013, becoming the youngest bishop in Ireland by succeeding the Archbishop of Armagh, Eamon Martin, by two years.[6][7][3][8] He was consecrated by the Archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin, on 4 August in the Cathedral of the Assumption, Carlow.[9][10]

In light of the Government decision to hold a referendum on same-sex marriage in 2015, Nulty emphasised in November 2013 said while there is always a need to treat homosexuals with compassion, he added that the very nature of marriage and children and their importance to society are worth protecting, saying that "[the] Catholic Church will continue to hold that the differences between a man and woman are not accidental to marriage but fundamental to it and that children have a natural right to a mother and a father and that this is the best environment for them where possible".[11]

Ahead of a referendum on easing divorce restrictions in May 2019, he issued a statement suggesting that "the objective of the proposed referendum is not to support marriage, rather to liberalise divorce", and that "it is imperative that we continue to work together to promote marriage and family.”[12]

Apostolic Administrator of Ossory

Following the installation of Dermot Farrell as Archbishop of Dublin on 2 February 2021, Nulty was announced as Apostolic Administrator of Ossory.[13][14] He served in this role until the consecration of Niall Coll as Bishop of Ossory on 22 January 2023.[15][16][17][18]

Following the easing of restrictions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, Nulty announced on 4 July that for the first time in living memory, a confirmation ceremony would take place in the open-air surroundings of a GAA stadium, with 392 primary school children from four parishes in Kilkenny city receiving the sacrament on 9 September in Nowlan Park, Kilkenny.[19][20] A similar ceremony took place for 361 primary school children from seven schools in Portlaoise on 18 September in O'Moore Park, Portlaoise.[21][22][23]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Bishop Denis Nulty". Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  2. ↑ "Our New Bishop" (PDF). Tullow, Grange & Ardattin Newsletter. 19 May 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 November 2018. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
  3. 1 2 "Nomina del vescovo di Kildare and Leighlin (Irlanda)". Holy See Press Office (in Italian). 7 May 2013. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  4. ↑ "Statement by Bishop Smith on appointment of Father Denis Nulty as Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin" (Press release). Irish Conference of Catholic Bishops. 7 May 2013. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
  5. ↑ Donohoe, John (7 May 2013). "Slane priest named as Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin". Meath Chronicle. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  6. ↑ "Fr. Denis Nulty appointed Bishop of Kildare & Leighlin". Kildare & Leighlin Diocese. 9 May 2013. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
  7. ↑ "New bishop of Kildare and Leighlin appointed". Raidió Telefís Éireann. 7 May 2013. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  8. ↑ "Welcome address by Monsignor Byrne on the appointment of Father Denis Nulty as Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin". Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  9. ↑ "Episcopal Ordination of Father Denis Nulty as Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin to take place on Sunday 4 August". Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  10. ↑ O'Boyle, Conal (13 August 2013). "Bishop Nulty ordained in Carlow cathedral". Carlow Nationalist. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  11. ↑ "Govt will 'actively support' same-sex marriage referendum in 2015". RTÉ News. 6 November 2013. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
  12. ↑ Pollak, Sorcha (18 May 2019). "Catholics urged to 'reflect deeply' before voting in divorce referendum". The Irish Times. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  13. ↑ "Pope Francis appoints Bishop Denis Nulty as Apostolic Administrator of Ossory". Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference. 2 February 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  14. ↑ Doyle, Domhnall (2 February 2021). "Bishop Denis Nulty named Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Ossory". KCLR 96FM. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  15. ↑ "Pope Francis appoints Father Niall Coll as Bishop of Ossory". Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference. 28 October 2022. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  16. ↑ Kane, Conor (28 October 2022). "Donegal priest appointed new Bishop of Ossory". RTÉ. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  17. ↑ Matthews, Sam (22 January 2023). "New Bishop of Ossory Niall Coll ordained at St Mary's Cathedral in Kilkenny today". Kilkenny People. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  18. ↑ Quirke, Ethna (22 January 2023). "The new Bishop of Ossory will be installed officially later today". KCLR 96FM. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  19. ↑ Slater, Sarah (4 July 2021). "GAA county ground offered as confirmation venue". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  20. ↑ Slater, Sarah (10 September 2021). "A 'first' confirmed: GAA allows celebration of faith in Nowlan Park". independent. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  21. ↑ "Bishop says 'health has to trump everything' after confirmations postponed". Raidió Telefís Éireann. 11 August 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  22. ↑ Hayes, Carmel (5 August 2021). "Plans still on track for Portlaoise Confirmations at O'Moore Park". Laois Nationalist. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  23. ↑ Hayes, Carmel (23 September 2021). "One parish, seven schools, 361 students and one extraordinary day". Laois Nationalist. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
Wikiquote has quotations related to Denis Nulty.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Denis Nulty.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.