His Holiness Pope Leo XIV has appointed Bishop Gerard Nash to minister simultaneously as Bishop of Ferns and as Bishop of Ossory. The two dioceses concerned are now united in persona episcopi, and will be pastorally administered by one bishop, Bishop Nash.
Statement of Bishop Ger on his appointment as Bishop of Ossory
I am deeply honoured to have been asked by Pope Leo to become Bishop of Ossory in addition to my existing pastoral role in the Diocese of Ferns. From the earliest days of my appointment as Apostolic Administrator we began a consultation to explore the possibilities for what brings most hope for the future of the church, in both Dioceses.
This appointment today is simply the continuation of a journey as the two Dioceses will work together to create a community where our relationship with God will deepen and provide fertile soil for the preaching of the Gospel. This is an opportunity for us to do great things together. This amalgamation of Dioceses has begun in the West of Ireland and will continue in the rest of our country as opportunity allows. The challenge of being one Bishop for two Dioceses is a mirror of the experience of many priests in modern Ireland as they take on responsibility for more than one parish. The re-imagining of roles and the re- organisation of familiar tasks is true whether it is for a parish or a Diocese and the ultimate test for all change within the Church is whether it builds up the Kingdom of God. One aspect of all the changes at Parish and Diocesan level within the Irish Church at the moment is the opportunity it offers for real roles of responsibility and authority to be offered to lay people to build up the local Christian Community. In both Ferns and Ossory, there is a history of developing and training lay people over many years but it has achieved new focus and energy with the recruitment and training of Lay Pastoral Workers in both Dioceses. It was a great benefit for us here in Ossory that Bishop Niall had already begun the process of discernment and recruitment for those who will begin their studies in Maynooth in September.
One of the possible collaborations between both Dioceses will be in the area of vocations to priesthood and religious life. Both Dioceses are working hard at this very important task and already some very good prospects for the Diocesan priesthood are emerging. There are certainly green shoot visible. Our Dioceses will not survive without the Sacraments and to be sustainable we will need to provide our own priests who will work collaboratively with a wide range of trained lay ministers to bring the Gospel to young and old, the sick and the well and to welcome those who are searching for answers. In Ireland, we have always seen a strong link between our Faith and our History. To nourish faith then in both Dioceses, it will be important to nurture our original faith roots, which began with Saint Aidan and Saint Kieran, was continued by Saint Canice and Saint Senan, and which today is most visible in the affection and energy that people hold for their own local church, cemetery, holy well or pilgrimage. I am convinced that it is by nurturing the local, that we will build communities of faith.
I am deeply grateful to the people in the parishes of the Diocese of Ossory for their welcome over the past few months but in particular I want to thank the priests and the Diocesan Staff for their collaboration and their welcome at a personal level. I also thank the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Montemayor who has been generous with his time and his wisdom in my discussions with him.
There is a scripture quotation which always gives me hope in times of challenge and uncertainty. It is from the prophet Jeremiah when he hears the Lord saying “My plans for you are peace and not disaster” I have reserved for you a future full of hope” I pray that here in Ossory and Ferns we will turn our faces towards the future set aside for us by God and that we will journey forward together in faith. Thank you for listening and please remember me in your prayers.
Ag Lorg na Suáilcí
“Dóchas, creideamh agus grá
Bíodh go brách ’na stiúir do mo chroí,
Agus cuir leosan foighid, a Dhé,
– Ba chabhair thréan don triúr í.”
Go raibh na suáilcí sin Dóchas, Creideamh, Grá chomh maith le foighne
os mo chomhair inniu agus i gconaí agus mé ag tógáil an chéim seo, in ainm Dé!
Áiméan!