Colm O'Reilly
Encyclopedia
Colm O'Reilly is an Irish
prelate
of the Roman Catholic Church
. He is the current Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise.
The youngest of seven children, O'Reilly was born to John and Alicia O'Reilly in Colmcille, County Longford
. His eldest brother, Peter (died 1988), was superior general
of St. Patrick's Missionary Society
for sixteen years, and another brother, Brendan (died 2000), was a member of the Divine Word Missionaries
. He studied at St. Mel's College
in Longford
, and was ordained
a priest
on 19 June, 1960.
He spent his priesthood in parishes
in the Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise; he ministered for nine years in Granard
and until 1983 he was curate
and later administrator at St. Mel's Cathedral
.
On 24 February 1983, O'Reilly was appointed Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise
by Pope John Paul II
. He received his episcopal consecration
on the following 10 April 1983 from Cardinal Tomás Ó Fiaich, with Archbishop Gaetano Alibrandi
and Bishop Cahal Daly as co-consecrators
.
Within the Irish Bishops Conference
, he is Chairman
of the Commission for the Missions and of the Liaison Committee for Child Protection; and a member of the Conference Department of Social Issues and International Affairs, Committee for Family and Children, Commission for Justice and Social Affairs, and Trócaire
.
In the early hours of Christmas Day 2009, St Mel's Cathedral in Longford was destroyed by fire. Bishop O'Reilly said that the building was just a shell and had been burned out from end to end. He described the church whose construction had begun in 1840 as a flagship cathedral of the midlands. The cause of the fire is unclear.
In February 2010 it was revealed that 200 objects have been recovered from the ruins of St Mel’s Cathedral in Longford which was almost entirely destroyed in a fire on Christmas morning. The two finest examples of stained glass windows by Harry Clark Studios can be repaired and the windows in the cathedral can be copied, the bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise Dr Colm O’Reilly told a meeting at the weekend of the Longford Association in London.
It said it believed all relevant documentation held by the diocese was made available for inclusion in the review process. In terms of its policy and procedures, the Ardagh and Clonmacnois safeguarding committee had developed “coherent, easy to read documents in line with current Church guidance”. It had also developed a parish audit. The board said this approach was “laudable”.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. He is the current Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise.
The youngest of seven children, O'Reilly was born to John and Alicia O'Reilly in Colmcille, County Longford
County Longford
County Longford is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Longford.Longford County Council is the local authority for the county...
. His eldest brother, Peter (died 1988), was superior general
Superior general
A Superior General, or General Superior, is the Superior at the head of a whole religious order or congregation.The term is mainly used as a generic term, while many orders and congregations use other specific titles, notably:* Abbot general...
of St. Patrick's Missionary Society
St. Patrick's Missionary Society
St. Patrick's Society for the Foreign Missions is an Irish Roman Catholic society of apostolic life composed of missionary priests, sometimes known as the Kiltegan Fathers from its headquarters at Kiltegan, County Wicklow.-History:It was founded on St Patrick's Day, 17 March 1932 by Monsignor...
for sixteen years, and another brother, Brendan (died 2000), was a member of the Divine Word Missionaries
Divine Word Missionaries
The Society of the Divine Word , popularly called the Divine Word Missionaries, and sometimes the Steyler Missionaries, is a missionary religious congregation in the Latin Church, one of the 23 sui iuris churches which make up the Catholic Church. As of 2006 it consisted of 6,102 members composed...
. He studied at St. Mel's College
St. Mel's College
St. Mel's College is a school in Longford, Ireland. It opened in September 1865 with 48 boarders and 25 dayboys. Fr. James Reynolds was the first president. Previously he had been Superior of St. Mel's Day School in the Market Square....
in Longford
Longford
Longford is the county town of County Longford in Ireland. It has a population of 7,622 according to the 2006 census. Approximately one third of the county's population resides in the town. Longford town is also the biggest town in the county...
, and was ordained
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
a priest
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
on 19 June, 1960.
He spent his priesthood in parishes
Parish (Catholic Church)
In the Roman Catholic Church, a parish is the lowest ecclesiastical geographical subdivision: from ecclesiastical province to diocese to deanery to parish.-Requirements:A parish needs two things under common law to become a parish...
in the Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise; he ministered for nine years in Granard
Granard
Granard is a town in the north of County Longford, Ireland and has a traceable history going back to 236 A.D.. It is situated just south of the boundary between the watersheds of the Shannon and the Erne, at the point where the N55 national secondary road and the R194 regional road...
and until 1983 he was curate
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
and later administrator at St. Mel's Cathedral
St Mel's Cathedral, Longford
The Cathedral Church of St. Mel is the cathedral church of the Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnois, located in the town of Longford in Ireland. Built between 1840 and 1856, with the belfry and portico as later additions, it has been considered the "flagship cathedral" of the Irish midlands region,...
.
On 24 February 1983, O'Reilly was appointed Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise
Roman Catholic Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise
The Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise is a Roman Catholic diocese in Ireland.-Geographic remit:The diocese is spread over parts of seven counties in the centre of Ireland. It includes almost all of County Longford, half of County Leitrim and parts of counties Westmeath, Offaly, Cavan, Roscommon...
by Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
. He received his episcopal consecration
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
on the following 10 April 1983 from Cardinal Tomás Ó Fiaich, with Archbishop Gaetano Alibrandi
Gaetano Alibrandi
Archbishop Gaetano Alibrandi of the Roman Catholic Church was a senior papal diplomat and former Personal Secretary to Giovanni Battista Montini .Mgr. Alibrandi was ordained priest on 1 November 1936, and Consacreted Bishop in 1961...
and Bishop Cahal Daly as co-consecrators
Consecrator
Consecrator is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to designate a bishop who ordains a priest to the episcopal state. The term is often used in Eastern Rite Churches and in Anglican communities. The term "Principal Consecrator" is used to designate the primary bishop who ordains a new bishop...
.
Within the Irish Bishops Conference
Irish Bishops Conference
The Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference is the episcopal conference of the Roman Catholic bishops in Ireland. Their meetings generally take place a number of times a year in Maynooth, County Kildare, the location of St Patrick's College, Maynooth, Ireland's national Catholic seminary...
, he is Chairman
Chair (official)
The chairman is the highest officer of an organized group such as a board, committee, or deliberative assembly. The person holding the office is typically elected or appointed by the members of the group. The chairman presides over meetings of the assembled group and conducts its business in an...
of the Commission for the Missions and of the Liaison Committee for Child Protection; and a member of the Conference Department of Social Issues and International Affairs, Committee for Family and Children, Commission for Justice and Social Affairs, and Trócaire
Trócaire
Trócaire is an Irish non governmental organization development agency. The charity is registered in the Republic of Ireland under Irish Charity No...
.
In the early hours of Christmas Day 2009, St Mel's Cathedral in Longford was destroyed by fire. Bishop O'Reilly said that the building was just a shell and had been burned out from end to end. He described the church whose construction had begun in 1840 as a flagship cathedral of the midlands. The cause of the fire is unclear.
In February 2010 it was revealed that 200 objects have been recovered from the ruins of St Mel’s Cathedral in Longford which was almost entirely destroyed in a fire on Christmas morning. The two finest examples of stained glass windows by Harry Clark Studios can be repaired and the windows in the cathedral can be copied, the bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise Dr Colm O’Reilly told a meeting at the weekend of the Longford Association in London.
Child protection
On 30 November 2011 as part of the report into the diocese there were 13 priests incardinated in the Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnois against whom an allegation was made since January 1st 1975 and up to the date of the review by the National Board for Safeguarding Children. Fourteen allegations were reported to An Garda Síochána in that timeframe. Nine were reported to the HSE or health boards. One priest against whom an allegation had been made was still alive at the time of the review. The three cases that fell within the scope of the board’s review in the Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnois involved allegations against priests who were alive at the time the allegations were brought to the attention of the diocese. The board said all files were “well organised” and contained chronologies drawn up by the diocese’s designated person.It said it believed all relevant documentation held by the diocese was made available for inclusion in the review process. In terms of its policy and procedures, the Ardagh and Clonmacnois safeguarding committee had developed “coherent, easy to read documents in line with current Church guidance”. It had also developed a parish audit. The board said this approach was “laudable”.