Pope Francis has appointed Fr Michael Duignan, a priest of the Diocese of Elphin, as the Bishop of Clonfert in Ireland.
His appointment, announced on16 July, comes after Francis accepted the resignation of Bishop John Kirby, who held the role for 31 years.
Archbishop Eamon Martin, Archbishop of Armagh and the Primate of All Ireland, offered his “prayerful congratulations and good wishes” to Fr Duigan.
He said Fr Duignan’s varied pastoral experience in Elphin, particularly including his time in St Angela’s College, Sligo, a college of the National University of Ireland, Galway will “bring rich experience” to his new responsibilities as a diocesan bishop.
The Bishop of Elphin, Bishop Kevin Doran, likewise welcomed the appointment.
“It has been a great blessing for me, in my own mission as bishop, to have been able to draw on the wisdom and expertise of Father Michael,” he said.
Bishop-elect Duignan was born 15 July 1970 and is a native of Bealnamulla, Athlone, Co Roscommon. He began his seminary formation for the diocese with a spiritual year at St Patrick’s Missionary Society in Kiltegan, Co Wicklow. His studies continued at the Pontifical Irish College in Rome where he attended the Pontifical Gregorian University. He graduated with BAs in philosophy and theology.
On 17 July 1994, he was ordained a priest in Saints Peter and Paul church, Athlone by Dominic Conway, then Bishop of Elphin.
In 2005, he was appointed full-time lecturer in religious education and chaplain at St Angela’s College. In the same year, he was appointed assistant diocesan secretary for the Elphin diocese.
He has years of experience in Elphin, including serving as chancellor and diocesan secretary, episcopal vicar for education and formation and in 2018 as diocesan financial administrator. He was a member of the Elphin Diocesan Pastoral Council, Council of Priests, Finance Committee, College of Consultors and the Diocesan Safeguarding Executive.
Along with his doctoral dissertation, he has published various articles and homilies on theology, the permanent diaconate and pastoral issues.
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