Bishop Alan McGuckian bemoans 'escalation of war' at Down and Connor installation

Bishop Alan McGuckian SJ touched on the 'suffering' in the world as he was formally installed as the Bishop of Down and Connor on Sunday.

Bishop McGuckian's Mass of Installation took place in St Peter’s Cathedral, Belfast.

Bishop McGuckian served in the Raphoe Diocese for six-and-a-half years before his appointment to head the Church in his native Diocese.

Many priests and parishioners from the Raphoe Diocese travelled to Belfast for the Mass, which was concelebrated by the Bishop Emeritus of Raphoe, Philip Boyce.

“There is a terrible suffering and injustice in the world,” Bishop McGuckian told the congregation.

“On the global level even today the escalation of war is an awful threat. Christians who are channels of peace are ever more necessary.

“This Diocese is very specifically seeking to chart a pathway to the future. Much good work has been done and I am excited to be a part of that. Pathways are created by walking together.”

Cardinal Seán Brady, Archbishop Emeritus of Armagh, presided over the Mass, which was attended by Bishops from across Ireland, England and Scotland.

The Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland Eamon Martin was among the concelebrants.

“Being here again brings home a deep commitment to answering God's call,” Archbishop Martin, who was the Principal Consecrator in 2017 when Bishop McGuckian was ordained as the Bishop of Raphoe.

The Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland, Most Rev Luis M Montemayor, and Most Rev Noel Treanor, the Apostolic Nuncio to the European Union and Bishop Emeritus of Down and Connor, also concelebrated Sunday's Mass.

Bishop McGuckian's two brothers. Fr Bernard and Fr Michael, aided in the Mass.

Bishop McGuckian told how two pieces of stained glass in the oratory of his home, each depicting Jesus, are dear to him.

He said: “In both, he is dressed in white. In one, he is in the very act of stepping out of the tomb. Two angels are visible and in the foreground three women are just about to have their minds blown by this awesome reality.

“In the other image, He has his left hand raised and his right hand is holding aloft the banner of victory. It is important for me to look at those images every morning of every day.”

A native of Cloughmills, he joined the Jesuit novitiate in Clontarf in Dublin in 1972 having studied a year of First Arts in Queen’s University, Belfast, where he studied Irish and Scholastic Philosophy.

He was ordained to the priesthood in 1984 and worked in County Kildare before spending time in India and the Philippines.

From 1992-2003, Father Alan served as appointed as Director of the Jesuit Communication Centre in Dublin and from 2012-2017 he worked closely with the Diocese of Down and Connor in the ‘Living Church’ project.

The Diocese of Down and Connor is the second largest diocese in Ireland with a Catholic population of 330,000 and there are 87 parishes and 151 churches in the Diocese.

Following the transfer of Bishop McGuckian, Monsignor Kevin Gillespie was elected as Diocesan Administrator of the Raphoe Diocese earlier this year.

Monsignor Gillespie, a native of Gweedore, will have a caretaker role until a new Bishop is appointed.