Donal Murray (bishop)
Parts of this article (those related to events from 2009 to 2024) need to be updated.(October 2024) |
The Most Reverend Donal Murray | |
---|---|
Bishop Emeritus of Limerick | |
Archdiocese | Cashel and Emly |
Diocese | Limerick |
Appointed | 10 February 1996 |
Installed | 24 March 1996 |
Term ended | 17 December 2009 |
Predecessor | Jeremiah Newman |
Successor | Brendan Leahy |
Previous post(s) | Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin and Titular Bishop of Glenndálocha (1982–1996) |
Orders | |
Ordination | 22 May 1966 |
Consecration | 18 April 1982 by Dermot Ryan |
Personal details | |
Born | Donal Brendan Murray 29 May 1940 Dublin, Ireland |
Died | 13 October 2024 Limerick, Ireland | (aged 84)
Nationality | Irish |
Denomination | Roman Catholic |
Motto | Veritas in Caritate "Truth in Charity" |
Coat of arms |
Donal Brendan Murray (29 May 1940 – 13 October 2024) was an Irish Roman Catholic prelate, who served as Bishop of Limerick from 1996 to 2009. He had previously served as an Auxiliary Bishop of the Dublin diocese
Biography
[edit]Early life and ordination
[edit]Murray was born in Dublin on 29 May 1940. He was educated at Blackrock College, studied for a BA and master's degrees in Philosophy at University College Dublin, obtained a B.Div at St Patrick's College, Maynooth and his Licence and Doctorate in theology in Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum).[1]
It was said of him by one commenator that Murray "was rated by Connell as the brightest student he taught in his 35 years as a professor of metaphysics at University College, Dublin."[2]
He was ordained on 22 May 1966.[1]
Priestly Ministry
[edit]Murray lectured in the Mater Dei Institute of Education from 1969, becoming professor of moral theology at Clonliffe College.[1] He also lectured at UCD – from 1973 to 1982 in Catechetics and from 1978 to 1982 in Medical Ethics.[1]
He served as advisor to the Irish representatives at the Synod of Bishops in the Catholic Church in 1977 which dealt with catechetics.[3]
Episcopal Ministry
[edit]In 1981 he was appointed Titular Bishop of Glenndálocha and Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin, making him the youngest bishop at the time, aged only 41.[4] He was ordained Bishop in St Andrew's Church, Westland Row, Dublin.[4]
He chose, as his episcopal motto ‘Veritas in Caritate’ (‘The Truth in Love’) which ironically, given his later translation to Limerick was also the motto of Henry Murphy (bishop) and of St Munchin's College [5]
He was appointed bishop of Limerick on 10 February 1996 by Pope John Paul II and installed as Bishop of Limerick on 24 March 1996.[1] He attended the European Synod of Bishops in Rome in Autumn 1999 on behalf of the Irish hierarchy. [3]
In one assessment of his tenure as Bishop of Limerick given at the time of his resignation it was recalled "he proved to be a hard-working bishop setting up parish councils and renovating St John's Cathedral (Limerick). He even sold the traditional bishop's palace, moving into a modest house."[2]
Abuse scandal
[edit]In November 2009, he was pressured to resign from his post after the Murphy Report found that he had mishandled child sexual abuse allegations within his diocese.[6]
He announced his resignation to a congregation, including priests of the Diocese, people working in the Diocesan Office and the Diocesan Pastoral Centre, at 11 am (noon in Rome, the hour of the publication of the decision) in St. John's Cathedral, Limerick.[7]
Death and tribute
[edit]Murray died at the Milford Care Centre in Limerick on 13 October 2024, at the age of 84.[8]
His successor as Bishop of Limerick Brendan Leahy noted in a tribute to Bishop Murray "he was attuned to the fast changing ecclesial and social context and the challenge of rebuilding the community of faith. His great mind was always working on building a Church of tomorrow, not on holding into a Church of the past."[9]
See also
[edit]- Catholic Church sexual abuse cases in Ireland
- Catholic Church sexual abuse cases by country
- Catholic Church in Ireland
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e Bishop Donal Murray Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine, by Monsignor John Fleming, limerickdioceseheritage.org
- ^ a b "Bishop Murray: Pastor, author and intellectual". Irish Independent. 8 December 2009.
- ^ a b "Bishops of Limerick".
- ^ a b "Bishop Donal Brendan Murray [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org.
- ^ "Bishop Donal Murray, the Bishop of Limerick, celebrated Mass yesterday (9 December 2007, Second Sunday of Advent) in St John's Cathedral, Limerick, on the occasion of the silver jubilee of his appointment as bishop | Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference". www.catholicbishops.ie.
- ^ "Pressure on bishops to resign". Irish Times. 28 November 2009. Archived from the original on 11 April 2020. Retrieved 28 November 2009.
- ^ "Statement by Bishop Donal Murray on his resignation as Bishop of Limerick". Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference. 17 December 2009. Archived from the original on 3 August 2010.
- ^ "Former Bishop of Limerick passes away". Limerick Live. 13 October 2024. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
- ^ O'Regan, Donal (13 October 2024). "Former Bishop of Limerick passes away". www.limerickleader.ie.
- 1940 births
- 2024 deaths
- Roman Catholic bishops of Limerick
- Alumni of University College Dublin
- Alumni of St Patrick's College, Maynooth
- Catholic Church sexual abuse scandals in Ireland
- Auxiliary bishops of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin
- People educated at Blackrock College
- 20th-century Roman Catholic bishops in Ireland
- 21st-century Roman Catholic bishops in Ireland
- Titular bishops of Glendalough
- Bishops appointed by Pope John Paul II
- 20th-century Roman Catholic titular bishops
- Irish Roman Catholic titular bishops