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John Fleming (bishop)

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The Most Reverend, Dr.

John Fleming

DCL
Bishop Emeritus of Killala
ChurchRoman Catholic
DioceseKillala
Appointed19 February 2002
Installed7 April 2002
Term ended10 April 2024
PredecessorThomas Finnegan
Previous post(s)Chairman of Cura
Rector of the Pontifical Irish College
Diocesan Secretary and Financial Administrator of the Diocese of Limerick
Notary at Limerick Marriage Tribunal
Orders
Ordination18 June 1972
Consecration7 April 2002
by Michael Neary
Personal details
Born (1948-02-16) 16 February 1948 (age 76)
Ardpatrick, County Limerick, Ireland
ParentsJohn J. and Nola Fleming
Alma materPontifical Gregorian University
Pontifical Irish College
St Patrick's College, Maynooth
MottoVeritatem facere in caritate
(To do the truth in love)
Coat of armsJohn Fleming's coat of arms
Styles of
John Fleming
Reference styleThe Most Reverend
Spoken styleYour Grace
Religious styleBishop

John Fleming (born 16 February 1948) is a former Irish Roman Catholic prelate who served as Bishop of Killala between 2002 and 2024.

Early life and education

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Fleming was born in Sunville, Ardpatrick, County Limerick on 16 February 1948, the eldest of five children to John J. Fleming, a farmer, and his wife Nola (née O'Grady). He attended primary school at Ardpatrick National School and secondary school at St Munchin's College, before beginning studies for the priesthood at St Patrick's College, Maynooth, in 1965, completing a baccalaureate in divinity in 1971.[1]

Fleming was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Limerick on 18 June 1972.

Presbyteral ministry

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Following ordination, Fleming's first pastoral appointment was as curate in St. Michael’s parish, Limerick, before he was appointed assistant diocesan secretary the following year.[1]

Fleming went to London and Rome in 1974 to complete further studies in matrimonial canon law, attending cursus renovationis at the Pontifical Gregorian University and working in the ecclesiastical tribunal of Westminster. On returning to Limerick in 1975, he was appointed diocesan secretary and notary at Limerick Marriage Tribunal. Fleming was appointed chaplain to the Christian Brothers community on Sexton Street, Limerick, in 1975, and to the Presentation Sisters community on Sexton Street the following year.[2]

In September 1979, he went to study canon law at the Pontifical Gregorian University, completing his licentiate in 1981. Upon his return to Limerick, Fleming was re-appointed Diocesan Secretary, and soon afterwards was appointed Diocesan Financial Administrator.[2]

Fleming returned to Rome in September 1985 to begin doctoral studies in canon law, which he completed in 1997, and was subsequently appointed director of formation in the Pontifical Irish College. He was appointed vice-rector of the college in September 1987 and subsequently rector six years later. During his time as vice-rector and rector, Fleming undertook extensive renovations of the college, which had been constructed in 1926. He also chaired the Irish committee for Jubilee 2000, and was also responsible for the restoration of the Chapel of St Columbanus in the crypt of St. Peter’s Basilica.[1][2]

Fleming represented the Irish bishops at an Italian church convention in Sicily in 1998. He was an elected representative of the Association of the Rectors of Roman Colleges at the Pontifical Gregorian University, and vice-chairman of PIC-US, the American foundation for the Pontifical Irish College.[2]

Fleming was appointed Prelate of Honour of His Holiness by Pope John Paul II in 1993. He stepped down as rector of the Pontifical Irish College in 2001, and subsequently returned to Ireland, having been appointed parish priest in St Mary's parish, Limerick, on 9 February 2002.[3][4]

Episcopal ministry

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Fleming was appointed Bishop-elect of Killala by Pope John Paul II on 19 February 2002.[1][5][6] His initial reaction to the appointment was one of "great surprise", adding that his appointment as parish priest in St Mary's parish, Limerick, coming two days before he learned of his episcopal appointment, "must have been one of the shortest appointments in church history". While there had been considerable controversy among priests in the diocese, who had wanted a greater say in the choosing of a new bishop, Fleming stated that he did not foresee any tensions and that his appointment had been warmly received by the priests of the diocese.[4]

He was consecrated by the Archbishop of Tuam, Michael Neary, on 7 April in St Muredach's Cathedral, Ballina.[7]

Fleming was appointed chairman of Cura, the national episcopal crisis pregnancy agency, in February 2003, and subsequently chairman of the Finance and General Purposes Committee of the Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference (ICBC) in December 2004.[7] He also chaired the National Finance Committee for the 50th International Eucharistic Congress.[8] Fleming currently chairs the advisory committee for the implementation of the Charities Act 2009, the Diocesan Relationship Committee and Episcopal Commission for Planning Communications and Resources. He has also represented the ICBC on the International Commission for Day for Life between 2003 and 2013.[2]

Following the 2017 establishment of a process "to listen carefully in an open manner to the priests, religious and people of the diocese as it plans for the future", Fleming was reported in the Irish Examiner as having given his support for a specially devised delegation process for the ordination of female priests.[9][10] However, the headline, which claimed that he backed parishioners who wanted female priests, was deemed to be "entirely misleading".[11] Speaking to MidWest Radio on 23 September 2019, the co-ordinator of the listening process, Fr Brendan Hoban, confirmed that while Fleming had agreed to do everything within his remit to sustain the diocese into the future, he had not agreed to ordain women to the priesthood.[12][13][14][15]

Ahead of a referendum on liberalising abortion laws on 25 May 2018, Fleming quoted Pope Francis by saying that true compassion neither marginalises anyone, nor does it humiliate and exclude, but that much less consider the disappearance of a person as a good thing. He called on voters to “pray that Ireland will continue to earnestly support and care for the right to life of the unborn child".[16]

Launching the annual diocesan Society of St Vincent de Paul appeal in 2020, Fleming acknowledged that while poverty was still prevalent in Ireland, it was an issue that was for the most part hidden behind closed doors: “It is there that its dark, insidious presence makes itself felt in cold rooms, bad food, and an atmosphere which dampens mental and physical wellbeing.”[17]

Fleming joined a number of church leaders in the West of Ireland on 16 September 2021, in calling on the Irish government to offer reparations to homeowners whose properties were affected by defective concrete blocks.[18]

Retirement

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In accordance with canon law, Fleming submitted his episcopal resignation to the Congregation for Bishops on his 75th birthday on 16 February 2023, but was expected to remain in the see until a successor was appointed.

He remained in the see until the appointment of the Archbishop of Tuam, Francis Duffy, as apostolic administrator on 10 April 2024.[19][20][21][22][23][24]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "New bishop for the Diocese of Killala". Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference. 19 February 2002. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Biography". Diocese of Killala. 18 June 2015. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  3. ^ "Ossory priest appointed rector of the Irish College, Rome". Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  4. ^ a b Fahy, Declan (20 February 2002). "New bishop hopeful of good relations in Killala". The Irish Times. Retrieved 21 February 2002.
  5. ^ "New Catholic Bishop of Killala appointed". RTÉ. 19 February 2002. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  6. ^ "Bishop Fleming has a special Bond with 007 star". Irish Independent. 20 February 2002. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  7. ^ a b "Bishop John Fleming". Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  8. ^ Foley, Ann Marie (10 September 2013). "IEC2012 covered costs and made a surplus, bishop confirms". CatholicIreland.net. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  9. ^ Baker, Noel (23 September 2019). "Bishop backs parishioners who want female priests". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  10. ^ Gately, Susan (3 February 2018). "Ears wide open - Killala begins listening process". CatholicIreland.net. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  11. ^ "Statement on media reporting on the Listening Process in the Diocese of Killala". Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  12. ^ "Despite national headlines, the Bishop of Killala has not agreed to ordain women priests". MidWest Radio. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  13. ^ McDonald, Sarah (11 March 2020). "Killala 'listening process' reaches final stage". The Tablet. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  14. ^ McDonald, Sarah (8 November 2021). "Extension of synod process welcomed". The Tablet. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  15. ^ "Bishop to send report on 'hot button' issues to Rome". The Irish Catholic. 21 October 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  16. ^ Molloy, Cian (14 May 2018). "Calls for action and for prayer as referendum date looms ever closer". CatholicIreland.net. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  17. ^ Hearns, Orla (26 November 2020). "Bishop: Poverty is hiding behind closed doors in Killala diocese". Western People. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  18. ^ "Church leaders call for 100% redress for mica and pyrite families". Connaught Telegraph. 16 September 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  19. ^ "Rinuncia del Vescovo di Killala (Irlanda)" [Resignation of Bishop of Killala, Ireland]. Holy See Press Office (in Italian). 10 April 2024. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  20. ^ "Papal Nuncio announces changes for Killala, Tuam, Achonry and Elphin". Diocese of Killala. 10 April 2024. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  21. ^ Mac Donald, Sarah (10 April 2024). "Pope Francis announces biggest restructuring of the Catholic church in Ireland in 900 years". Irish Independent. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  22. ^ Brady, Chai (10 April 2024). "Pope announces seismic changes for dioceses in the West not seen for 1,000 years". The Irish Catholic. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  23. ^ "Bishop of Killala John Fleming speaks following his retirement after 22 years". Midwest Radio. 12 April 2024. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  24. ^ Coppen, Luke (10 April 2024). "How Pope Francis is reshaping the Church in western Ireland". The Pillar. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
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