Roman Catholic Diocese of Down and Connor

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The Coat of Arms of Bishop Patrick Walsh
The Coat of Arms of Bishop Patrick Walsh

The Diocese of Down and Connor (In Latin, Dunensis et Connorensis) is an Irish Roman Catholic diocese that stretches from Portrush and Portstewart to Kilkeel in Northern Ireland.

The population of the diocese is about one million, of which approximately 30%, or 300,000 people, are Catholic.

Contents

[edit] History

St Fergus (d. 583) is named as first Bishop of Down. The diocese of Connor was founded in 480 by St Macnissi, and St Malachy was bishop there (1124). The dioceses of Down and Connor were permanently joined in 1439.

In 1670, as an effect of the Reformation, wars, and penal laws, in the whole of Down and Connor there were only 2500 Catholic families. When at length the pressure of penal legislation was removed Catholicism revived rapidly. In the period 1810-1840 no less than forty new Catholic churches were built. The progress thus made under Dr Crolly (1825-1835) and Dr Denvir (1835-65) was continued under Dr Dorrian (1865-86) and Dr MacAlister (1886-95); but none showed greater energy and zeal than Dr Henry (1895-1908). This prosperity is largely due to the rapid growth of Belfast. Statistics (1908): Parishes, 60; secular clergy, 167; regular clergy, 21; churches 114; colleges, 2; monasteries, 5; convents 16; total Catholic population (1901), 156,693; total population of all creeds, 671,266. The episcopal residence is in Belfast.

[edit] Today

There are currently 88 parishes and ministries in the diocese served by 163 priests. The Right Reverend Monsignor Noel Treanor is the Bishop-elect of Down and Connor[1]. He is due to be Ordained to the Episcopate and installed as Bishop of Down and Connor on 29th June 2008. Until that time, Dr Walsh will continue as Apostolic Administrator. The Bishop is assisted by two Auxiliary Bishops, Dr Anthony Farquhar and Dr Donal McKeown.

Priests in Down & Connor serve in Parish Ministry, School Chaplaincy, Hospital Chaplaincy, Youth Work, Prison Chaplaincy, The Media, Teaching in universities and teacher training colleges and Teaching and Chaplaincy in secondary and grammar schools.

Priests on the missions are often involved in the same work but their parish could be in Kenya, Peru, Korea, Canada or any other country in our vast world.

[edit] Bishops

Ordinaries

Auxiliary Bishops

[edit] Ad Limina Visit 2006

Bishop Patrick Walsh, Bishop Anthony Farquhar and Bishop Donal McKeown met with Pope Benedict XVI on the first morning of their visit. They spoke with the Pope for 20 minutes privately in which they discussed things like Education, child sexual abuse, peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland[citation needed].

[edit] References

  1. ^ ::: u.tv :::

[edit] External links

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Catholic Dioceses in Ireland
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