It was announced today that Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of two bishops of Ireland for health reasons, and appointed a bishop to the Diocese of Killaloe.
Bishop Martin Drennan of Galway and Kilmacduagh and Bishop Séamus Freeman of Ossory both resigned.
Monsignor Fintan Monahan was named bishop of Killaloe.
Fintan Monahan was born in Tullamore, Ireland, in 1967 and was ordained a priest in 1991. He holds a licentiate in theology from the national seminary of Maynooth and a diploma in higher education from the University of Galway. He has served in a number of roles in the Diocese of Tuam, including deputy priest, teacher and chaplain at St. Jarlath’s College and diocesan secretary. He is currently secretary of the diocesan commission for finance, director of vocational pastoral care and archdiocesan head of protection for minors.
The Diocese of Killaloe has a population of some 129,000 with about 119,000 Catholics. They are served by some 120 priests and 220 religious.
Syro-Malabar eparchy
On Thursday, it was announced that the Pope has erected the eparchy of Great Britain of the Syro-Malabars with its see in Preston.
He appointed Fr. Joseph (Benny Matthew) Srampickal as the first bishop of the new eparchy.
Srampickal was born in Poovarany, India, in 1967 and was ordained a priest in 2000. He holds a licentiate in biblical theology from the Pontifical Urbanian University in Rome, and has served in a number of pastoral roles including professor at the minor seminary an at the Mar Ephrem Formation Centre of Palai; director of the Mar Sleeva Nursing College, Cherpumkal; director of the evangelisation programme, secretary to the bishop, and parish priest. He is currently vice-rector of the Pontifical Urban College “De Propaganda Fide”, Rome.
As well, the Pope appointed Msgr. Stephen Chirappanath as apostolic visitor for Syro-Malabar faithful resident in Europe, at the same time raising him to the dignity of bishop.
Chirappanath was born in Puthenchira, India, in 1961 and was ordained a priest in 1987. He holds a doctorate in moral theology from the Alphonsianum Academy in Rome, and has served in a number of offices including parish priest, judge at the tribunal, director of centres for drug rehabilitation, rector of St. Paul’s Minor Seminary, Irinjalakuda, and professor and subsequently vice-rector of the St. Thomas Apostolic Seminary in Vadavathoor. He is currently procurator to the major archbishop in Rome and coordinator for Syro-Malabar faithful in Italy.
