Donal Roche

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Donal Roche (born 16 April 1958) is an Irish Roman Catholic priest who was appointed auxiliary bishop-elect of Dublin and titular bishop of Cell Ausaille on 5 March 2024.

The Very Reverend

Donal Roche

BA BTh
Auxiliary Bishop-elect of Dublin
Titular bishop of Cell Ausaille
ChurchRoman Catholic
DioceseDublin
SeeCell Ausaille
Appointed5 March 2024
PredecessorDavid G. O'Connell (Cell Ausaille)
Raymond Field and Éamonn Walsh (Dublin)
Orders
Ordination22 June 1986
Consecration26 May 2024
Personal details
Born (1958-04-16) 16 April 1958 (age 66)
Drimnagh, Dublin, Ireland
ParentsJoe and Sheila Roche
Previous post(s)Vicar general, Episcopal vicar, Secretary to the council of priests and Assistant vocations director of the Archdiocese of Dublin
Parish priest of Wicklow, Kilbride and Barndarrig
Chaplain at St Mark's Community School
Teacher at Coláiste Dhúlaigh
Alma materSt Patrick's College, Maynooth
Holy Cross College, Clonliffe

Early life and education[edit]

Roche was born in Drimnagh, Dublin on 16 April 1958, one of seven children to Joe Roche and his wife Sheila. He attended both primary and secondary school at Drimnagh Castle CBS.[1]

Roche worked for four years as a clerical officer in Dublin County Council, before entering Holy Cross College in 1980 to study for the priesthood. He subsequently completed a Bachelor of Theology in St Patrick's College, Maynooth.[2]

Roche was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Dublin on 22 June 1986.[3][1]

Presbyteral ministry[edit]

Following ordination, Roche's first diocesan assignment was as a priest-teacher in Coláiste Dhúlaigh, Coolock. He was appointed diocesan advisor for religious education in primary schools in 1992, before his appointment five years later as chaplain to St Mark's Community School, Tallaght. During this period, Roche also spent six years as assistant diocesan vocations director.[4]

His first pastoral assignment was as curate in Lucan South parish, Lucan in 2005, before being appointed co-parish priest in Lucan South the following year.[3]

Roche was appointed administrator in Wicklow and Rathnew in 2012, during which time he was also appointed administrator in Kilbride, Barndarrig and Brittas Bay for a four-year period.[3][5][6] In an interview with The Irish Catholic in 2022, he stated that while the local community had been "very welcoming" to newcomers, there was concern and anxiety over the recent influx of asylum seekers into Wicklow.[7]

Roche was subsequently appointed parish priest of Wicklow, Kilbride and Barndarrig in 2022.[8] In another interview with The Irish Catholic in 2023 following the arrival of a large number of asylum seekers in Wicklow, he insisted that in spite of "understandable" concerns about housing and homelessness, Irish people were still welcoming towards asylum seekers, particularly when meeting them face-to-face.[9]

Roche was appointed moderator in Cabinteely and Johnstown-Killiney in 2023, with additional responsibility for the developing suburb of Cherrywood.[10][11]

In addition to his pastoral assignments, Roche has served as secretary to the diocesan council of priests since 2011.[3] He was appointed episcopal vicar in 2019, with responsibility for the deaneries of Donnybrook, Dún Laoghaire, Bray and Wicklow, before being subsequently appointed diocesan vicar general in 2021.[12][13] Roche is also a fluent Irish speaker, who has celebrated Mass and administered the sacraments in Irish throughout the Archdiocese of Dublin.[1]

Episcopal ministry[edit]

Roche was appointed auxiliary bishop-elect of Dublin and titular bishop of Cell Ausaille by Pope Francis on 5 March 2024.[14][1][3] His appointment will involve supporting the Archbishop of Dublin, Dermot Farrell, in his role of leading the archdiocese through the synod on synodality.[15][1] Following his appointment, Roche commended the commitment and faith of both priests and laity in the archdiocese in "challenging times".[16]

In an interview with The Irish Catholic in March 2024, he opined that the Catholic Church must do more to reach out to young people suffering from anxiety, adding that the Easter message of Christ's victory over death is an opportunity to bring them a message of hope in a "much more secular culture" that was being greatly influenced by social media.[17]

Roche will be consecrated on 26 May in St Andrew's Church, Westland Row, Dublin.[18]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e "Pope Francis appoints Fr Donal Roche as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Dublin". Archdiocese of Dublin. 5 March 2024. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  2. ^ Galvin, Tom (5 March 2024). "Priest who spent 11 years in Wicklow appointed as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Dublin". Wicklow People. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Rinunce e nomine, 05.03.2024" [Resignations and appointments, 05.03.2024]. Holy See Press Office (in Italian). 5 March 2024. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  4. ^ Farrell, Stephen (13 March 2024). "'It is an honour' - Fr Donal to be appointed Auxiliary Bishop". Echo.ie. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  5. ^ O'Connor, Niall (22 December 2012). "Blaze in church as woman hurls candles into crib". Evening Herald. Retrieved 6 April 2024. Speaking to the Herald, local parish priest Fr Donal Roche said that a "mammoth amount of work" was underway to restore the church for Christmas services. "We have an army of people cleaning, repairing and working non-stop to get the church back in order and we confident we will do that," he said.
  6. ^ "Wicklow parish celebrates marriages". The Irish Catholic. 19 September 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  7. ^ Brady, Chai (24 November 2022). "Community left in dark about asylum seekers says priest". The Irish Catholic. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  8. ^ Dublin Diocesan Appointments 2022. Archdiocese of Dublin. 24 May 2022. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  9. ^ Brady, Chai (1 June 2023). "Irish still welcoming to asylum seekers despite concerns – priest". The Irish Catholic. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  10. ^ "Pope Francis appoints Father Donal Roche as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Dublin". Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference. 5 March 2024. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  11. ^ Buchanan, Myles (5 July 2023). "Beloved Wicklow priests leave parish after decade of service". Wicklow People. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  12. ^ "Dublin Diocesan Personnel Changes 2019". Archdiocese of Dublin. 29 July 2019. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  13. ^ "Appointments 2021". Archdiocese of Dublin. 30 June 2021. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  14. ^ Conneely, Ailbhe (5 March 2024). "New Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Dublin named". RTÉ. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  15. ^ Bruce, Helen (6 March 2024). "Auxiliary to aid Archbishop in Dublin diocese through 'changing times'". Extra.ie. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  16. ^ Brady, Chai (7 March 2024). "Aux bishop-elect praises Dublin's strength in 'challenging times'". The Irish Catholic. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  17. ^ Brady, Chai (28 March 2024). "Easter hope needed for 'fearful and anxious' youth". The Irish Catholic. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  18. ^ "Newsletter for 14 April 2024 - Third Sunday of Easter". Holy Family Parish. 12 April 2024. Retrieved 14 April 2024. On Trinity Sunday, May 26, at 3pm, the episcopal ordination of Fr Donal Roche will take place in St Andrew's Church, Westland Row, Dublin. Please pray for Fr Donal and his ministry.

External links[edit]

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