Kevin Gillespie (Monsignor)

The Very Reverend Monsignor Kevin Gillespie (born 1972/3)[2] is an Irish priest who since 20 August 2018[3][4] serves as Vicar Forane and Administrator of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Raphoe's Cathedral Parish of Conwal and Leck. Having spent much time at the Vatican and worked closely with two Popes (Benedict XVI and Francis),[1] he has been mentioned as a possible future Bishop of Raphoe.[5]

The Very Reverend

Kevin Gillespie
Native name
Caoimhín Mac Giolla Easpuig
ChurchCatholic Church
DioceseRaphoe
Appointed20 August 2018
PredecessorVery Rev. Eamonn Kelly
Orders
Ordination1999[1]
Personal details
Birth nameKevin Gillespie
Born1972/1973 (age 47–48)
Gaoth Dobhair, County Donegal, Ireland
EducationSt Eunan's College

Biography

Monsignor Gillespie was educated at St Eunan's College. His surname (Gillespie) translates as "Devotee of the Bishop".[6] He is originally from Gaoth Dobhair.[1][2] The youngest of six children, his eldest sister (Sorcha) visited him each spring during his time in Rome.[1]

Gillespie's ordination came in 1999,[1] He was posted to the rural parish of Fintown after being ordained.[1] He served there for five years before being appointed to the Cathedral parish in Letterkenny for a further five years. Based in Rome until around 2009, there he worked for the Congregation for the Clergy.[1][2] He then returned to Ireland and was based at Leitir and Doochary.[2] He arrived at the Cathedral of St Eunan and St Columba around 2012, where he served as Curate.[2]

Gillespie subsequently returned to Rome to study for his doctorate.[1] While there he led the procession of cardinal electorss into the conclave which chose Jorge Mario Bergoglio to succeed Pope Benedict XVI (and with whom Gillespie also worked closely).[1] Gillespie then served as Papal Master of Ceremonies for the new pope.[2] He assisted Francis during his first Easter Sunday Mass at St. Peter's Basilica on 31 March 2013. Photographs included in national and international media showed Gillespie standing to the right of Pope Francis. Gillespie had earlier given Holy Thursday Mass at the Pontifical Irish College in Rome.[1] Gillespie was part of the Papal Delegation accompanying Pope Francis during his visit to the Philippines in January 2015[7] and was also present when Pope Francis declared Mother Teresa a saint in St. Peter's Square in September 2016.[8] He joined Members of the Colloquium of Anglican and Roman Catholic Canon Lawyers at their May 2017 reunion in Rome, following their establishment by the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum), the Centre for Law and Religion at Cardiff University and Duquesne University School of Law.[9] He was also involved in the World Meeting of Families 2018, which coincided with Pope Francis's visit to Ireland.[10] During the COVID-19 pandemic, Gillespie agreed to celebrate weekday morning Mass for the nation on RTÉ Television.[11]

Honours

The Vatican has awarded him the title Monsignor.[2][7]

References
  1. "Gaoth Dobhair born priest assists in papal liturgies". Donegal Democrat. 4 April 2013. Archived from the original on 25 October 2017. In the same way, they found themselves quite close to Pope Benedict XVI when they were in Rome for the Christmas Eve vigil in 2012.
  2. Walsh, Harry (29 June 2017). "Clerical changes under way in Raphoe diocese". Donegal News. Archived from the original on 1 October 2017.
  3. "Clerical changes announced for the Raphoe Diocese: The new Administrator of St Eunan's Cathedral will be Monsignor Kevin Gillespie". Donegal Democrat. 16 July 2018.
  4. "Clerical Changes announced for the Diocese of Raphoe". Highland Radio. 16 July 2018. Archived from the original on 16 July 2018.
  5. McNulty, Chris (8 June 2017). "Donegal-based priest tipped to be new Bishop of Raphoe Diocese". Archived from the original on 10 July 2017.
  6. "Gillespie Coat of Arms, Family Crest and Gillespie Family History".
  7. "Where did the Vatican Cardinals and Papal Bodyguards stay during the Papal Visit in Manila 2015?". 20 January 2015. Archived from the original on 23 May 2015. He can be seen to the right of Guido Marini in the first photograph.
  8. "Donegal involvement at canonisation of St Theresa". Donegal News. 8 September 2016. Archived from the original on 31 October 2017.
  9. "Anglican and Roman Catholic Canon Lawyers meet in Rome". 13 May 2017. Archived from the original on 2 October 2017.
  10. McLaughlin, Rachel (8 June 2018). "Holy Family Icon is welcomed to St Eunan's Cathedral for weekend of prayer". Archived from the original on 5 June 2019.
  11. "Mass at St Eunan's Cathedral to be aired daily on RTE". Donegal News. 19 March 2020. Retrieved 19 March 2020.


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