Roman Catholic Diocese of Elphin

The Diocese of Elphin (el-FIN; Irish: Deoise Ail Finn) is a Roman Catholic diocese in the western part of Ireland. It is in the Metropolitan Province of Tuam and is subject to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Tuam. The current Bishop is Kevin Doran who was appointed in 2014.

Diocese of Elphin

Dioecesis Elphinensis
Location
Country Republic of Ireland
TerritoryParts of counties Roscommon, Sligo, Westmeath and Galway
Ecclesiastical provinceProvince of Tuam
MetropolitanArchdiocese of Tuam
Statistics
Area1,201 sq mi (3,110 km2)
Population
- Catholics
70,000
Information
DenominationRoman Catholic
RiteLatin Rite
EstablishedDiocese in 1111
CathedralCathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Sligo
Patron saintSt Ascius and the Immaculate Conception
Current leadership
PopeFrancis
BishopKevin Doran
Bishop of Elphin
Metropolitan ArchbishopMichael Neary
Archbishop of Tuam
Vicar GeneralCanons Tom Hever & Liam Devine
Map
Website
elphindiocese.ie

Geographical remit

The diocese covers parts of the counties of Roscommon, Sligo and Galway, and Westmeath. Its Cathedral, which was originally established in the Roscommon town of Elphin, is now in Sligo. The major towns are Athlone, Boyle, Castlerea, Roscommon and Sligo.

Parishes

(This is a list of parishes starting in the north and concluding in the south).

Clifforney

Grange

Mullaghmore

Rathcormac

Strandhill

Ransboro

Sligo- Cathedral

Sligo- St Anne & Carramore

Sligo- St Joseph & Calry

Gleann/Sooey

Highwood

Corrigeenroe

Baleyrush

Coothall

Crossna

Aghanagh

Drumboylan

Dangan

Kilmore

Carrick

Drumlion

Breedogue

Creeve

Ballinagar

Tibohine

Gorthanny

Lisacul

Cloonbonniffe

Killina

Kilmurray

Mantua

Carniska

Rooskey

Slatta

Treen

Kiltrustan

Scramogue

Ballagh

Curraghroe

Derrane

Fourmilehouse

Ballymoe

Clooneycolgan

Ballinaghelish

Ballyleague

Kilteevan

Glinsk

Fuerty

Rahara

St John's

Newbridge

Togheragar

Dysert[1]

History of the Diocese

The See dates to the earliest days of the Irish Church. From the time Christianity first arrived in Ireland in the second half of the 5th century (in the form of Saint Patrick's mission), the early church was centred on Monastic settlements. St. Patrick founded such a settlement in an area known as Corcoghlan, now known as Elphin, in 434 or 435. The first Abbot bishop of this monastic settlement was Assicus, who was said to be St. Patrick's silversmith or coppersmith. Saint Assicus is now the patron of the diocese. Following the Synod of Rathbreasail in 1111 the diocese was formally recognised.[2] .[3] The cathedral established here was dedicated to Beatae Mariae Virgini (Blessed Mary the Virgin).

Following the English Reformation of the 16th century, the cathedral and many monasteries and convents were destroyed. It wasn't until 1874 that the then bishop, Laurence Gillooly, decided to rebuild the cathedral, this time in Sligo town. This cathedral was dedicated to The Immaculate Conception. Just under 20 years later, in 1892, Bishop Gillooly supervised the building of a College dedicated to training boys for the priesthood, known as the College of the Immaculate Conception. This school still operates today, as Summerhill College.

In recent years the Diocese has run the Maryvale Institute course in catechism[4] as part of it faith development programmes.[5]

Diocesesan governance

There are currently thirty-seven parishes in the diocese, which are divided into 6 administrative deaneries, based in the towns of Sligo, Boyle, Strokestown, Castlerea, Roscommon and the part of Athlone west of the River Shannon. There are currently 108 priests, ministering to a population of approximately 70,000, of whom 97% (68,000) are Roman Catholic.[2][6]

Ordinaries
Main article: Bishop of Elphin ยง Roman Catholic succession

See also

References
  1. Elfin Diocesan map
  2. "History of Elphin". Diocese of Elphin website. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 1 March 2007.
  3. Kelly, J.J. (1909). "Elphin". The Catholic Encyclopedia. V. Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved 1 March 2007.
  4. 30 graduate from novel catechetics course by Cathal Barry, Irish Catholic, November 12, 2015.
  5. Catechism Studies www.elphindiocese.ie
  6. Cheney, David M. (3 February 2007). "Elphin (Diocese) [Catholic Hierarchy]". Catholic Hierarchy. Retrieved 3 April 2007. Source Annuario Pontificio, 2005

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "article name needed". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.

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