“An Ulsterman in deepest Leinster? A bishop who had spent most of his ministry in the world of education?” he asked. “But here I am! Truly, I am feeling daunted by the prospect and know that it will only be by God’s grace and your welcome and ongoing support that I will be able to minister fruitfully here.”
The Ossory Diocese has over 85,000 residents, the vast majority of whom are Catholic. There are 42 parishes across the diocese’s territory, which includes parts of the three Irish counties of Kilkenny, Laois, and Offaly, according to the diocese’s website.
The diocese has lacked a bishop since 2018 when its previous bishop, Dermot Farrell, was named Archbishop of Dublin. Bishop Denis Nulty, head of the neighboring diocese of Kildare and Loughlin, has served as the Ossory Diocese’s administrator since that time.
“I have known Niall since our student days together in Maynooth in the 1980s and as such, understand full well his immense abilities, his deep faith, and his great energy for theology, pastoral ministry, and lay faith formation,” Nulty said in a Friday statement. “Niall, as we move into the weeks ahead, and as we plan for your ordination as the next Bishop of Ossory, we will continue to hold you in our prayers.”
The bishop-designate noted some of his links to his new diocese, including his encounters with religious sisters, clergy, and seminarians native to the area. Coll said he was “heartbroken” to leave his current parish, especially given the difficulties of the pandemic.
“COVID-19 has been hard on people and parishes and, as you know, recovery from it has been slow and we don’t yet have clarity on its full effects,” he said. “It is likely to cast a long shadow well into the future.”
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