By Dan Walsh
Fr Ger Nash becomes the 81st Bishop of the Diocese of Ferns at a celebration of Mass for the Episcopal Ordination taking place in St. Aidan’s Cathedral, Enniscorthy, at 3pm next Sunday and details of the ceremony have been announced.
The Chief Ordaining Prelate will be Archbishop Dermot Farrell, Archbishop of Dublin, who will be assisted by Bishop Denis Brennan, Bishop of Ferns and by Bishop Fintan Monahan of Killaloe. His Excellency Archbishop Jude Thaddeus Okolo, Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland, will attend.
The Apostolic Mandate from His Holiness, Pope Francis, will be read by Monsignor Joseph McGrath, the Vicar General of the Diocese of Ferns. Fr. Billy Swan, former curate at St. Aidan’s Parish, now Administrator of Wexford Parish, will preach the homily.
Clergy concelebrating the Mass will include Archbishop Kieran O’ Reilly SMA, Bishop Denis Nulty, Bishop Willie Walsh and Bishop Éamonn Walsh, priests of the Dioceses of Ferns and Killaloe.
The music for the ceremony will be led by Fr. Jim Fegan, Parish Priest of Ballindaggin and Fr. Tom Dalton, Parish Priest of Riverchapel will act as Master of Ceremonies.
Family and friends of Bishop-elect Nash, priests and laity of the Dioceses of Ferns and Killaloe will be amongst the attendance. Sadly, Covid-19 restrictions mean that numbers are very limited, and it is hoped that the improving situation will afford the newly elected Bishop the opportunity to meet with priests religious and laity of the diocese, public and civil representatives, leaders and members of other faith groups, apostolic societies and pastoral groups in the coming weeks and months.
For everyone who would be privileged to be in St. Aidan’s on this historic occasion, but cannot attend due to the Government restrictions, the ceremony can also be followed on the following websites:
www.southeastradio.ie broadcasting on 95.6; 96.2 and 96.4 MHz with commentary by Fr. John Paul Sheridan
Episcopal Ordination of Father Ger Nash Bishop-Elect of Ferns – YouTube
WexfordLocal.com 