Bishop Ger Nash installed as new bishop of Ossory in Kilkenny

The Diocese of Ossory officially has a new bishop with the episcopal installation of Bishop Ger Nash at a packed St Mary’s Cathedral in Kilkenny on Sunday.

There was a very large turnout for the event, with clergy and parishioners travelling from across the diocese and further afield to attend. Bishops from diocese across the country attended the ceremony, and Archbishop Dermot Farrell led the installation.

Bishop Nash has been the Bishop of Ferns since 2021, and he will continue in this role also. He has had responsiblity for the Diocese of Ossory since January this year, as apostolic administrator.

Previously, Bishop Nash said he was ‘deeply honoured’ to be asked by Pope Leo to take on the new role, and that it was an opportunity for the two dioceses to do ‘great things together’

“The challenge of being one bishop for two dioceses is a mirror of the experience of many priests in modern Ireland as they take on responsibility for more than one parish,” he said.

Bishop Gerard Nash was born in 1959 in Tulla, Co Clare. He studied business and then worked in manufacturing industry for a number of years, subsequently choosing to study for the priesthood with the Diocese of Killaloe in Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth. He was ordained a priest in 1991. On 11 June 2021, Pope Francis appointed him Bishop of Ferns.

The Diocese of Ossory has a Catholic population of 83,595. The diocese comprises 42 parishes - most of County Kilkenny, six parishes in County Laois, and one parish in County Offaly.

“The challenge of being one bishop for two dioceses is a mirror of the experience of many priests in modern Ireland as they take on responsibility for more than one parish,” said Bishop Nash.

“The re-imagining of roles and the re- organisation of familiar tasks is true whether it is for a parish or a Diocese and the ultimate test for all change within the Church is whether it builds up the Kingdom of God. One aspect of all the changes at parish and diocesan level within the Irish Church at the moment is the opportunity it offers for real roles of responsibility and authority to be offered to lay people to build up the local Christian community.

“In both Ferns and Ossory, there is a history of developing and training lay people over many years but it has achieved new focus and energy with the recruitment and training of Lay Pastoral Workers in both dioceses. It was a great benefit for us here in Ossory that Bishop Niall had already begun the process of discernment and recruitment for those who will begin their studies in Maynooth in September.

“One of the possible collaborations between both dioceses will be in the area of vocations to priesthood and religious life. Both dioceses are working hard at this very important task and already some very good prospects for the diocesan priesthood are emerging. There are certainly green shoot visible.

“Our dioceses will not survive without the Sacraments and to be sustainable we will need to provide our own priests who will work collaboratively with a wide range of trained lay ministers to bring the Gospel to young and old, the sick and the well and to welcome those who are searching for answers. In Ireland, we have always seen a strong link between our Faith and our History.

“To nourish faith then in both dioceses, it will be important to nurture our original faith roots, which began with St Aidan and St Kieran, was continued by St Canice and St Senan, and which today is most visible in the affection and energy that people hold for their own local church, cemetery, holy well or pilgrimage. I am convinced that it is by nurturing the local, that we will build communities of faith.

“I am deeply grateful to the people in the parishes of the Diocese of Ossory for their welcome over the past few months but in particular I want to thank the priests and the diocesan staff for their collaboration and their welcome at a personal level. I also thank the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Montemayor who has been generous with his time and his wisdom in my discussions with him.

“There is a scripture quotation which always gives me hope in times of challenge and uncertainty. It is from the prophet Jeremiah when he hears the Lord saying ’My plans for you are peace and not disaster’ I have reserved for you a future full of hope” I pray that here in Ossory and Ferns we will turn our faces towards the future set aside for us by God and that we will journey forward together in faith. Thank you for listening and please remember me in your prayers.

Bishop Nash succeeds Bishop Niall Coll, whose shock departure was announced at the end of last year. As far back as March, it had been speculated that Ossory might lose out on having its own bishop and move to a ‘shared bishop’ model with Ferns. It follows moves in other parts of the country where multiple dioceses have come under one bishop. The dioceses of Clonfert and Galway have been united under a single bishop, as have Elphin and Achonry, and Tuam and Killala.