Scottish Catholic Observer

Clergy and parishioners of Argyll and the Isles, the bishops of Scotland—past, present and future—and Pope Francis said their final farewells to Bishop Emeritus Ian Murray last Friday in a simple community funeral in Gaelic and English.

Ahead of Bishop-elect Brian McGee’s episcopal ordination on February 18, Mgr James MacNeil, the Apostolic administrator for the diocese, was principal celebrant at the late bishop’s funeral in Oban. In front of Bishop Murray’s family and gathered bishops, the monsignor read condolences from the Holy Father.

“The condolences and prayers of Pope Francis, for the congregation in Oban and all of the parishioners in the Diocese of Argyll and The Isles,” were conveyed in a letter from the Cardinal Secretary of State, via the Nuncio to the UK, Archbishop Antonio Mennini.

A member of the Murray family told the congregation at St Columba’s Cathedral why the late bishop, 83, a St Andrews and Edinburgh priest, was being laid to rest in Oban.

“He was your bishop, his time as your bishop was most significant to him. He belongs to you. We give him back,” he said, a sentiment echoed in Mgr MacNeil’s homily.

Bishop Murray was ordained as the 9th Bishop of Argyll and Isles in 1999. He retired in 2008 and died on January 22 2016.

Bishop Joseph Toal of Motherwell, the most recent bishop of Argyll and the Isles, paid tribute at his predecessor’s funeral.

“He was a wonderful and willing servant of the Lord,” Bishop Toal, raised in Roybridge, Lochaber, said, adding that he accepted various ministries and appointment without question. “Celebrating Mass was at the heart of his life.”

Bishop Toal was joined at the funeral by Archbishops Leo Cushley and Philip Tartaglia, of St Andrews and Edinburgh and Glasgow archdioceses respectively, and Bishop William Nolan of Galloway. Archbishop Emeritus Mario Conti and

Bishops Emeritus Peter Moran and Maurice Taylor joined their brother bishops in also welcoming Bishop-elect Brian McGee from Paisley Diocese to concelebrate.

Bishop Murray was laid to rest in to Pennyfuir Cemetery in accordance with his family’s wishes.

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Pic: Paul McSherry

—This story ran in full in the February 12 edition print of the SCO, available in parishes.