BY Liz Leydon | February 8 | comments icon 0 COMMENTS     print icon print

6-FR-JOHN-KEENAN

Pope chooses university chaplain as new Bishop of Paisley

Fr John Keenan, 49, parish priest at St Patrick's Church, Anderston, and chaplain at Glasgow University, has been chosen as the next Bishop of Paisley. He will become Scotland’s youngest bishop following his Episcopal Ordination on March 19.

Pope Francis’ selection was announced this morning.

“While nervous at my appointment, I have been very uplifted at the congratulations and good wishes I have received so far which have given more confidence,” Bishop-Elect Keenan (above) said. “Everyone I speak to says Paisley is a wonderful diocese with good priests and people full of faith. I am looking forward to being with my brother priests, many of whom I already know really well, and getting to know the people and the parishes of the diocese. I hope just to settle in and listen a lot.”

“At the same time I leave Glasgow with a heavy heart. I have loved my priesthood there from the very beginning and know I have family and many friends who will continue supporting me.”

The bishop’s chair in Paisley Diocese has been vacant since September 2012, when Bishop Philip Tartaglia became Archbishop of Glasgow.

“Fr Keenan has been a much-loved and respected parish priest, and an inspirational Catholic chaplain to Glasgow University (Turnbull Hall),” Archbishop Tartaglia said. “His appointment gives me a huge headache in trying to replace him. But, in the Church, when one part of the body is made stronger, the whole body benefits. So, in this case, Paisley’s delight is Glasgow’s joy, and I am certain that Fr Keenan will be a fine bishop for Paisley… It’s a great diocese and very supportive of its bishops.”

Fr David Boyd, administrator of Paisley Diocese in the interim, also offered Bishop-Elect Keenan a warm welcome.

“Over the past 17 months since Archbishop Tartaglia left for Glasgow we have been praying at many Masses in our diocese for, ‘a pastor who will please you by his holiness and to show us watchful care,'” Fr Boyd said. “I am certain that in Bishop-Elect John Keenan, that prayer has been answered. On behalf of Bishop Emeritus John Mone, the priests and deacons and lay faithful of the Diocese of Paisley, I can assure Bishop Elect John a very warm welcome and the assurance of our prayers and support.”

The appointment of Bishop-Elect Keenan is the third Scottish Episcopal appointment made by Pope Francis since his election on March 13 2013. He appointed Archbishop Leo Cushley as Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh on July 24 2013 and Bishop Stephen Robson as Bishop of Dunkeld on December 11 2013.

Motherwell Diocese is now the only Scottish Diocese currently without a bishop. Bishop Joseph Toal of Argyll and the Isles is currently the apostolic administrator of that diocese.

 

Pic by Robert Wilson: Bishop-Elect John Keenan at a pro-life rally in Glasgow’s George Square last year.

 

Leave a Reply

latest news

Asad Shah’s murder has shocked all

April 1st, 2016 | comments icon 0 COMMENTS

The Archbishop of Glasgow said it is vital ‘the example...


Easter ‘urbi et orbi’ denounces terror

April 1st, 2016 | comments icon 0 COMMENTS

Easter is a feast of hope but also a call...


God is always greater than our sin, Pope says

March 30th, 2016 | comments icon 0 COMMENTS

Pope Francis told those in St Peter’s Square for his...


Apostleship of the Sea in Scotland comes to aid of injured Filipino fisherman

March 29th, 2016 | comments icon 0 COMMENTS

Catholic seafarer charity AoS offers practical and spiritual support to...




Social media

Latest edition

P1-APRIL-1-2016

exclusively in the paper

 

  • Holy Week round up from around Scotland.
  • Special St Patrick’s celebrations at Kilsyth parish.
  • The Dominican Sisters of St Cecilia from Elgin reflect on the message of Easter as Divine Mercy Sunday approaches.
  • After our Church marks the Easter Triduum, Deacon Henry McKenna looks at Scripture and tradition, examining the Christian belief in the Trinitarian.

Previous editions

Previous editions of the Scottish Catholic Observer newspaper are only available to subscribed Members. To download previous editions of the paper, please subscribe.

note: registered members only.

Read the SCO