Bishop Francis Duffy meeting his congregation.
Source: John McElroy
New bishop asks Athlone community to pray for sex attack victims
THE NEW BISHOP in Athlone yesterday said a prayer for the two young girls who were allegedly attacked in the area the previous week.
Speaking at his ordination yesterday at Saint Mary’s Pro-Cathedral in Athlone, the former teacher at Saint Patrick’s College, Cavan and former school principal of Fatima and Felim’s Secondary School, Ballinamore in Leitrim said:
Today too I remember and share the country’s shock and revulsion concerning the attacks on two innocent children here in this town as they played last weekend.My prayer today is for the young victims, their families and local communities.
Addressing the congregation he said, “when I think of life I think of the great ability we can have to lift hearts and especially the hearts of those who are in dark places, maybe facing difficult choices or feeling abandoned, alone or of little worth or struggling financially, as many are”.
He added: “I think of those whose passion for life and whose sensitivity to others conveys the message that life is worth living, the message of Jesus Christ.”
The 53-year-old, originally from Templeport in Cavan was ordained in front of 400 people including his family and mother, Mary.