DUBLIN BORN Dr Donal Murray was yesterday installed as the new Bishop of Limerick.
Dr Murray (55) is the first Bishop of Limerick for over 130 years who was not born in the diocese. He has been an Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin for the last 14 years.
His installation as the seventh Bishop of Limerick this century was attended by 19 Irish bishops, three abbots and representatives of the other Christian churches, led by the Bishop of Limerick and Killaloe, the Rt Rev Edward Darling.
Also in attendance was the Mayor of Limerick, Alderman Jim Kemmy, members of the judiciary and local TDs and senators.
The bishop's mother, Mrs Maureen Murray, was present.
Mass in St John's Cathedral in Limerick was concelebrated by the new bishop with the Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Luciano Storero, the Archbishop of Cashel, Dr Dermot Clifford, the Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Desmond Connell, and Bishop John Magee, of Cloyne, who has been Apostolic Administrator of Limerick since July 1994, following the death of Dr Jeremiah Newman.
The central theme of Bishop, Murray's, homily was the importance of the Gospel, the "Good News" for today's world.
"We believe the Good News and our world is not comfortable with good news. Good news is, it suspects, for the gullible.
"The realist thinks that every hero will ultimately be seen to have fleet of clay, every ideal will sooner or later be corrupted.
"A common definition of news today is what somebody is trying to conceal. News debunks, news exposes. Good news is no news.
"We believe the Good News, but not naively. We know the world is full of pain and discouragement," but the Good News is even stronger," he said.